Entropic trapping and sieving of molecules
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsJongyoon Han, Harold G. Craighead
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Nanofluidic entropic traps, comprising alternating thin and thick regions, sieve small molecules such as DNA or protein polymers and other molecules. The thick region is comparable or substantially larger than the molecule to be separated, while the thin region is substantially smaller than the size of the molecules to be separated. Due to the molecular size dependence of the entropic trapping effect, separation of molecules may be achieved. In addition, entropic traps are used to collect, trap and control many molecules in the nanofluidic channel. A fabrication method is disclosed to provide an efficient way to make nanofluidic constrictions in any fluidic devices.
Claims22
A nanofluidic device comprising:
- at least one channel including a combination of constrained and unconstrained regions, so that the constrained regions in the channel delay passage of objects, and the unconstrained regions in the channel having a thickness greater than that of said constrained regions, and being large enough to allow the passage of said objects, wherein the delay for larger objects is less than the delay for smaller objects.
A method for separating DNA molecules, proteins, cells or other similar-sized objects, comprising:
- supplying molecules in a fluid to a nanofluidic channel having alternating constrained and unconstrained regions, the constrained regions being smaller than the size of the molecule to be separated, and the unconstrained region being substantially close to or larger than the size of the molecule to be separated;
- and,
- applying a driving force to cause said molecules to move along said channel through said regions, the constrained regions causing delay of passage of selected molecules, wherein the delay for larger molecules is less than the delay for smaller molecules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.