Macromolecule positioning by electrical potential

• US 10,150,993 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ibis Biosciences Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Ibis Biosciences Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Hayden, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Merkling, Sally A
• Application Number:
  US14/367,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0424 Dielectrophoretic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6869 Methods for sequencing
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6874 involving nucleic acid arrays, e.g. sequencing by hybridisation
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2521/101 DNA polymerase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2561/00 Nucleic acid detection characterised by assay method
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 being a sensor, e.g. electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2550/00 Electrophoretic profiling, e.g. for proteome analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027

Abstract

Provided herein is technology relating to depositing and/or placing a macromolecule at a desired site for an assay and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and systems for placing or guiding a macromolecule such as a protein, a nucleic acid, or a protein: nucleic acid complex to an assay site, such as near a nanopore, a nanowell, or a zero mode waveguide.

Claims

1. A method for moving a single macromolecule relative to an assay component, the method comprising:

a) generating an electric field;

b) providing an assay component comprising a zero mode wave guide comprising a nanoscale opening in a metal film on a transparent substrate and a site within the electric field; and

c) providing a macromolecule within the electric field, wherein;

1) the electric field generates a force upon the macromolecule; and

2) the force moves the single macromolecule relative to the site; and

wherein said electric field moves said single macromolecule to a surface of said zero mode wave guide and passive diffusion subsequently moves said single macromolecule into said zero mode wave guide.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a DNA sequencing occurs at the site.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric field increases a concentration of the macromolecule near the zero mode waveguide.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric field induces mixing within the assay component.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein an assay is performed at the site.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein DNA sequencing occurs at the site.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a phospholinked nucleotide.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric field results from an alternating current.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric field results from a direct current.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the macromolecule comprises a DNA.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising anchoring the macromolecule at the site.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical field is applied vertically.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical field is applied horizontally.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein an aluminum ZMV block is an electrode of a circuit.