Use of chemically patterned substrate for liquid handling, chemical and biological reactions
AssigneeCuriox Biosystems Pte Ltd.
InventorsNamyong Kim, Kong Leong Cheng, Li Li, Teow Soon Seah
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Abstract
Methods and devices for adding liquids to and washing a microfluidic element array are disclosed. The method and devices feature a microfluidic plate holder with a sloped wall for improved draining of liquid, a machine readable/writable identifier, plate leveling systems, liquid filling systems, a hydrophilic-liquid coating, and an automated washing station.
Claims32
A combination of a liquid handling plate and a holder for holding the liquid handling plate, the combination comprising:
- a generally rectangular frame sized to hold the plate and having a circumferential side wall;
- and
- the plate comprising a device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick,
- wherein at least one portion of the side wall of the frame has a sloping feature having a slope such that when the plate is mounted in the frame to form a mounted structure and a liquid is held in the mounted structure so as to contact the frame in a draining position, gravity will cause the liquid to be drawn downward along the slope.
A liquid handling plate, the plate comprising:
- an array of hydrophilic regions in a hydrophobic background, the hydrophilic regions arranged with an industry standard microplate spacing;
- an array holder for mounting the array;
- and
- an identification feature suitable for communication with an automated instrument for washing the mounted structure to perform an assay,
- wherein the plate comprises a device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
A combination of a fluidic plate and a fluid-exchange cover for sealingly covering the fluidic plate, the cover including a fluidic channel system, the fluidic channel system comprising one or both of:
- an oil inlet arranged so that when the cover is held sealingly against a fluidic plate having a wall, fluid injected into the inlet is directed against the wall in a manner that does not disrupt liquid adhered to hydrophilic regions of the plate;
- and
- a washing liquid inlet in communication with a branched channel structure that divides the flow of washing liquid injected into the channel so as to lessen a potential impact of the washing liquid against the hydrophilic elements,
- wherein the combination comprises the plate, and the plate comprises a device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
A method for controlling a residual volume of an aqueous solution bathing an array comprising a plurality of hydrophilic elements on a hydrophobic background, the method comprising:
- adding an aqueous liquid so as to contact the hydrophilic elements;
- tilting the array to a selected angle from a horizontal reference plane, wherein the angle is less than 120 degrees;
- and
- allowing the aqueous liquid to drain while leaving a residual volume adhered to the elements,
- wherein the array comprises a device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
A device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements and the hydrophobic background are formed on a flat continuous surface, the hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements are exposed from the layer of hydrophobic liquid to receive the aqueous liquid droplets, the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid, and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid.
A device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid has a kinematic viscosity of less than 20 cSt, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
A method for protecting a hydrophobic background from wetting by a liquid introduced to an array of hydrophilic elements adjacent to the hydrophobic background, the method comprising:
- selectively coating, prior to challenging with an aqueous liquid, the hydrophobic background with a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, while the hydrophilic elements are exposed from the layer of hydrophobic liquid to receive the aqueous liquid, so that the hydrophobic liquid remains on the hydrophobic background and does not block the array of hydrophilic elements,
- wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid.
A combination of a deformable transparent microfluidic substrate and a frame for holding the deformable transparent microfluidic substrate, the frame comprising a plurality of support pillars positioned to hold a substrate in a flat configuration, the pillars separated by cutout portions,
- wherein the combination comprises the substrate, and the substrate comprises a device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
An assay array comprising:
- a deformable microfluidic substrate in a generally planar configuration, a generally rectangular border extending normal to the plane of the substrate, and a supporting grid below the substrate, the substrate having an array of hydrophilic elements in a hydrophobic background and the grid having openings aligned with the hydrophilic elements to permit optical transmission through both the grid and the hydrophilic elements, wherein the array comprises a device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
A device for holding an array of aqueous liquid droplets, the device comprising a pattern of hydrophilic liquid-capturing elements on a hydrophobic background, the hydrophobic background coated by a layer of hydrophobic liquid that imparts additional nonwetting characteristics to the hydrophobic background when challenged with an aqueous liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is immiscible with the aqueous liquid and wherein the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is equal to or greater than the surface tension of the hydrophobic background and the surface tension of the hydrophobic liquid is lower than that of the aqueous liquid, wherein the layer of hydrophobic liquid is less than 5 mm thick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.