Method for eliminating crosstalk between waveguide grating-based biosensors located in a microplate and the resulting microplate

• US 20060229818A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Frutos, Anthony G., Wang, Chuan-Che, Ferrie, Ann M., Yuen, Po Ki, Fontaine, Norman H., Mozdy, Eric J., Fang, Ye
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7743 the reagent-coated grating coupling light in or out of the waveguide

Abstract

The present invention includes several methods for modifying the current processes of manufacturing optical sensing microplates that use continuous waveguide films to reduce/eliminate crosstalk between the biosensors that are incorporated within wells. The methods include (1) physically deteriorating/removing the waveguide film between individual biosensors; (2) chemically depositing highly absorbing materials within the waveguide film between individual biosensors; (3) patterning disordered (scattering) regions between the diffraction gratings that define individual biosensors; (4) using a specific mask and depositing individual patches of waveguide film, where each patch defines at least one biosensor. Each of these methods and several other methods described herein prevent the propagation of light between individual sensing regions, thereby eliminating optical crosstalk between the biosensors. The present invention also includes the resulting microplate.

Claims

1. A method for eliminating crosstalk between a plurality of waveguide grating-based biosensors which are located within a plurality of wells in a microplate, said method comprising the step of:

isolating the waveguide associated with each biosensor from other waveguides that are associated with other biosensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by physically removing at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed in the waveguide film.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by depositing an absorption material within or upon at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each of grating that is formed in the waveguide film.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said absorption material is a metal film that was vapor-deposited to attenuate propagating light.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said absorption material is a polymer which contains a light-absorbing dye.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and an etching/embossing process to pattern disordered structures within at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each of grating that is formed within the waveguide film.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and an etching/embossing process to pattern disordered structures within at least a portion of a substrate which is located around a perimeter of each gratings that is formed within the substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and depositing individual patches of a waveguide film over a substrate, wherein each patch of waveguide film has one grating formed therein.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and depositing individual patches of a waveguide film over a substrate, wherein each patch of waveguide film is deposited over a part of the substrate that has one grating formed therein.

10. A microplate comprising:

a frame including a plurality of wells formed therein, wherein each well incorporates a waveguide grating-based biosensor, and wherein each biosensor is isolated from the other biosensors by isolating a waveguide of each biosensor from other waveguides that are associated with other biosensors.

11. The microplate of claim 10, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by physically removing at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed in the waveguide film.

12. The microplate of claim 10, wherein each waveguide is isolated from other waveguides by depositing an absorption material within or upon at least a portion of a waveguide film located around each of the gratings which are formed in the waveguide film.

13. The microplate of claim 12, wherein said absorption material is a metal film that was vapor-deposited to attenuate propagating light.

14. The microplate of claim 12, wherein said absorption material is a polymer which contains a light-absorbing dye.

15. The microplate of claim 10, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and an etching/embossing process to pattern disordered structures within at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed within the waveguide film.

16. The microplate of claim 10, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and an etching/process process to pattern disordered structures within at least a portion of a substrate which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed within the substrate.

17. The microplate of claim 10, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and depositing individual patches of a waveguide film over a substrate, wherein each patch of waveguide film has one grating formed therein.

18. The microplate of claim 10, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and depositing individual patches of a waveguide film over a substrate, wherein each patch of waveguide film is deposited over a part of the substrate that has one grating formed therein.

19. A slide comprising:

a base having a plurality of waveguide grating-based biosensors formed therein, wherein each biosensor is isolated from the other biosensors by isolating a waveguide of each biosensor from other waveguides that are associated with other biosensors.

20. The slide of claim 19, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by physically removing at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed in the waveguide film.

21. The slide of claim 19, wherein each waveguide is isolated from other waveguides by depositing an absorption material within or upon at least a portion of a waveguide film located around each of the gratings which are formed in the waveguide film.

22. The slide of claim 19, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and an etching/embossing process to pattern disordered structures within at least a portion of a waveguide film which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed within the waveguide film.

23. The slide of claim 19, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and an etching/process process to pattern disordered structures within at least a portion of a substrate which is located around a perimeter of each grating that is formed within the substrate.

24. The slide of claim 19, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and depositing individual patches of a waveguide film over a substrate, wherein each patch of waveguide film has one grating formed therein.

25. The slide of claim 19, wherein each waveguide is isolated from the other waveguides by using a mask and depositing individual patches of a waveguide film over a substrate, wherein each patch of waveguide film is deposited over a part of the substrate that has one grating formed therein.