Chips having elevated sample surfaces

• US 20040142491A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zyomxy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zyomxy Incorporated
• Inventors: Wagner, Peter, Indermuhle, Pierre F., Nock, Steffen, Zaugg, Frank G.
• Application Number:
  US10/704,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/514
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00367 capillary
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00382 Stamping
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00497 Features relating to the solid phase supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00504 Pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00509 Microcolumns
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 High throughput processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• 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 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• 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 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00641 the porous medium being continuous, e.g. porous oxide substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 : the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00664 : Three-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00677 : Ex-situ synthesis followed by deposition on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 : Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 : Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 : rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0848 : Specific forms of parts of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/022 : droplet contacts the surface of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 : surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 : Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0244 : using pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0248 : Prongs, quill pen type dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0262 : using touch-off at substrate or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• 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: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 : with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 : with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 : with formation of a segmented stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 : Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/156666 : Sulfur containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A chip is disclosed. The chip includes a base including a non-sample surface and at least one structure includes a pillar. Each structure includes a sample surface that is elevated with respect to the non-sample surface and each structure may be adapted to receive a sample.

Claims

1. A chip comprising:

a) a base including a non-sample surface; and

b) at least one structure, each structure comprising a pillar and a sample surface that is elevated with respect to the non-sample surface and is adapted to receive a sample from a dispenser.

2. The chip of claim 1 comprising a plurality of the structures.

3. The chip of claim 2 wherein the plurality of the structures are arranged as an array.

4. The chip of claim 1 wherein the chip comprises at least one of silicon, silicon oxide, polymeric materials, or glass.

5. The chip of claim 1 wherein each structure further comprises a metal, a metal oxide, a polymeric material, or gold on the pillar.

6. The chip of claim 1 wherein each structure comprises an affinity structure on the pillar.

7. The chip of claim 1 wherein each structure comprises a monolayer on the pillar.

8. The chip of claim 1 further comprising the sample, wherein the sample is a liquid sample.

9. The chip of claim 1 further comprising the sample, wherein the sample is a liquid sample and wherein the liquid sample interacts with the sample surface.

10. The chip of claim 1 wherein sides of each structure are hydrophobic.

11. The chip of claim 1 wherein sides of each structure are hydrophilic.

12. The chip of claim 1 wherein the pillar includes a concave portion.

13. The chip of claim 1 wherein the pillar has an aspect ratio greater than about 0.25.

14. The chip of claim 1 wherein the pillar has a fluid passage extending in an axial direction through the pillar.

15. The chip of claim 1 wherein the pillar has a width less than about 1.0 mm.

16. The chip of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a trough defined by walls and a bottom, wherein each structure extends from the bottom of the trough.

17. The chip of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a trough defined by walls and a bottom, wherein each structure extends from the bottom of the trough and has a height less than or equal to a depth of the trough.

18. The chip of claim 1 wherein the non-sample surface has different properties than the sample surface.

19. The chip of claim 1 wherein the non-sample surface has the same properties as the sample surface.

20. An assembly adapted to process fluids, the assembly comprising:

a) a dispenser comprising a body and at least one fluid channel defined in the body, each fluid channel being adapted to dispense a fluid on one or more of the sample surfaces; and

b) a chip comprising (i) a base including a non-sample surface, and (ii) at least one structure, each structure comprising a pillar and a sample surface that is elevated with respect to the non-sample surface and is adapted to receive the fluid from the dispenser.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein each fluid channel is cooperatively structured to receive one or more of the structures of the chip.

22. The assembly of claim 20 wherein each fluid channel includes a passive valve.

23. The assembly of claim 20 wherein each fluid channel has a passive valve formed by a first channel portion and a second channel portion, the first channel portion being wider than the second channel portion.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the first channel portion is above the second channel portion.

25. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the dispenser is an ink-jet type dispenser.

26. The assembly of claim 20 wherein at least one fluid channel is horizontal, and wherein the structures of the chip are insertable through holes in the bottom walls defining the at least one fluid channel.

27. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the base further comprises a trough defined by walls and a bottom, and each structure extends from the bottom of the trough and has a height less than or equal to the depth of the trough.

28. A method of processing fluids, the method comprising:

a) supplying a fluid in a fluid channel in a dispenser; and

b) dispensing the fluid on one or more structures on a base of a chip, wherein each structure comprises a pillar and includes a sample surface that is elevated with respect to the non-sample surface.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of fluid channels and wherein supplying the fluid comprises:

supplying a plurality of liquids to respective fluid channels in the plurality of fluid channels in the dispenser.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of fluid channels and supplying the fluid comprises:

supplying a plurality of different liquids containing different components to respective fluid channels in the plurality of fluid channels in the dispenser.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the different components are respectively different analytes or different capture agents.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the fluid comprises a reagent.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of fluid channels and supplying the fluid comprises supplying a plurality of liquids containing different components to respective fluid channels in the plurality of fluid channels, and wherein the method further comprises:

binding the different components to the sample surfaces.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of fluid channels and supplying the fluid comprises supplying a plurality of liquids to respective fluid channels in the plurality of fluid channels, and wherein the method further comprises, after dispensing:

depositing a plurality of liquid samples on the sample surfaces of the chip.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of fluid channels and supplying the fluid comprises supplying a plurality of liquids to respective fluid channels in the plurality of fluid channels, and wherein dispensing comprises:

applying a first pressure to the plurality of liquids in the fluid channels in the dispenser to push the fluid to first passive valves in the fluid channels;

placing the one or more sample surfaces of the chip within the fluid channels or at ends of the fluid channels, and engaging the dispenser with the chip;

applying a second pressure to the plurality of liquids in the fluid channels to push the liquids past the first passive valves and into contact with the samples surfaces, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure; and

applying a third pressure to the plurality of liquids in the fluid channels, the third pressure being less than the second pressure.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein dispensing takes place without forming droplets of liquid.

37. A method of processing fluids, the method comprising:

a) supplying a plurality of liquids to respective fluid channels in a dispenser, wherein each of the fluid channels includes a passive valve and wherein the flow of each liquid in each fluid channel stops at the passive valve;

b) aligning sample surfaces of a plurality of structures with the plurality of fluid channels, wherein each structure comprises a pillar; and

c) contacting the sample surfaces and the liquids in the fluid channels while the sample surfaces are in, or are positioned at ends of, the fluid channels.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the method further comprises:

applying pressure to the liquids in the fluid channels to force the liquids past the passive valve.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the liquids within the different fluid channels contain respectively different capture agents.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein each of the pillars has an aspect ratio greater than about 0.25.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the structures are present in a chip, and wherein the method further comprises, after d):

allowing the sample surfaces to remain in or at the ends of the fluid channels for a predetermined amount of time; and

then

separating the chip and the dispenser.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the structures are present in a chip, and wherein liquids in the fluid channels contain respectively different components.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein the method further comprises, prior to a):

binding a plurality of capture agents to the sample surfaces.

44. The method of claim 37 further comprising analyzing the samples on the sample surfaces after d).

45. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

after d)

processing substances on the sample surface using the deposited liquid samples;

separating the sample surfaces and the dispenser;

placing a cover chip having a plurality of fluid passages positioned over and aligned with the sample surfaces; and

transferring the processed substances to an analysis device through the fluid passages in the cover chip.

46. A chip comprising:

a) a base including a non-sample surface; and

b) a plurality of structures in an array on the base, each structure comprising a pillar and a sample surface that is elevated with respect to the non-sample surface and is adapted to receive a sample from a dispenser to be processed or analyzed while the sample is on the sample surface.

47. The chip of claim 46 wherein the chip further comprises a plurality of proteins bound to the sample surfaces.

48. The chip of claim 46 wherein the chip further includes a plurality of liquid samples on the sample surfaces.

49. The chip of claim 46 wherein each structure includes an affinity structure on the pillar.

50. The chip of claim 46 wherein the pillars and the base comprise silicon.

51. The chip of claim 46 wherein the sides of each structure are hydrophobic.

52. An assembly comprising:

a) a chip comprising;

i) a base including a non-sample surface; and

ii) a plurality of structures in an array on the base, each structure comprising a pillar and a sample surface that is elevated with respect to the non-sample surface and is adapted to receive a sample to be processed or analyzed while the sample is on the sample surface; and

b) a dispenser including a plurality of fluid channels, each fluid channel including a passive valve.

53. The assembly of claim 52 wherein each fluid channel includes two or more passive valves when the structures of the chip are aligned with the fluid channels of the dispenser.

54. The assembly of claim 52 wherein the passive valve is defined by an instantaneous change in the geometry of the fluid channel.

55. The assembly of claim 52 wherein at least a portion of the walls defining the fluid channels are hydrophobic.

56. The assembly of claim 52 wherein at least a portion of the walls defining the fluid channels are hydrophilic.

57. The assembly of claim 52 wherein each pillar has an aspect ratio greater than about 0.25.

58. The assembly of claim 52 wherein each structure includes an affinity structure on the pillar.

59. The assembly of claim 52 wherein each structure includes a metal layer or an oxide layer on the pillar.

60. The assembly of claim 52 wherein the pillar has an aspect ratio greater than about 1.

61. The assembly of claim 52 wherein the liquid samples comprise proteins.

62. The assembly of claim 52 wherein the pillar comprises silicon.

63. The assembly of claim 52 wherein the dispenser includes a translucent or transparent material.