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US 2026/0266784 A1Published application
System and method for thin layer chromatography
OwnerGeorge FARQUAR, Marcus TOFANELLI +1inventors
InventorsGeorge FARQUAR, Marcus TOFANELLI, Katrina Marie MYERS
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Abstract
Provided herein are systems, articles and methods for automatically performing thin layer chromatography. The methods comprise automatically extracting an analyte from a sample in a cartridge comprising a fluidic chip and phase transfer assembly, automatically depositing the analyte on a thin-layer chromatography plate and developing the plate, and automatically detecting the analyte on the developed plate.
Claims80
A method comprising:
- (a) performing thin layer chromatography (“TLC”) on one or more analyte molecules by:
- (i) moving a liquid sample comprising the analyte molecules into a fluidic channel of a fluidic chip;
- (ii) moving the liquid sample through a phase transfer assembly comprised in a fluidic channel internal or external to the fluidic chip to separate analyte molecules from contaminants;
- (iii) delivering the separated analyte molecules from a port in the fluidic chip to a sample loading zone of a TLC plate comprising chromatography medium on a solid substrate;
- (iv) moving a separating solvent through a fluidic channel in the fluidic chip and delivering the separating solvent from the fluidic chip to the sample loading zone;
- and
- (v) developing the TLC plate by allowing the separating solvent to migrate with the analyte molecules into a separation zone that extends in the first dimension from the sample loading zone;
- (b) optionally, concentrating the analyte by:
- (i) moving a concentrating solvent through one or more fluidic channels in the fluidic chip and delivering the concentrating solvent from the fluidic chip to one or more concentrating solvent loading zones on the TLC plate, wherein the one or more concentrating solvent loading zones are positioned in the separation zone and lateral relative to the analyte molecules;
- and
- (ii) further developing the TLC plate by allowing the concentrating solvent to migrate through the chromatography medium in a dimension orthogonal or oblique to the first dimension;
- (c) optionally, tagging the analyte molecules with a detectable tag by:
- (i) moving a fluid comprising a detectable tag through one or more fluidic channels in the fluidic chip and delivering the fluid comprising the tag to separation zone, and along the tag detect analyte molecules;
- and
- (d) detecting, with a detector, a signal from the TLC plate indicating the presence of the analyte molecules.
12 more elements
The method of claim 1, performed by a system of claim 48.
A cartridge for performing thin layer chromatography, comprising a fluidic chip mated to a thin layer chromatography (“TLC”) plate;
- wherein:
- (a) the TLC plate comprises a surface comprising chromatographic medium, the surface comprising a sample loading zone, a separation zone extending in a first dimension from the sample loading zone, and, optionally, one or more concentrating solvent loading zones positioned in the separation zone;
- and
- (b) the fluidic chip comprises:
- (i) a first fluidic circuit comprising ports connected by one or more internal and, optionally, external, fluidic channels, including a sample inlet port, at least one pressure port, and a liquid delivery port;
- wherein the first fluidic circuit is configured to receive, by negative pressure delivered through a pressure port, a sample from the sample inlet port into a fluidic channel, and to deliver, by positive pressure delivered through a pressure port, at least part of the sample through a fluidic channel comprising a phase transfer medium, and out the liquid delivery port onto the sample loading zone;
- and
- (ii) a second fluidic circuit comprising ports connected by one or more fluidic channels, including a separating solvent intake port and a separating solvent delivery port, wherein the separating solvent delivery port is positioned to deliver separating solvent onto the sample loading zone, wherein the second fluidic circuit optionally shares ports and/or fluidic channels with the first fluidic circuit;
- (iii) optionally, one or more third fluidic circuits comprising ports connected by fluidic channels, including one or more concentrating solvent intake ports and one or more concentrating solvent delivery ports, wherein the one or more concentrating solvent delivery ports are positioned to deliver concentrating solvent to the one or more concentrating solvent loading zones;
- (iv) optionally, one or more fourth fluidic circuits comprising ports connected by one or more fluidic channels, including a dye intake port and a dye delivery port, wherein the dye delivery port is positioned it to delivery dye onto the separation zone;
- and
- (v) an aperture through the fluidic chip which exposes the separation zone.
9 more elements
A system comprising:
- (a) a cartridge interface for engaging a cartridge, wherein the cartridge interface comprises:
- (i) a stage for holding the cartridge;
- and
- (ii) a fluidics manifold comprising a plurality of fluidic ports adapted to engage ports in a cartridge when held by the holder;
- (b) a fluidics assembly comprising:
- (i) a plurality of containers for containing fluids;
- (ii) a plurality of fluid lines;
- and
- (iii) one or more pumps configured to pump liquids from the containers, through the fluid lines, to the fluidic ports, and to apply positive or negative pressure through at least one fluid line to at least one fluidic port;
- (iv) optionally, one or more valves configured to switch fluidic connections between the containers and fluid lines leading to the fluidics manifold;
- (c) a detector configured to detect a signal from the cartridge;
- (d) optionally, a fan positioned to direct air to a surface of a thin layer chromatography plate of a cartridge when the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge interface.
- (e) optionally, a temperature regulator positioned to regulate temperature of a cartridge engaged with the interface;
- (f) a computer comprising operating software to control actions of the cartridge interface, the fluidics assembly and the detector, and, when present, the fan and the temperature regulator;
- and
- (g) optionally, a cartridge engaged with the cartridge interface.
13 more elements
A method comprising performing thin layer chromatography (“TLC”) by moving a sample from a fluidic channel in a fluidic chip onto a sample loading zone of a thin layer chromatography plate;
- moving a separation solvent from a fluidic channel in a fluidic chip onto the sample loading zone;
- and developing the TLC plate by allowing the separating solvent to separate analytes in a separation zone of the TLC plate and a first dimension.
A cartridge comprising:
- (1) a fluidic chip comprising:
- (a) a first fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a first inlet and a first outlet;
- (b) a second fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a second inlet and a second outlet;
- and, optionally,
- (c) a third fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a third inlet and a third outlet,
- wherein the first, second and third fluidic channels are disposed in a substantially planar substrate disposed between a first layer and a second layer;
- and
- (2) a chromatography plate attached to at least a portion of the fluidic chip, wherein the first, second, and, optionally, third outlets are in fluid communication with the surface of the chromatography plate.
5 more elements
A cartridge comprising:
- (1) a fluidic chip comprising:
- (a) a plurality of inlets,
- (b) a plurality of outlets, and
- (c) a plurality of channels in the substrate in fluid communication with at least one inlet and at least one outlet;
- and
- (2) a thin layer chromatography plate in contact with at least a portion of the fluidic chip such at least two of the plurality of outlets are in fluid communication with the plate.
3 more elements
A cartridge comprising:
- (1) a fluidic chip comprising:
- (a) a plurality of reservoirs, each reservoir configured receive a liquid phase, and
- (b) a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the plurality of reservoirs;
- and
- (2) a thin layer chromatography plate in contact with at least a portion of the fluidic chip such that the plurality of reservoirs are in fluid communication with the plate.
2 more elements
A cartridge comprising:
- (1) a conduit comprising at least one chromatography resin;
- (2) a thin layer chromatography plate;
- and
- (3) a fluidic chip comprising at least one channel, wherein the chromatography resin and the plate are in fluid communication through the channel.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- (A) a manifold for inserting a cartridge;
- (B) a cartridge inserted in the manifold, the cartridge comprising:
- (1) a fluidic chip comprising:
- (a) a first fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a first inlet and a first outlet;
- (b) a second fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a second inlet and a second outlet;
- and, optionally,
- (c) a third fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a third inlet and a third outlet,
- wherein the first, second and third fluidic channels are disposed in a substantially planar substrate disposed between a first layer and a second layer;
- and
- (2) a chromatography plate attached to at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the first, second, and, optionally, third outlets are in fluid communication with the surface of the chromatography plate;
- and
- (C) a first conduit in fluidic communication with the first inlet and a first valve, a second conduit in fluidic communication with the second inlet and a second valve, and, optionally, the third inlet.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- (A) delivering a sample comprising at least one analyte to a first inlet of a fluidic chip, wherein the fluidic chip comprises:
- (a) a first fluidic channel in fluidic communication with the first inlet and a first outlet;
- (b) a second fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a second inlet and a second outlet;
- and, optionally,
- (c) a third fluidic channel in fluidic communication with a third inlet and a third outlet,
- wherein the first, second and third fluidic channels are disposed in a substantially planar substrate disposed between a first layer and a second layer;
- and
- a chromatography plate attached to at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the first, second, and, optionally, third outlets are in fluid communication with the surface of the chromatography plate;
- (B) dispensing a first solvent through the first channel of the fluidic chip such that the solvent carries the sample through the first channel, to the first outlet, and onto the chromatography plate;
- (C) dispensing a second solvent through the first channel of the fluidic chip, to the first outlet, and onto the chromatography plate such that the at least one analyte in the sample is separated along a first length of the chromatography plate;
- and, optionally,
- (D) dispensing a third solvent through the second channel of the fluidic chip, to the second outlet, and onto the chromatography plate such that the at least one analyte is concentrated along a second length of the chromatography plate.
9 more elements
A method for automatically performing thin layer chromatography comprising:
- (a) engaging a fluidic cartridge comprising a sample with a cartridge interface of a system;
- and
- (b) automatically performing with the system the steps of:
- (i) separating an analyte in the sample from contaminating materials;
- (ii) delivering the separated analyte to a surface of a thin layer chromatography plate;
- (iii) developing the plate to move the analyte into a separation zone of the plate;
- (iv) optionally concentrating the analyte with a concentration solvent;
- and
- (v) detecting the optionally concentrated analyte on the plate.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- (a) performing thin layer chromatography (“TLC”) on one or more analyte molecules by:
- (i) moving a liquid sample comprising the analyte molecules into a fluidic channel of a fluidic chip;
- (ii) moving the liquid sample through a phase transfer assembly comprised in a fluidic channel internal or external to the fluidic chip to exchange and/or transfer the analyte molecules from the liquid sample into a second liquid;
- (iii) delivering the second liquid from a port in the fluidic chip to a sample loading zone of a TLC plate comprising chromatography medium on a solid substrate;
- (iv) moving a separating solvent through a fluidic channel in the fluidic chip and delivering the separating solvent from the fluidic chip to the sample loading zone;
- and
- (v) developing the TLC plate by allowing the separating solvent to migrate with the analyte molecules into a separation zone that extends in the first dimension from the sample loading zone;
- (b) optionally, concentrating the analyte by:
- (i) moving a concentrating solvent through one or more fluidic channels in the fluidic chip and delivering the concentrating solvent from the fluidic chip to one or more concentrating solvent loading zones on the TLC plate, wherein the one or more concentrating solvent loading zones are positioned in the separation zone and lateral relative to the analyte molecules;
- and
- (ii) further developing the TLC plate by allowing the concentrating solvent to migrate through the chromatography medium in a dimension orthogonal or oblique to the first dimension;
- (c) optionally, tagging the analyte molecules with a detectable tag by:
- (i) moving a fluid comprising a detectable tag through one or more fluidic channels in the fluidic chip and delivering the fluid comprising the tag to separation zone, and along the tag detect analyte molecules;
- and
- (d) detecting, with a detector, a signal from the TLC plate indicating the presence of the analyte molecules.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.