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US 7,655,470 B2Granted
Method for manipulating a plurality of plugs and performing reactions therein in microfluidic systems
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorsRustem F. Ismagilov, Bo Zheng, Cory J. Gerdts
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Abstract
The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.
Claims20
A method for manipulating a plurality of plugs comprising:
- introducing a first linear array of plugs of a first plug fluid into a microchannel within a microfluidic device at a first inlet with a first flow rate, wherein the plugs of the first plug fluid are separated from each other either by a first carrier fluid and/or by a spacer, and wherein the first carrier fluid and the spacer are substantially immiscible with the first plug fluid and with each other;
- introducing an aqueous stream into a second inlet adjacent to the first inlet and in fluid communication with the microchannel with a second flow rate such that a multi-component stream forms, the multi-component stream comprising a laminar flow of the first linear array of plugs and the aqueous stream;
- and
- introducing to the multi-component stream a stream of a second carrier fluid through a third inlet downstream of the first and second inlets with a third flow rate, the third inlet in fluid communication with the microchannel, such that a respective plug, or a portion thereof, of the first linear array of plugs combines with a portion of the aqueous stream to form a second linear array of plugs,
- wherein the second carrier fluid is substantially immiscible with the first plug fluid and the spacer.
2 more elements
A method for manipulating a plurality of plugs comprising:
- introducing a first linear array of plugs of a first plug fluid into a microchannel within a microfluidic device at a first inlet with a first flow rate, wherein the plugs of the first plug fluid are separated from each other either by a first carrier fluid and/or by a spacer, and wherein the first carrier fluid and the spacer are substantially immiscible with the first plug fluid and with each other;
- and
- introducing a stream of a second carrier fluid into a second inlet in fluid communication with the microchannel with a second flow rate such that at least one plug of the first linear array of plugs is separated by the stream of the second carrier fluid to form a second linear array of plugs, the second linear array of plugs comprising the resultant plugs formed from the at least one plug of the first linear array of plugs and other plugs of the first linear array of plugs,
- wherein the second carrier fluid is substantially immiscible with the first plug fluid and the spacer.
1 more element
A method for manipulating a plurality of plugs comprising:
- introducing a first linear array of plugs of a first plug fluid into a microchannel within a microfluidic device at a first inlet with a first flow rate, wherein the first linear array of plugs comprises a protein, wherein the plugs of the first plug fluid are separated from each other either by a first carrier fluid and/or by a spacer, and wherein the first carrier fluid and the spacer are substantially immiscible with the first plug fluid and with each other;
- introducing a stream of a second carrier fluid into a second inlet in fluid communication with the microchannel with a second flow rate such that the respective plug of the first linear array of plugs is separated by the stream of the second carrier fluid to form a second linear array of plugs, wherein the size of the second linear array of plugs is varied by adjusting the first flow rate relative to the second flow rate, and wherein the second carrier fluid is substantially immiscible with the first plug fluid and the spacer;
- and
- introducing an aqueous stream into a third inlet downstream of the first and second inlets with a third flow rate, the third inlet in fluid communication with the microchannel, such that the respective plug in the second linear array of plugs combines with a portion of the aqueous stream to form a third linear array of plugs, wherein the third linear array of plugs contains different concentrations of the protein originally contained in the first linear array of plugs.
1 more element
A method of conducting a reaction within at least one plug, comprising the steps of:
- introducing a carrier-fluid into a first microchannel of a device;
- simultaneously introducing at least one first array of plugs and one aqueous stream into a first inlet in fluid communication with the first microchannel so that at least one plug of a second array of plugs forms in the carrier-fluid after the the first array of plugs and the aqueous stream contact the carrier-fluid;
- wherein the first array of plugs comprises at least one first reagent;
- the aqueous stream comprises a second reagent;
- each plug-fluid is immiscible with the carrier-fluid;
- and
- wherein at least one plug of the second array of plugs comprises at least both a portion of one plug of the first array of plugs and a portion of the aqueous stream so that the reaction of the reagents substantially occurs in the second array of plugs;
- and each plug is substantially surrounded by carrier.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.