Sample Processing Droplet Actuator, System and Method

• US 20080230386A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Duke University, Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. (Illumina Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Duke University
• Inventors: Pamula, Vamsee K., Srinivasan, Vijay, Pollack, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US11/839,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080230386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/450
• 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 2219/00466 in a slurry
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 High throughput processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0893 having a very large number of wells, microfabricated wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502784 specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics automatic analysis using a stream of discrete samples in a tube system G01N35/08
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/1136 by reversible modification of the secondary, tertiary or quarternary structure, e.g. using denaturating or stabilising agents
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/58 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/00 Single-crystal growth from solutions using solvents which are liquid at normal temperature, e.g. aqueous solutions from molten solvents C30B9/00; by normal or gradient freezing C30B11/00; under a protective fluid C30B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Sample processing droplet actuators, systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a stamping device including a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first plate including a path or network of control electrodes for transporting droplets on a surface thereof; (b) a second plate mounted in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first plate providing an interior volume between the plates, the second plate including one or more stamping ports for transporting some portion or all of a droplet from the interior volume to an exterior location; (c) a port for introducing fluid into the interior volume between the plates; and (d) a path or network of reference electrodes corresponding to the path or network of control electrodes. Associated systems and methods including the stamping device are also provided.

Claims

1. A stamping device comprising a droplet microactuator comprising:

(a) a first plate comprising a path or network of control electrodes for transporting droplets on a surface thereof;

(b) a second plate mounted in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first plate providing an interior volume between the plates, the second plate comprising one or more stamping ports for transporting some portion or all of a droplet from the interior volume to an exterior location;

(c) a port for introducing fluid into the interior volume between the plates; and

(d) a path or network of reference electrodes corresponding to the path or network of control electrodes.

2. The stamping device of claim 1 further comprising one or more droplets in the interior volume on the network of control electrodes.

3. The stamping device of claim 2 wherein the one or more droplets comprises one or more droplets comprising a MALDI matrix.

4. The stamping device of claim 3 wherein the MALDI matrix comprises acetonitrile in an amount sufficient to keep miscibility of the acetonitrile in the filler fluid at a level which does not eliminate the effectiveness of the stamping device.

5. The stamping device of claim 3 wherein the MALDI matrix comprises from about 40% to about 75% acetonitrile.

6. The stamping device of claim 3 wherein the MALDI matrix comprises from about 50% to about 70% acetonitrile.

7. The stamping device of claim 3 wherein the MALDI matrix comprises from about 0.05% to about 1% TFA.

8. The stamping device of claim 3 wherein the MALDI matrix comprises:

(a) from about 50% to about 70% acetonitrile; and

(b) from about 0.05% to about 1% TFA.

9. The stamping device of claim 1 further comprising one or more reagent reservoirs and one or more ports for introducing fluid into the one or more reagent reservoirs, wherein the one or more reagent reservoirs are situated in proximity to the path or network of the control electrodes such that reagent droplets can be dispensed onto the path or network of control electrodes.

10. The stamping device of claim 1 further comprising one or more sample reservoirs and one or more ports for introducing fluid into the one or more sample reservoirs, wherein the one or more sample reservoirs are situated in proximity to the path or network of the control electrodes such that sample droplets can be dispensed onto the path or network of control electrodes.

11. A system comprising:

(a) the stamping device of claim 1;

(b) a computer processor electronically coupled to the stamping device and programmed to effect control of droplet operations on the stamping device;

(c) one or more input devices electronically coupled to the computer processor; and

(d) one or more output devices electronically coupled to the computer processor.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

(a) one or more reagent reservoirs and one or more ports for introducing fluid into the one or more reagent reservoirs, wherein the one or more reagent reservoirs are situated in proximity to the path or network of the control electrodes such that reagent droplets can be dispensed onto the path or network of control electrodes; and

(b) one or more sample reservoirs and one or more ports for introducing fluid into the one or more sample reservoirs, wherein the one or more sample reservoirs are situated in proximity to the path or network of the control electrodes such that sample droplets can be dispensed onto the path or network of control electrodes.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the system is controlled and configured to:

(a) dispense a sample droplet from a sample reservoir onto the path or network of control electrodes;

(b) dispense a MALDI matrix droplet from a reagent reservoir onto the path or network of control electrodes;

(c) merge the sample droplet and MALDI matrix droplet to yield a MALDI-ready droplet; and

(d) transport some portion or all of the MALDI-ready droplet through a stamping port.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the steps are accomplished using multiple samples without significant cross-contamination among samples.

15. A method of stamping comprising employing the system of claim 13 to deliver one or more MALDI-ready droplets to a MALDI substrate.