Creation of libraries of droplets and related species
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsDavid A. Weitz, Jeremy Agresti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is generally related to systems and methods for producing a plurality of droplets. The droplets may contain varying species, e.g., for use as a library. In some cases, the fluidic droplets may be rigidified to form rigidified droplets (e.g., gel droplets). In certain embodiments, the droplets may undergo a phase change (e.g., from rigidified droplets to fluidized droplets), as discussed more herein. In some cases, a species may be added internally to a droplet by exposing the droplet to a fluid comprising a plurality of species.
Claims28
A method, comprising:
- providing a plurality of droplets, each of the plurality of droplets comprising a first fluid and being surrounded by a second fluid, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are substantially immiscible;
- causing at least some of the plurality of droplets to undergo a phase change to form a plurality of rigidified droplets;
- exposing the plurality of rigidified droplets to a third fluid, wherein the third fluid is substantially miscible in the first fluid;
- and
- adding at least one first species internally to at least some of the rigidified droplets.
2-3. (canceled)
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A method, comprising:
- providing a first plurality of rigidified droplets, each rigidified droplet being surrounded by a second fluid, the rigidified droplets being formed from a fluidic droplet comprising a first fluid, wherein the second fluid is substantially immiscible in the first fluid;
- exposing the first plurality of rigidified droplets to a third fluid, wherein the third fluid is substantially miscible in the first fluid;
- adding at least one first species internally to at least some of the first plurality of rigidified droplets to form a first group of species-containing droplets;
- repeating the above acts with a second plurality of rigidified droplets and a second species to form a second group of species-containing droplets;
- and
- forming a suspension comprising at least some droplets of the first and second groups of species-containing droplets.
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A method, comprising:
- providing a first plurality of rigidified droplets;
- immobilizing at least one first species internally with respect to at least some of the first plurality of rigidified droplets to form a first group of species-containing droplets;
- repeating the above acts with a second plurality of rigidified droplets and a second species to form a second group of species-containing droplets;
- and
- forming a suspension comprising at least some droplets of the first and second groups of species-containing droplets.
136-148. (canceled)
150-155. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.