Computer program products and systems for rapidly changing the solution environment around sensors

• US 20040181343A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cellectricon
• Original Assignee: Cellectricon AB
• Inventors: Wigstrom, Joakim, Sinclair, Jon
• Application Number:
  US10/698,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181343A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/025 Displaying results or values with integrated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• 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 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• 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 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48728 Investigating individual cells, e.g. by patch clamp, voltage clamp investigating individual particles in general G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00584 Control arrangements for automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/109 with two horizontal degrees of freedom

Abstract

The invention provides computer program products for coordinating the movement of cells and other components in a microfluidic substrate with data acquisition. The microfluidic workstation may be used to examine the physiological responses of ion channels, receptors, neurons, and other cells to fluidic streams. The system may also be useful for screening compound libraries to search for novel classes of compounds, screening members of a given class of compounds for effects on specific ion channel proteins and receptors, and to rapidly determine dose-response curves in cell-based assays.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer,

wherein the program product comprises instructions for controlling one or more functions of a microfluidic substrate in response to received data regarding one or more substrate properties.

4. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the one or more functions comprises scanning a sensor relative to an outlet of at least one microchannel in the substrate by moving the sensor, moving the substrate, moving both the sensor and the substrate and/or by varying pressure at at least one microchannel.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the one or more functions comprises scanning a sensor relative to a plurality of microchannels.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein scanning is continuous.

7. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein scanning is interrupted by one or more programmed pauses during a selected time interval.

8. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the one or more fictions is selected from the group consisting of:

the movement of fluid in at least one microfluidic channel of the substrate;

the movement of a cell in at least one microfluidic channel of the substrate;

the delivery of an agent to at least one channel in the substrate;

the movement of an agent in at least one channel in the substrate;

scanning a sensor relative to an outlet of at least one microchannel in the substrate by moving the sensor;

moving the substrate, moving both the sensor and the substrate;

varying pressure in at least one microchannel;

separation of molecules and/or ions in at least one channel of the substrate, concentration of molecules in at least one channel of the substrate;

mixing;

heating;

focusing;

detection;

electroosmosis;

electrophoresis;

electroporation;

electroinjection, electrofusion, recording electrical properties of a sensor in fluid communication with the at least one channel;

changes in fluid pressure; and

combinations thereof.

9. The computer program code according to claim 8, wherein the one or more functions comprises scanning a sensor relative to an outlet of at least one channel in the substrate and wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for coordinating scanning with data acquisition.

10. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product further comprises a computer readable program code for causing a computer to input data received from a detector in proximity to the sensor.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the data comprises signal data relating to a response or reaction of the sensor.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the response or reaction is selected from the group consisting of a physiological response, a change in Calcium levels, hybridization, binding, change in electrical properties, introduction of an agent into and/or onto a cell, introduction of an agent into an intracellular compartment, a change in electrical properties of a cell, and combinations thereof.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivering an agent to the sensor and wherein the signal data comprises data relating to a response or reaction of the sensor to the agent.

14. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivering an agent to the sensor, and wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for coordinating delivery of the agent with data acquisition.

15. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the microfluidic substrate further comprises at least one reservoir and/or cell chamber in communication with at least one channel of the substrate.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivery of a fluid and/or agent from the channel to the reservoir and/or cell chamber.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the one or more functions comprises exposure of the at least one channel, reservoir and/or cell chamber and or a sensor in the at least one channel, reservoir and/or cell chamber to an electric field.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, and wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for causing a computer to input data relating to electric field properties.

20. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivering an agent to at least one channel of the substrate and wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for causing a computer to input data relating a parameter of the agent.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

name of agent, amount of agent;

a property of the agent, a previous response of a sensor to the agent, and combinations thereof.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the agent is delivered from the at least one channel to a sensor and wherein the computer program code further comprises instructions for generating output data relating to the response of a sensor to the agent.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the output data comprises a dose-response data.

24. The computer program product of any claims of 1-3, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for execution by a processor in communication with a fluid delivery control mechanism which controls delivery of fluid through at least one channel of the substrate.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the fluid delivery control mechanism controls the delivery of streams of buffer and agent through channels of the substrate.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the fluid delivery control mechanism controls the delivery of fluid streams selected from the group consisting of:

streams of different doses of agonists;

streams of different doses of antagonists;

streams of one or more agonists, streams of one or more antagonists, streams of buffer, and combinations thereof.

27. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for execution by a processor in communication with a pressure control mechanism to vary pressure in at least one channel of the substrate.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising instructions for execution by a processor in communication with an agent delivery control mechanism to deliver of an agent through at least one channel of the substrate.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver different agents to at least two channels of the substrate.

30. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver different amounts of agents to at least two channels of a substrate.

31. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to change an amount of agent delivered to at least one channel of a substrate.

32. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver buffer through at least one channel of the substrate.

33. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver buffer through a channel adjacent to at least one channel delivering an agent.

35. The computer program product according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product further comprises a memory, storing data relating to substrate properties.

38. The computer program product according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product comprises a memory storing data relating to parameters of functions of the microfluidic substrate.

39. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the substrate property is selected from the group consisting of:

number of channels in the substrate, channel geometry, distance between channel outlets;

distance between channel inlets, position of one or more sensors relative to channel outlets;

position of the substrate relative to a scanning device;

the position of at least one channel of the substrate;

position of a substrate relative to a sensor;

substrate material, substrate temperature; and

combinations thereof.

40. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product comprises instructions to alter a parameter of the one or more functions in response to a measured condition of the microfluidic substrate or a sensor in communication with at least one channel of the microfluidic substrate.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the measured condition is selected from the group consisting of:

arrival of an analyte, agent, and/or cell at a channel outlet, arrival of an analyte, agent, and/or cell at a microchannel inlet, fluid movement through the at least one channel, an electroporation event, an electrophoresis event, a concentration event, a separation event, a mixing event, a recording event, pressure, a change in pressure, fluid velocity, a change in fluid velocity, a parameter of an electric field, and combinations thereof.

42. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the substrate function comprises scanning and the parameter of the function is selected from the group consisting of:

the number of microchannel outlets to be scanned, time to complete scanning, length of pauses at microchannel outlets, speed of scanning, trajectory of scanning, maximum speed of scanning, alternating channel delay, continuous movement, scanning in response to a selected input received from a sensor, pressure at at least one channel, fluid velocity in at least one channel and combinations thereof.

43. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for a processor in communication with a macroscale device which is in communication with the microfluidic substrate.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the macroscale device is selected from the group consisting of:

a power supply, a pump head, pump, degasser, flow meter, injector manifold, a fluid delivery system, an agent delivery system, a pressure sensor;

flow cell;

concentration manifold, a cartridge, a fitting, a connector, a switch, a valve, a septum, a mixer, a compressor, an ultrasonic bed, an extractor, a focusing device, a dialysis chamber, an absorption chamber, a metabolite chamber, a toxicity chamber, a cell chamber, a detector, an RFID tag, a reagent vessel, a separation column, a focusing column, a size exclusion column, an ion-exchange column;

affinity column, a mass spectrometer, a solid-phase extraction bed, a filter, a sieve;

a frit, a depth filter, a heater, a heat exchanger, a cooler;

a magnetic field generator;

electroporation device, electroinjector, microinjector, nanoinjector, a patch clamp pipette, a micropositioner, a micromanupulator, a microscope stage, a signal amplifier, a light source, and combinations thereof.

45. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the instructions relate to an operation of the macroscale device on the microfluidic substrate.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the operation comprises delivery of fluid, an agent, a cell, pressure, a voltage, a current, ultrasound, light, and/or a radiofrequency to a region on the substrate.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the region comprises a channel, a reservoir or a cell chamber.

48. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the operation comprises separation of molecules or ions in a fluid to be delivered to or from a channel, reservoir or cell chamber in the substrate.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the molecules or ions are selected from the group consisting of:

proteins, polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, organic molecules, inorganic molecules, carbohydrates, metabolites, positive ions, negative ions, and combinations thereof.

50. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the operation comprises heating or cooling of a fluid to be delivered to a channel in the substrate.

51. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the operation comprises moving the substrate or a component of the substrate.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein the component of the substrate comprises a sensor.

53. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the operation comprises exposing a region of the substrate to light from a light source, and wherein the light source is a laser in optical communication with a sensor in a channel, reservoir and/or cell chamber of the substrate.

54. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer program code for generating and displaying a graphical user interface.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the graphical user interface displays a screen on which at least one substrate property, parameter of substrate function, parameter of the macroscale device function, and/or property of a sensor in communication with the substrate, is displayed.

56. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the graphical user interface displays a screen comprising fields for inputting data relating to the at least one substrate property, parameter of substrate function, parameter of the macroscale device function, and/or property of a sensor in communication with the substrate.

57. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the function parameter is selected from the group consisting of the number of microchannel outlets to be scanned, time to complete scanning, length of pauses at microchannel outlets, speed of scanning, maximum speed of scanning, the trajectory of scanning and combinations thereof.

58. The computer program product of claim 57, wherein the trajectory of scanning is linear, non-linear or a combination thereof.

59. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the graphical user interface displays a screen providing selectable options for a plurality of different scan modes for moving the substrate relative to a sensor, moving a sensor relative to a substrate, and/or varying pressure in at least one microchannel.

60. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer program product comprises a data acquisition program embedded in a computer readable medium.

61. The computer program product of claim 60, wherein the data acquisition program comprises a search function, a relationship determining function, and/or a data retrieval function.

62. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises a memory comprising data relating to scanning a sensor across one or more fluid streams of the microfluidic substrate and/or varying pressure at one or more microchannels of the microfluidic substrate.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the data relating to scanning the sensor comprises data relating to the number of microchannel outlets scanned, the time to complete a scan, pause time intervals at one or more channels, a property of a fluid stream delivered by one or more microchannel outlets, pressure at one or more microchannels, fluid velocity in one or more microchannels, data relating to the sensor response at one or more microchannel outlets, data relating to the trajectory of scanning and combinations of such data.

64. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the property of the fluid stream comprises an identity or property of an agent in the fluid stream.

66. The computer program product of claim 64, wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of a drug;

irritant;

known toxin;

candidate toxin;

know carcinogen;

candidate carcinogen;

known mutagen;

candidate mutagen;

protein;

polypeptide;

peptide;

amino acid;

antibody;

antigen binding molecules;

antigen;

hapten;

pyrogen;

cytokine;

growth factor;

cell;

cell fraction;

organelle;

secretogogue;

virus;

viral particle;

receptor;

a modulator of receptor;

ligand;

enzyme;

enzyme modulator;

enzyme substrate;

hormone;

metabolite;

nucleic acid, nucleotide, nucleobase;

sugar;

carbohydrate, small molecule;

metal;

ion; and

analogs and modified forms thereof.

67. The computer program product of any of claims 1-3, further comprising instructions for managing, searching, mining, organizing, comparing, and/or representing data.

68. A microfluidic workstation comprising a data acquisition system for executing a computer program product of any of claims 1-3, wherein the data acquisition system is operably linked to the microfluidic substrate.

69. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the system provides data to a processor in communication with the substrate to alter one or more substrate functions.

70. The workstation of claim 69, wherein the system is pre-programmed to alter one or more substrate functions.

71. The workstation of claim 69, wherein one or more substrate functions is altered in response to feedback from the substrate.

72. The workstation according to claim 69 wherein the one or more substrate functions is selected from the group consisting of:

the movement of fluid in at least one microfluidic channel of the substrate;

the movement of a cell in at least one microfluidic channel of the substrate;

the delivery of an agent to at least one channel in the substrate;

the movement of an agent in at least one channel in the substrate;

scanning a sensor relative to an outlet of at least one microchannel in the substrate by moving the sensor, moving the substrate, moving both the sensor and the substrate, or by varying pressure at at least one channel of the substrate;

separation of molecules and/or ions in at least one channel of the substrate, concentration of molecules in at least one channel of the substrate;

mixing;

heating;

focusing;

detection;

electroosmosis;

electrophoresis;

electroporation;

electroinjection, electrofusion, recording electrical properties of a sensor in fluid communication with the at least one channel;

changes in fluid pressure; and

combinations thereof.

73. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the workstation comprises a data processing system comprising a memory.

74. The workstation of claim 73, wherein the data processing system accesses data from one or more computer program products, and wherein the data relates to properties or functions of the microfluidic substrate and/or properties of a sensor in fluid communication with at least one channel of the microfluidic substrate.

75. The workstation of claims 73 or 74 wherein the data processing system accesses data through one or more external databases.

76. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the system further comprises a sensor in fluid communication with at least one channel of the microfluidic substrate.

77. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the substrate comprises an identifier that can identify the substrate to a computer program product for accessing data relating to substrate properties and/or functions.

78. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the workstation further comprises a macroscale device.

79. The workstation of claim 78, wherein the macroscale device is selected from the group consisting of:

a power supply, a pump head, pump, degasser, flow meter, injector manifold, a fluid delivery system, an agent delivery system, a pressure sensor;

flow cell;

concentration manifold, a cartridge, a fitting, a connector, a switch, a valve, a septum, a mixer, a compressor, an ultrasonic bed, an extractor, a focusing device, a dialysis chamber, an absorption chamber, a metabolite chamber, a toxicity chamber, a cell chamber, a detector, an RFID tag, a reagent vessel, a separation column, a focusing column, a size exclusion column, an ion-exchange column;

affinity column, a mass spectrometer, a solid-phase extraction bed, a filter, a sieve;

a frit, a depth filter, a heater, a heat exchanger, a cooler;

a magnetic field generator;

electroporation device, electroinjector, microinjector, nanoinjector, a patch clamp pipette, a micropositioner, a micromanupulator, a microscope stage, a signal amplifier, a light source, and combinations thereof.

80. The workstation of claim 78, wherein the macroscale device is in communication with a processor that receives instructions from the computer program product.

85. The workstation of claim 69, wherein the one or more functions is executed in response to acquisition of data by the data acquisition system.

87. The workstation of claim 69, wherein the microfluidic substrate further comprises at least one reservoir and/or cell chamber in communication with at least one channel of the substrate.

88. The workstation of claim 69, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivery of a fluid and/or agent from the at least one channel to the reservoir and/or cell chamber.

89. The workstation of claim 69 or 88, wherein the one or more functions comprises exposure of the at least one channel, reservoir and/or cell chamber and or a sensor in the at least one channel, reservoir and/or cell chamber to an electric field.

90. The workstation of claim 89, wherein the data acquisition system receives input data from the workstation relating to properties of the electric field.

91. The workstation of claim 89, wherein the data acquisition system provides output data to a processor in communication with a power supply for generating the electric field.

92. The workstation of claim 91, wherein the output data comprises instructions for changing one or more properties of the electric field.

93. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the substrate comprises at least one channel and the workstation further comprises an agent delivery system for delivering one or more agents to at least one channel of the substrate.

94. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the substrate comprises at least one electrically conducting surface for delivering an electric field to a sensor in fluid communication with the at least one channel.

95. The workstation of claim 94, wherein the sensor comprises a cell structure and the electric field is of a strength sufficient to electroporate a membrane of the cell structure.

96. The workstation of claim 95, wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for causing a computer to input data relating to electric field properties and/or a response or reaction of the sensor to an agent.

97. The workstation of claim 69, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivering an agent to at least one channel of the substrate and wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for causing a computer to input data relating a parameter of the agent.

98. The workstation of claim 97, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

name of agent, amount of agent;

a property of the agent, a previous response of a sensor to the agent; and

combinations thereof.

99. The workstation of claim 97, wherein the agent is delivered from the at least one channel to a sensor and wherein the computer program code further comprises instructions for generating a output data relating to the response of the sensor to the agent.

100. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the workstation further comprises a fluid delivery mechanism for controlling delivery of fluid through at least one channel of the substrate and wherein the computer program code further comprises instructions for execution by a processor in communication with the fluid delivery control mechanism to control delivery of fluid.

101. The workstation of claim 100, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver a plurality of agents to one or more channels of the substrate.

102. The workstation of claim 101, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver different agents to at least two channels of the substrate.

103. The workstation of claim 101, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver different amounts of agents to at least two channels of a substrate.

104. The workstation of claim 100, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to change an amount of agent delivered to at least one channel of a substrate.

105. The workstation of claim 100, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver buffer through at least one channel of the substrate.

106. The workstation of claim 102, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to deliver buffer through a channel adjacent to at least one channel delivering an agent.

107. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the data acquisition system comprises a memory for storing data relating to at least one substrate property.

108. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the data acquisition system comprises a memory for storing data relating to parameters of functions of the microfluidic substrate.

109. The workstation of claim 107, wherein the at least one substrate property is selected from the group consisting of:

number of channels in the substrate, channel geometry, distance between channel outlets;

distance between channel inlets, position of one or more sensors relative to channel outlets;

position of the substrate relative to a scanning device;

the position of at least one channel of the substrate;

position of a substrate relative to a sensor;

substrate material, substrate temperature; and

combinations thereof.

110. The workstation of claim 69, wherein the substrate function comprises scanning and the parameter of the function is selected from the group consisting of:

the number of microchannel outlets to be scanned, time to complete scanning, length of pauses at microchannel outlets, speed of scanning, maximum speed of scanning, alternating channel delay, continuous movement, scanning in response to a selected input received from a sensor, trajectory of scanning, pressure at at least one microchannel, and combinations thereof.

111. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for a processor in communication with a macroscale device that is in communication with the microfluidic substrate.

112. The workstation of claim 111, wherein the macroscale device is selected from the group consisting of:

a power supply, a pump head, pump, degasser, flow meter, injector manifold, a fluid delivery system, an agent delivery system, a pressure sensor;

flow cell;

concentration manifold, a cartridge, a fitting, a connector, a switch, a valve, a septum, a mixer, a compressor, an ultrasonic bed, an extractor, a focusing device, a dialysis chamber, an absorption chamber, a metabolite chamber, a toxicity chamber, a cell chamber, a detector, an RFID tag, a reagent vessel, a separation column, a focusing column, a size exclusion column, an ion-exchange column;

affinity column, a mass spectrometer, a solid-phase extraction bed, a filter, a sieve;

a frit, a depth filter, a heater, a heat exchanger, a cooler;

a magnetic field generator;

electroporation device, electroinjector, microinjector, nanoinjector, a patch clamp pipette, a micropositioner, a micromanupulator, a microscope stage, a signal amplifier, a light source, and combinations thereof.

113. The workstation of claim 111, wherein the instructions relate to an operation of the macroscale device on the microfluidic substrate.

114. The workstation of claim 113, wherein the operation comprises delivery of fluid, pressure, a voltage, a current, and/or a radiofrequency to a region on the substrate.

116. The workstation of claim 114, wherein the operation comprises an operation on a fluid to be delivered to a channel, reservoir and/or cell chamber in the substrate.

117. The workstation of claim 116, wherein the operation comprises delivery of fluid, an agent, a cell, pressure, a voltage, a current, ultrasound, light, and /or a radiofrequency to a region on the substrate.

118. The workstation of claim 114, wherein the operation comprises separation of molecules and/or ions in a fluid to be delivered to a microchannel in the substrate.

119. The workstation of claim 118, wherein the molecules and/or ions are selected from the group consisting of proteins, polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, organic molecules, inorganic molecules, carbohydrates, metabolites, positive ions, negative ions, and combinations thereof.

120. The workstation of claim 114, wherein the operation comprises heating or cooling of a fluid to be delivered to a channel in the substrate.

121. The workstation of claim 114, wherein the operation comprises moving the substrate or a component of the substrate.

122. The workstation of claim 121, wherein the component of the substrate comprises a sensor.

123. The workstation of claim 122, wherein the sensor comprises a cell or cell fraction.

124. The workstation of claim 114, wherein the operation comprises exposing a region of the substrate to light from a light source.

125. The workstation of claim 124, wherein the light source is a laser in optical communication with a sensor in a microchannel, reservoir and/or cell chamber of the substrate.

126. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the workstation further comprises a user device for generating and displaying a graphical user interface in response to instructions from the computer program product.

127. The workstation of claim 126, wherein the graphical user interface displays a screen on which at least one substrate property, property of a sensor, parameter of substrate function, and/or parameter of the macroscale device function is displayed.

128. The workstation of claim 126, wherein the graphical user interface displays a screen comprising fields for inputting one or more function parameters.

129. The workstation of claim 128, wherein the function parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

arrival of an analyte, agent, and/or cell at a channel outlet, arrival of an analyte, agent, and/or cell at a microchannel inlet, fluid movement through the at least one channel, an electroporation event, an electrophoresis event, a concentration event, a separation event, a mixing event, a recording event, a scanning event, pressure, a change in pressure, fluid velocity, a change in fluid velocity, a parameter of an electric field, and combinations thereof.

130. The workstation of claim 129, wherein the graphical user interface displays a screen providing selectable options for a plurality of different scan modes for scanning a sensor relative a substrate, by moving the sensor, the substrate, the substrate and sensor, and/or by varying pressure at least one microchannel of the substrate.

131. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the data acquisition system comprises a data acquisition program comprising a search function, a data organizing or managing function, a data mining function, a relationship-determining function and/or a data retrieval function.

132. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the data acquisition system further comprises a memory comprising data relating to scanning a sensor across one or more fluid streams of the microfluidic substrate and/or data relating to pressure changes at at least one microchannel of the microfluidic substrate.

133. The workstation of claim 132, wherein the data relating to scanning the sensor comprises data relating to the number of microchannel outlets scanned, the time to complete a scan, pause time intervals at one or more channels, a type of fluid stream delivered by one or more microchannel outlets, pressure in one or more microchannels, fluid velocity in one or more microchannels, and data relating to the sensor response at one or more microchannel outlets.

134. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the workstation further comprises a stage for receiving the substrate which can be moved in one or more of an x-, y-, or z-direction and/or by rotating and/or by tilting.

135. The workstation of claim 68, wherein the workstation further comprises a computer program product for patch clamp data acquisition and analysis.

136. The workstation of claim 134, further comprising one or more mechanisms for controlling the movement of the stage.

137. The workstation of claim 136, wherein the one or more mechanisms comprises one or more joysticks.

138. The workstation of claim 126, wherein the graphical user interface displays a representation of the substrate on a screen of the user interface.

139. The workstations of claim 138, wherein coordinates of the representation are selected and in response to the selecting, an operation at corresponding coordinates on the substrate occurs.

140. A suite of computer program products comprising a computer program product according to any of claims 1-3 and a data acquisition program for patch clamp data acquisition.

141. The suite of computer program products according to claim 140 wherein the data acquisition program comprises computer program code for analyzing patch clamp data.

142. A system comprising:

a first computer program product according to any of claims 1-3;

a second computer program product comprising computer program code for acquiring data relating to properties of a sensor in fluid communication with at least one channel of the microfluidic substrate; and

a data accessing system for accessing the data relating to properties of the sensor and for providing the data to the first computer program product.

143. The system according to claim 142, wherein the system further comprises a microfluidic substrate operably linked thereto and wherein in response to data provided to the first computer program product, instructions from the first computer program product are executed, changing one or more parameters of one or more functions of the microfluidic substrate.

144. The system according to claim 142, wherein the one or more fictions of the microfluidic substrate comprise scanning a sensor relative to an outlet of at least one microchannel in the substrate by moving the sensor, moving the substrate, moving both the sensor and the substrate, and or varying pressure at one or more microchannels of the substrate.

145. A method, comprising

providing a sensor in fluid communication with at least one microchannel of a microfluidic substrate;

providing data to a computer program product for according to any of claims 1-3, wherein in response to the data provided, the computer program product provides instructions to a scanning mechanism to execute one or more scanning functions such that the substrate, the sensor, or the substrate and the sensor move relative to one another, and/or such that pressure is altered in at least one microchannel of the substrate.

146. The method of claim 145, wherein an outlet of at least one microchannel of the substrate delivers a fluid stream which contacts the sensor.

147. The method according to claim 146, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of microchannels with outlets opening into a sensor chamber containing the sensor and wherein the sensor is exposed to a plurality of fluid streams in a sequence.

148. The method according to claim 147, wherein the sequence is pre-programmed.

149. The method according to claim 145, wherein scanning is continuous.

150. The method according to claim 145, wherein the sensor is paused at one or more channel outlets during a selected time interval.

151. The method according to claim 145, wherein at least one of the fluid streams comprises an agent.

152. The method according to claim 145, wherein the fluid streams provide interdigitating fluid streams of agent and buffer and the sensor is sequentially scanned across the fluid streams.

153. The method according to claim 145, wherein the sensor is stationary and scanning occurs by varying pressure across one or more channel in proximity to the sensor.

154. The method according to claim 147, wherein the sequence is selected based on a response of the sensor.

155. The method of claim 146, wherein the method further comprises measuring a response of the sensor to one or more fluid streams.

156. The method of claim 155, wherein the response comprises a change in an electrical property of the sensor.

157. The method of claim 145, wherein the sensor is a cell or cell fraction.

158. The method of claim 156, wherein the response is measured by measured by patch clamp.

159. The method of claim 155, wherein the response is measured after exposure of the sensor to an electric field.

160. The method of claim 145, wherein the method further comprises the step of entering data relating to one or more properties of the substrate into the display of an interface of a user device in communication with the data processing system, and wherein in response to the entering, the sensor is scanned across the one or more fluid streams and/or pressure is varied at one or more channels.

161. A method for executing one or more functions of a microfluidic substrate comprising executing program code of a computer program product according to any of claims 1-67, wherein the computer program product is operably linked to the microfluidic substrate.

2. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer,

wherein the program product comprises instructions for controlling one or more functions of a microfluidic substrate in response to received data regarding one or more properties of a sensor in fluid communication with at least one microchannel of the substrate and optionally, for controlling one or more functions of the microfluidic substrate in response to received data regarding one or more substrate properties.

19. The computer program product of claim 2 or 3, wherein the one or more functions comprises delivering an agent to the sensor, and wherein the computer program product comprises a computer readable program code for causing a computer to input data relating to electric field properties and/or a response or reaction to the agent.

34. The computer program product of claim 2 or 3, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to superfuse the sensor with buffer at selected time intervals, and wherein the instructions include a providing delay between acquisition of data relating to a response or reaction of the sensor and exposure to the buffer.

36. The computer program product according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the computer program product comprises a memory storing data relating to properties of the sensor.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the properties of the sensor comprise reactions or responses of the sensor.

65. The computer program product of claim 2 or 3, wherein the sensor is a cell, a cell fraction, an organelle, a membrane comprising an ion channel, a receptor, a nucleic acid, a protein, a polypeptide, a peptide, small molecule, a drug, a chemical compound, a compound library, gene chip, protein chip, a surface plasmon energy sensor;

an FET sensor;

an ISFET;

an electrochemical sensor;

an optical sensor;

an acoustic wave sensor;

a sensor comprising a sensing element associated with a Quantum Dot particle;

a polymer-based sensor;

a single molecule or an array of molecules immobilized on a substrate.

3. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer,

wherein the program product comprises instructions for controlling one or more functions of a microfluidic substrate, including instructions for controlling scanning of a sensor relative to an outlet of at least one microchannel in the substrate.

81. The workstation of claim 81, wherein the macroscale device comprises a detector for detecting a reaction or response of a sensor exposed to a fluid delivered by the substrate.

82. The workstation of claim 81, wherein the data acquisition system receives input data from the detector relating to the reaction or response.

83. The workstation of claim 82, wherein the input data comprises signal data relating to a response or reaction of the sensor.

84. The workstation of claim 83, wherein the reaction or response is selected from the group consisting of:

a physiological response, a change in calcium levels, hybridization, binding, change in electrical properties, introduction of an agent into and/or onto a cell, introduction of an agent into an intracellular compartment, and combinations thereof.

86. The workstation of claim 82, wherein the data acquisition system performs one or more operations on the data and executes the one or more functions when a predefined result of the one or more operations is obtained.

115. The workstation of clam 114, wherein the region comprises a channel, reservoir or cell chamber.