Systems, apparatus and methods for extracting and analysing cellular material

An integrated lab-on-a-chip comprising:

• i) a loading chamber having an inlet for receiving a mixture comprising a sample containing cells and/or particles and a lysis buffer;
• ii) an extraction chamber;
• iii) a reaction unit;
• and
• iv) one or more valves that control flow of fluid;
• the loading chamber and the reaction unit being selectively enabled to be in fluid communication with the extraction chamber by actuation of the one or more valves of the integrated lab-on-a-chip;
• wherein the extraction chamber comprises or is connected to one or more gas ports that are configured to be placed in fluid communication with one or more external pumps such that operation of the one of more external pumps enables the generation of positive and negative pressures in the extraction chamber to enable pumping of fluid into and out of the extraction chamber.

A method of extracting and analysing cellular material using an integrated lab-on-a-chip and a diagnostic instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• i) loading a mixture comprising a sample containing cells and/or particles and a lysis buffer into a loading chamber of the integrated lab-on-a-chip;
• ii) transporting the mixture from the loading chamber to an extraction chamber of the integrated lab-on-a-chip;
• iii) mixing the mixture in the extraction chamber using a plurality of beads to lyse the cells and/or particles of the sample and bind cellular material of the cells and/or particles to the beads;
• iv) optionally transporting excess liquid from the extraction chamber to waste;
• v) transporting a wash buffer from a wash chamber of the integrated lab-on-a-chip to the extraction chamber;
• vi) washing the beads and their bound cellular material with the wash buffer in the extraction chamber;
• vii) optionally transporting excess liquid from the extraction chamber to waste;
• viii) transporting an elution buffer from an elution chamber of the integrated lab-on-a-chip to the extraction chamber;
• ix) eluting the beads and their bound cellular material with the elusion buffer in the extraction chamber to detach the cellular material from the beads to form an eluate containing the cellular material;
• and
• x) transporting the eluate to a reaction unit of the integrated lab-on-a-chip, optionally amplifying the cellular material in the reaction unit, and analysing the cellular material using the instrument;
• wherein the transportation of fluid into and/or out of the extraction chamber is carried out by generating positive and negative pressures in the extraction chamber by use of one or more pumps that are in fluid communication with the extraction chamber.

An instrument for actuating an integrated lab-on-a-chip, the instrument comprising:

• a) an interface for holding the integrated lab-on-a-chip;
• b) one or more valve actuators or vacuum system for actuating one or more valves of the integrated lab-on-a-chip;
• c) a detection unit for detecting an output of a reaction unit of the integrated lab-on-a-chip;
• d) one or more pumps;
• and
• e) a magnetic actuator for moving magnetic beads in an extraction chamber of the integrated lab-on-a-chip.