Film based addressable programmable electronic matrix articles and methods of manufacturing and using the same

• US 20020195345A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bentsen, James Gregory, Biernath, Rolf Werner
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/600
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00617 by chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00619 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic regions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 of a plurality of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027

Abstract

An electronic device adapted for performing molecular biological processes. The device includes a flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of microlocations interrupt the first surface, and each of said microlocations include an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate. A hydrophilic matrix is positioned on the first surface of the flexible substrate and is capable of electrical contact with the electrode.

Claims

1. An electronic device adapted for performing electrophoresis assisted processes, the device comprising:

at least one flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

one or more microlocations interrupting the first surface, each of said microlocations including an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate; and

a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first surface of the flexible substrate and in electrical contact with at least one of the electrodes.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic matrix comprises a biologically receptive gel.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic matrix comprises a biologically reactive gel.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrophoresis assisted processes include biological processes.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrophoresis assisted processes include molecular biological processes.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible polymeric substrate comprises polyimide.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface comprise vias that extend from the first surface into the polymeric substrate.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface further comprise a raised area of electrically conductive material.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the microlocations have a smallest dimension in the plane of the first surface of less than 200 μ

m.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic matrix comprises an azlactone functional polymer.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces is partially masked.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of conductive traces, each trace connected to at least one of said electrodes.

15. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said device is capable of bending around a mandrel having a diameter of 24 inches while maintaining the integrity of said conductive traces.

16. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein said device is capable of bending around a mandrel having a diameter of 12 inches while maintaining the integrity of said conductive traces.

17. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein said device is capable of bending around a mandrel having a diameter of 6 inches while maintaining the integrity of said conductive traces.

18. The electronic device according to claim 14, further comprising a fluid handling architecture sealingly engaged with said first surface in registration with said micro locations.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18 wherein said fluid handling architecture comprises a micromolded plastic fluid handling architecture.

42. The electronic device according to claim 1 additionally comprising at least one electroresistive layer positioned adjacent to at least one electrode.

43. The electronic device according to claim 42 wherein at least one electroresistive layer can function to increase the temperature of at least one electrode.

13. An electronic device adapted for performing electrophoresis assisted processes, the device comprising;

at least a first flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface, a second surface and at least a second flexible polymeric substrate, having a first surface adjacent the second surface of the first polymeric substrate;

at least one microlocation penetrating the first polymeric substrate and the second polymeric substrate in registration, each of the microlocations including an electrode disposed on the second surface of the second polymeric substrate; and

a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first surface of the first polymeric substrate and in electrical contact with at least one of the electrodes on the second surface of the second polymeric substrate.

14. An electronic device adapted for performing electrophoresis assisted processes, the device comprising;

at least one flexible polymeric substrate having a first major surface;

one or more microlocations disposed on the first major surface of the substrate, each of the microlocations including an electrode; and

a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first major surface of the substrate and in electrical contact with at least one of the electrodes disposed thereon.

20. A flexible polymeric sheet containing a plurality of addressable programmable electronic matrix (APEX) arrays, each array adapted for performing an electrophoresis-assisted process, each of the arrays comprising:

a flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface;

a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first surface of the flexible polymeric substrate; and

a plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface, each of said microlocations including an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate.

21. The flexible polymeric sheet according to claim 20, wherein the flexible polymeric substrate comprises polyimide.

22. The flexible polymeric sheet according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of arrays are configured on a substantially continuous sheet.

23. The flexible polymeric sheet according to claim 20, wherein the hydrophilic matrix includes an azlactone-functional polymer.

24. The flexible polymeric sheet according to claim 20, further comprising:

a second surface on the flexible polymeric substrate; and

an electrode disposed on the second surface;

wherein an electrode is located adjacent to each of said microlocations and the hydrophilic matrix is in electrical contact with the electrode.

25. The flexible polymeric sheet according to claim 24 comprising from 1 to 200 APEX arrays.

26. A biocard comprising a flexible polymeric sheet according to claim 25 mated in registration on the first surface with a fluid handling architecture.

27. The biocard according to claim 26, wherein said fluid handling architecture comprises a molded flexible polymeric part.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of applying at least one of a biological material and a chemical material to at least one of the microlocations.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the hydrophilic matrix is applied to said at least one microlocation by laser addressable thermal transfer imaging.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein the hydrophilic matrix further comprises a biologically receptive polymer.

32. The method according to claim 29 wherein said at least one of a biological material and a chemical material is applied to the at least one microlocation by photolithographic imaging.

28. A method of making an electronic device adapted for performing molecular biological processes, the method comprising:

providing a flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

forming a plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface, each of said microlocations including an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate; and

applying a hydrophilic matrix on at least one of the first surface of the flexible substrate and the microlocations, wherein the hydrophilic matrix makes electrical contact with the electrode.

33. A method of performing molecular biological processes, the method comprising:

providing an electronic device comprising a flexible polymeric substrate having a first and second surface, the electronic device comprising a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first surface of the flexible substrate and an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate, the hydrophilic matrix positioned such that it is in electrical contact with the electrode;

placing a biological sample on the hydrophilic matrix; and

applying an electrical force to the electrode so as to effect a transfer or transformation of the biological sample.

34. The method according to claim 33 further comprising performing from 1 to 200 molecular biological processes, wherein the processes are carried out according to at least one of simultaneous processes and serial processes.

36. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein the hydrophilic matrix comprises a biologically receptive gel.

37. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein the flexible polymeric substrate comprises polyimide.

38. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein the plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface comprise vias that extend from the first surface into the polymeric substrate.

39. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein the plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface further comprise added conductive material.

40. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein the microlocations have a smallest dimension in the plane of the first surface of less than 200 μ

m.

35. An electronic device adapted for performing electrophoresis assisted processes, the device comprising:

a flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the substrate being at least partially wrapped around a spool;

a plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface of the substrate, each of said microlocations including an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate; and

a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first surface of the flexible substrate and in electrical contact with the electrode.

41. A device for processing a plurality of APEX devices disposed on a flexible polymeric substrate in reel format, the device comprising:

a plurality of APEX devices, each APEX device comprising a flexible polymeric substrate having a first surface;

a hydrophilic matrix positioned on the first surface of the flexible polymeric substrate;

a plurality of microlocations interrupting the first surface, each of said microlocations including an electrode disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate and in electrical contact with the electrode and a fluid handling architecture;

at least one sample injection means;

a voltage control means; and

a detection system to provide one of optical, electrical and mechanical signals in response to biological events at least one of the electrodes of the APEX arrays.