Device for processing an analyte and a method of processing and/or detecting an analyte using said device

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said first type of channel has dimensions of 10 μm to 20 μm in depth, and 10 μm to 200 μm in width, and said carrier particles have sizes in the range ≦2 μm.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said region of analyte processing or release has a tapered structure wherein a cross-section of said system of channels decreases in discrete steps or continuously from said first type of channel to said second type of channel.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said second type of channel has dimensions in the range of from 100 nm to 800 nm in depth and width.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said first type of channel additionally comprises structures of hindrance preventing an unhindered flow of matter, e.g. of a solvent and of carrier particles, in said first type of channel.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said first type of channel has a length in the range of from 1 mm to 10 cm, and said second type of channel has a length in the range of from 1 nm to 1 mm, preferably 100 nm to 100 μm.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said detector is at a distance from said region of analyte processing, said distance being in the range of from 1 nm to 1000 μm, preferably 5 nm to 1 μm.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said detector is selected form the group comprising biological pore proteins, artificial nanopores, nanogap sensors, electrochemical sensors, optical-spectroscopical sensors, mass-spectroscopical sensors, Raman-spectroscopical sensors, FTIR spectroscopical sensors.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, further comprising means to introduce and/or maintain a flow of solvent and carrier particles through said system of channels.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, further comprising means to immobilize said carrier particles at said region of analyte processing or release.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said substrate is made of a material selected from silicon, silicon oxide, glass, polymers e.g. PDMS, polycarbonate, PE, silicone, and said system of channels is formed by ebeam-writing, etching, molding, focused ion-beam etching, laser ablation, embossing.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said system of channels is modified at the surface of said channels by application of a chemical species to reduce a non-specific adsorption of analytes on the surface.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, further comprising means to release said analyte from said carrier particle at said region of analyte processing or release.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, further comprising means to further process said analyte by chemical reaction, e.g. cleavage into smaller fragments or building blocks.

The device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said analyte is selected from nucleic acids, such as single strand, double strand DNA, RNA, proteins, polypeptides, drugs and other molecules which are in liquid phase or gas phase under ambient conditions, biologically or environmentally hazardous molecules.