Control of reactor environmental conditions

• US 20060019333A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BioProcessors Corp.
• Original Assignee: BioProcessors Corp.
• Inventors: Rodgers, Seth T., Russo, A. Peter, LeBlanc, Sean J., Leroux, Denis F.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20060019333A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/41
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/002 Forward osmosis or direct osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/005 Osmotic agents; Draw solutions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00743 Cells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00822 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00831 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0086 Dimensions of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00862 Dimensions of the reaction cavity itself
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 Heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing micromixers B01F33/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00907 using membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00961 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0097 Optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/10 : Means to control humidity and/or other gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 : Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/163 : Biocompatibility
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 : using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/046 : Chemical or electrochemical formation of bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 : for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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: C12P 1/00 : Preparation of compounds or compositions, not provided for in groups C12P3/00 - C12P39/00, by using microorganisms or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to chemical, biological, and/or biochemical reactor chips and/or reaction systems such as microreactor systems, as well as methods for constructing and using such systems. In some cases, humidity control materials are utilized to provide beneficially high rates of gas exchange. The humidity control materials may be used, in certain instances, to provide at least adequate, and in certain embodiments superior, gas exchange for systems having small volumes. In some cases, the currently disclosed materials include certain polymers, e.g., poly(acetylene)s such as poly(alkylacetylene)s. The polymers may be at least partially halogenated (for example, fluorinated) in some instances. In certain embodiments, a chip and/or a reaction system may be constructed so as to promote cell growth within it. In some embodiments, the chips may include one or more reaction sites. The reaction sites can be very small, for example, with a volume of less than about 1 ml. In certain embodiments, a reaction system is able to detect, measure and/or control an environmental factor such as the temperature, pressure, CO₂ concentration, O₂ concentration, relative humidity, pH, etc., associated with one or more reaction sites, by using one or more sensors, actuators, processors, and/or control systems. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure discloses materials and systems having humidity and/or gas control, for example, for use with a reaction system. Such materials may have high oxygen permeability and/or low water vapor permeability. In certain embodiments, the disclosed devices can employ light-interacting components suitable for use in reaction systems. These components may include waveguides, optical fibers, light sources, photodetectors, optical elements, and the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml; and

a material positioned adjacent the predetermined reaction site, the material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹ and R² independently comprises an atom, such that, simultaneously, R¹ is not methyl and R² is not trimethylsilyl.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a volume of less than about 1 ml.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least 2 predetermined reaction sites.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the at least 2 predetermined reaction sites are not in fluid communication with each other.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the substrate is constructed and arranged to maintain at least one living cell at the predetermined reaction site.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein R¹ is an alkyl.

16. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein R² is an alkyl.

26. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a gas head space in gaseous communication with the predetermined reaction site.

27. An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the gas head space is separated from the predetermined reaction site by a membrane.

28. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and at least one microfluidic channel, each in fluid communication with the predetermined reaction site.

29. An apparatus as in claim 28, further comprising a self-sealing elastomeric material defining portions of the inlet and outlet ports.

30. An apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the inlet and outlet ports are both accessible from a first side of the substrate.

5. (canceled)

7-13. -13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

17-25. -25. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. An apparatus as in claim 31, wherein an adhesive layer binds the material to the substrate.

33. (canceled)

34. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml; and

a material positioned adjacent the predetermined reaction site, the material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ independently comprises an atom such that, simultaneously, R¹ is not H, R² is not H. R³ is not H, and R⁴ is neither H nor has a structure;

m being an integer between 0 and 3 inclusive.

35-57. -57. (canceled)

58. A method, comprising an act of:

culturing at least one living cell in a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml, the cell proximate a material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹ and R² independently comprises an atom, such that, simultaneously, R¹ is not methyl and R² is not trimethylsilyl.

59-80. -80. (canceled)

81. A method, comprising an act of:

culturing at least one living cell in a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml, the cell proximate a material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ independently comprises an atom such that, simultaneously, R¹ is not H, R² is not H, R³ is not H, and R⁴ is neither H nor has a structure;

m being an integer between 0 and 3 inclusive.

82-103. -103. (canceled)

104. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml; and

a material positioned adjacent the predetermined reaction site, the material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ independently is hydrogen, a halogen, or a carbon-containing moiety, such that at least one of R¹, R², R³, or R⁴ is a carbon-containing moiety that comprises a halogen.

105-129. -129. (canceled)

130. A method, comprising an act of:

culturing at least one living cell in a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml, the cell proximate a material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ independently is hydrogen, a halogen, or a carbon-containing moiety, such that at least one of R¹, R², R³, or R⁴ is a carbon-containing moiety that comprises a halogen.

131-154. -154. (canceled)

155. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml; and

a material positioned adjacent the predetermined reaction site, the material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹ and R² independently comprises an atom such that at least one of R¹ or R² is a carbon-containing moiety that comprises a halogen.

156-175. -175. (canceled)

176. A method, comprising an act of:

culturing at least one living cell in a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml, the cell proximate a material comprising a polymer including a structure;

wherein n is at least 1, and each of R¹ and R² independently comprises an atom such that at least one of R¹ or R² is a carbon-containing moiety that comprises a halogen.

177-198. -198. (canceled)