Integrated modular unit including an analyte concentrator-microreactor device connected to a cartridge-cassette

An integrated modular unit, comprising:

• at least one modular analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device attached to a support;
• at least one transport capillary or passage, each of the at least one transport capillary or passage being connected to one of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device;
• a separation capillary or passage connected to each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device;
• each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device having inlet and outlet ends connected to a respective one of the at least one transport capillary or passage;
• each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device having inlet and outlet ends connected to the separation capillary or passage;
• each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device having an internal passage or channel with a staggered configuration which includes an elongated concentration area;
• the elongated concentration area of each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device serving as an intersection region where the respective one of the at least one transport capillary or passage and the separation capillary connect at two separate and distant points to form an analyte concentrator-microreactor area;
• the elongated concentration area of each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device providing a place of shelter for received microstructures or a matrix assembly and/or provides a place of shelter for encapsulated cellular and/or subcellular structures, and/or cellular receptors;
• one or more affinity ligands can be immobilized to the microstructures or the matrix assembly localized within the elongated concentration area of each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device for generating a concentration space where concentration of one or more analytes of interest and/or their respective modified and/or altered corresponding molecular counterpart from a sample introduced into the respective one of the transport capillaries or passages occurs and/or for generating a microreaction space where microreaction of the one or more analytes of interest and/or their respective modified and/or altered corresponding molecular counterpart from a sample introduced into the respective one of the transport capillaries or passages occurs;
• alternatively the one or more affinity ligands can be immobilized directly to an internal wall of a cavity or channel forming the elongated concentration area of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device without the need of the microstructures or the matrix assembly;
• controlling means for independently controlling flow of the sample or buffers in each of the respective transport capillaries or passages and past each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device and conveyed by electromigration, electro-osmotic flow, mechanical pressure or a combination of electro-osmotic flow and mechanical pressure to an outlet end of the respective one of the at least one transport capillary or passage, and for separately and independently controlling flow of a separation buffer supply, eluting buffer supply or cleaning buffer supply through the separation capillary or passage and past each of the analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) devices and conveyed by electromigration, electro-osmotic flow, mechanical pressure or a combination of electro-osmotic flow and mechanical pressure to an outlet end of the separation capillary or passage;
• and
• inlet and outlet ends of the separation capillary form part of a continuous capillary piece creating an integrated affinity capture-separation and/or microreaction-separation modular unit and a detection system can be positioned in operation with a monitoring area of the separation capillary;
• wherein the each of the at least one modular analyte affinity concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device can capture, isolate, concentrate and separate analytes of interest and/or their respective modified and/or altered corresponding molecular counterpart bound to and released from each of the at least one analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device by alternating fluid communication of the separation buffer supply and then the eluting buffer supply and delivering the released analytes of interest and/or their respective modified and/or altered corresponding molecular counterpart to the detection system separately, independently and sequentially by electromigration, electro-osmotic flow, mechanical pressure or a combination of electro-osmotic flow and mechanical pressure within the separation capillary or passage.