System for hot-start amplification via a multiple emulsion
AssigneeQuantalife, Inc.
InventorBenjamin J. HINDSON
Life of this patent
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Abstract
System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for making and using compound droplets of a multiple emulsion to supply an amplification reagent, such as a heat-stable DNA polymerase or DNA ligase, to an aqueous phase in which the compound droplets are disposed. The compound droplets may be induced to supply the amplification reagent by heating the multiple emulsion, to achieve hot-start amplification.
Claims20
A method of nucleic acid amplification, comprising:
- providing a multiple emulsion including compound droplets disposed in an aqueous phase, wherein the compound droplets include at least one amplification reagent;
- heating the multiple emulsion such that the at least one amplification reagent is added to the aqueous phase to form a reaction mixture;
- and
- cycling the reaction mixture thermally to encourage amplification of a nucleic acid target.
A method of nucleic acid amplification, comprising:
- providing a multiple emulsion including compound droplets disposed in an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase lacks an effective amount of at least one PCR reagent that is contained by the compound droplets;
- heating the multiple emulsion such that the at least one PCR reagent is added to the aqueous phase from the compound droplets to form a reaction mixture capable of PCR amplification of a nucleic acid target, if present, in the reaction mixture;
- and
- cycling the reaction mixture thermally to encourage PCR amplification of the nucleic acid target.
A method of nucleic acid amplification, comprising:
- providing a multiple emulsion including compound droplets disposed in an aqueous phase, each compound droplet including an oil droplet enclosing at least one aqueous droplet, the aqueous droplet containing a heat-stable polymerase;
- heating the multiple emulsion such that aqueous droplets of the compound droplets fuse with the aqueous phase to supply an effective amount of the heat-stable polymerase to the aqueous phase, to form a reaction mixture capable of PCR amplification of a nucleic acid target, if present, in the reaction mixture;
- and
- cycling the reaction mixture thermally to encourage PCR amplification.
A composition for nucleic acid amplification, comprising:
- a multiple emulsion including compound droplets disposed in an aqueous phase, each compound droplet including an oil droplet enclosing at least one aqueous droplet, the aqueous droplet containing at least one amplification reagent,
- wherein heating the multiple emulsion causes aqueous droplets of the compound droplets to fuse with the aqueous phase to supply the at least one amplification reagent to the aqueous phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.