Methods of forming microfluidic devices and uses thereof

• US 20060254916A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hernandez, Juan J., Burch, Eric Lee, Larson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/130,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20060254916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/453
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/16 Surface properties and coatings
• 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: G01N 27/44756 Apparatus specially adapted therefor

Abstract

One microfluidic device of the present invention includes a substrate having a surface and a depression formed in the surface of the substrate. The microfluidic device further includes a detectable marker in the depression and a coating covering the surface. Methods of producing and using the microfluidic device are further described.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device, comprising:

a substrate having a surface;

at least one depression formed in the surface of the substrate;

a coating covering the surface of the substrate; and

at least one detectable marker anchored in the coating.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor located in the depression.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising a sample.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinyl alcohol;

albumin;

gelatin;

casein;

starch;

gum arabic;

sodium or potassium alginate;

hydroxyethylcellulose;

carboxymethylcellulose;

α

-, β

-, or γ

-cyclodextrin;

saponified products of copolymers of vinyl acetate;

(meth)acrylic acid;

maleic acid;

crotonic acid;

vinylsulfonic acid;

styrene sulfonic acid;

(meth)acrylamide;

homopolymers or copolymers of other monomers with ethylene oxide;

polyurethanes;

polyacrylamides;

water-soluble nylon-type polymers;

polyvinyl pyrrolidone;

polyesters;

polyvinyl lactams;

acrylamide polymers;

substituted polyvinyl alcohol;

polyvinyl acetals;

polymers of alkyl and sulfoalkyl acrylates and methacrylates;

hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates;

polyamides;

polyvinyl pyridines;

polyacrylic acid;

copolymers with maleic anhydride;

polyalkylene oxides;

methacrylamide copolymers;

maleic acid copolymers; and

combinations of any thereof.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 4, wherein the coating further comprises a pigment.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 4, wherein the coating has been crosslinked.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a layer of polyvinyl alcohol is about 10 to 50 microns thick.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one depression comprises an analytic chamber and a channel formed in the surface of the substrate, wherein the analytic chamber is operatively connected to the channel.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one detectable marker is water soluble.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic device is operatively connected to an analytic device.

11. A method for producing a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

forming at least one depression in a surface of a substrate;

placing a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate; and

anchoring a detectable marker in the coating.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein forming the at least one depression comprises forming an analytical chamber, a channel or a combination thereof in the surface of the substrate.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising placing a sensor in the at least one depression formed in the surface of the substrate.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising placing a sample in the at least one depression.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinyl alcohol;

albumin;

gelatin;

casein;

starch;

gum arabic;

sodium or potassium alginate;

hydroxyethylcellulose;

carboxymethylcellulose;

α

-, β

-, or γ

-cyclodextrin;

saponified products of copolymers of vinyl acetate;

(meth)acrylic acid;

maleic acid;

crotonic acid;

vinylsulfonic acid;

styrene sulfonic acid;

(meth)acrylamide;

homopolymers or copolymers of other monomers with ethylene oxide;

polyurethanes;

polyacrylamides;

water-soluble nylon-type polymers;

polyvinyl pyrrolidone;

polyesters;

polyvinyl lactams;

acrylamide polymers;

substituted polyvinyl alcohol;

polyvinyl acetals;

polymers of alkyl and sulfoalkyl acrylates and methacrylates;

hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates;

polyamides;

polyvinyl pyridines;

polyacrylic acid;

copolymers with maleic anhydride;

polyalkylene oxides;

methacrylamide copolymers;

maleic acid copolymers; and

combinations of any thereof.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising subjecting the coating to heat.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein placing the coating on the at least a portion of the surface of the substrate comprises at least one of micropipetting the coating on the at least a portion of the surface, dispensing the mixture on the at least a portion of the surface with an ink jet pen, spin coating, blanket deposition, and patterning the coating.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the detectable marker is water soluble.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising encapsulating the coating and the detectable marker with a second substrate.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein anchoring the detectable marker in the coating comprises mixing the detectable marker in the coating before the coating is placed on the at least a portion of the surface of the substrate.

21. A method for analyzing a sample, the method comprising:

forming a depression in a surface of a substrate;

placing a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate;

anchoring a detectable marker in the coating;

placing a sample in the depression; and

analyzing in the sample with the detectable marker.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising operatively connecting the microfluidic device to an analytical device.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising encapsulating the coating and the detectable marker with a second substrate.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein analyzing the sample comprises measuring reflectance, absorbance or scattering of light.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein anchoring the detectable marker in the coating comprises mixing the detectable marker in the coating before the coating is placed on the at least a portion of the surface of the substrate.