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US 8,304,193 B2Granted
Method for conducting an autocatalytic reaction in plugs in a microfluidic system
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorsRustem F Ismagilov, Joshua David Tice, Cory John Gerdts, Bo Zheng
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Abstract
The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.
Claims14
A method for conducting an autocatalytic reaction in plugs in a microfluidic system, comprising the steps of:
- providing the microfluidic system comprising at least two channels having at least one junction;
- flowing an aqueous fluid containing at least one substrate molecule and reagents for conducting an autocatalytic reaction through a first channel of the at least two channels;
- flowing an oil through the second channel of the at least two channels;
- forming at least one plug of the aqueous fluid containing the at least one substrate molecule and reagents by partitioning the aqueous fluid with the flowing oil at the junction of the at least two channels, the plug being substantially surrounded by an oil flowing through the channel, wherein the at least one plug comprises at least one substrate molecule and reagents for conducting an autocatalytic reaction with the at least one substrate molecule;
- and
- providing conditions suitable for the autocatalytic reaction in the at least one plug such that the at least one substrate molecule is amplified.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.