Apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules and method of forming an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules

• US 10,338,056 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Hyde, Jason Robert, Clarke, James Anthony, Andreatta, Gaelle Anne-Leonie
• Primary Examiner(s): Barton, Jeffrey T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sun, Michael Y
• Application Number:
  US14/378,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20150014160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00599 Solution-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0472 Diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• 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: B01L 3/5088 confining liquids at a location by surface tension, e.g. virtual wells on plates, wires B01L3/50857 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6869 Methods for sequencing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/453 Cells therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48721 Investigating individual macromolecules, e.g. by translocation through nanopores Coulter counters in general G01N15/12; fabrication methods for nanoscale apertures B81B1/00; sequencing of nucleic acids C12Q1/68

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising: a body (11), formed in a surface of the body, an array of sensor wells (10) capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules (30) across the sensor wells, the sensor wells each containing an electrode (12) for connection to an electrical circuit, and formed in the surface of the body between the sensor wells, flow control wells capable of smoothing the flow of a fluid across the surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising:

(A) a body; and

(B) formed in the body, an array of sensor wells and, between the sensor wells, flow control wells, wherein a common surface of the body defines openings to the sensor wells and openings to the flow control wells, and wherein the sensor wells i) are capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells and ii) each contain an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit,

wherein the flow control wells are capable of smoothing the flow of a fluid across the surface, and

wherein the cross-sectional area of a flow control well is less than the cross-sectional area of a sensor well wherein the flow control wells do not contain electrodes.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow control wells each contain an electrode, the electrodes in the sensor wells being connected to the electrical circuit but the electrodes in the flow control wells not being connected to the electrical circuit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover over the surface of the body defining a cavity therebetween, and a common electrode arranged in the cavity for connection to the electrical circuit.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cover has an internal surface facing the surface of the body that is roughened to smooth the flow of fluid thereover.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the array of sensor wells is a regular array, and the flow control wells consist of a regular array of flow control wells.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pitch of at least a portion of the array of flow control wells is smaller than the pitch of at least a portion of the array of sensor wells.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor wells are circular and/or wherein the flow control wells are square.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor wells and flow control wells are arranged such that a pre-treatment of a hydrophobic fluid applied to the surface of the body would not enter the Cassie-Baxter state.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor wells and flow control wells are shaped to provide:

i) a surface roughness r, defined as the total area of the surface and wells divided by the projected area of the surface, and

ii) a φ

, defined as the area of the surface between the wells divided by the projected area of the surface,

that meet the requirement ((φ

−

1)/(r−

φ

))>

cos θ

for a pre-treatment applied to the surface of the body,

wherein, with respect to the body, the pre-treatment has a contact angle θ

, and

wherein the pre-treatment is a fluid that is capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the array of sensor wells are formed in the body with a number density of 3.2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> sensor wells/micron² or more, optionally 6.4×

10<sup>−

5</sup> sensor wells/micron² or more, further optionally 1.5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> sensor wells/micron² or more, and still further optionally 2.5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> sensor wells/micron² or more.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-treatment, that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, applied to the sensor wells.