Platform for immobilization and observation of subcellular processes
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsTimothy E. McKnight, Udaya C. Kalluri, Anatoli V. Melechko
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Abstract
A method of immobilizing matter for imaging that includes providing an array of nanofibers and directing matter to the array of the nanofibers. The matter is immobilized when contacting at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers simultaneously. Adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers may be separated by a pitch as great as 100 microns. The immobilized matter on the array of nanofibers may then be imaged. In some examples, the matter may be cell matter, such as protoplasts.
Claims32
A method of immobilizing matter for imaging comprising:
- providing an array of nanofibers, wherein adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers are separated by a pitch of less than 100 microns;
- directing matter to the array of the nanofibers, wherein the matter is immobilized when simultaneously in contact with at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers;
- and
- imaging the matter that is immobilized in the array of nanofibers.
A structure for immobilizing cell matter comprising:
- a channel for delivery of a fluid containing cell matter;
- and
- an array of nanofibers positioned within the channel having a pitch between adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers ranging from 3 microns to 20 microns, wherein each of the nanofibers in the array of nanofibers has a tip diameter of 150 nm or less, and said each of the nanofibers has an increasing diameter from the tip diameter to a base of said each of the nanofibers, wherein a combination of the pitch between said adjacent nanofibers and the increasing diameter of said each of the nanofibers provides dimensions that physically engage cell matter from the fluid containing cell matter that is delivered to the array of nanofibers when the cell matter is in simultaneous contact with at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers.
A method of analyzing matter comprising:
- providing a channel and an array of nanofibers within the channel, wherein a first portion of the array of nanofibers has a pitch between adjacent nanofibers that immobilizes matter, and a second portion of the array of nanofibers is separated from walls of the channel and provides at least one electrode;
- passing a fluid containing matter through the channel, wherein the fluid containing matter is traversed across the first portion of the array of nanofibers before the second portion of the array of nanofibers, wherein as the fluid containing matter is traversed past the first portion of the array of nanofibers, at least a portion of the matter contained within the fluid containing matter is immobilized by the first portion of the array of nanofibers;
- applying a stimuli to the matter that is immobilized by the first portion of the array of nanofibers;
- and
- measuring emissions by the matter in response to the stimuli with the at least one electrode that is provided by the second portion of the array of nanofibers.
A structure for analyzing matter response to stimuli comprising:
- a channel for delivery of a fluid containing matter;
- and
- an array of nanofibers including a first portion that is present at an opening of the channel and a second portion that is present at the exit of the channel, wherein the first portion of the array of nanofibers has a pitch between adjacent nanofibers to physically engage matter from the fluid containing matter being traversed through the channel from the opening to the exit, and the second portion of the nanofibers provides at least one electrodes that is physically separated from sidewalls of the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.