Microchemistry reaction method and device

• US 20090191594A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Inventors: Ohashi, Tetsuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,067,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/91.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00655 the compounds being bound to magnets embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• 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 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/34 Polynucleotides, e.g. nucleic acids, oligoribonucleotides

Abstract

A chemical reaction is conducted in a fluid of a droplet inside a reaction receptacle or on a surface of a reaction substrate. Fluctuations of a magnetic field are applied to the droplet including an aqueous solution having magnetic body particles with a hydrophilic surface, and a physical force is transmitted to the surrounding aqueous solution through the magnetic body particles. The droplet is thus moved by the physical force to conduct an operation necessary for a chemical reaction.

Claims

1. A chemical reaction method for conducting a chemical reaction in a fluid of a droplet inside a reaction receptacle or on a surface of a reaction substrate, comprising the steps of:

providing fluctuations of a magnetic field to the droplet including an aqueous solution having magnetic body particles with a hydrophilic surface,

transmitting a physical force to the aqueous solution through the magnetic body particles,

moving the droplet by the physical force, and

conducting an operation necessary for a chemical reaction.

2. A chemical reaction method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction receptacle or the reaction substrate comprises a temperature variation area in which a temperature changes continuously, the droplet being moved to at least one spot inside the temperature variation area by the fluctuations of the magnetic field, and the chemical reaction is conducted by controlling temperature of the droplet.

3. A chemical reaction method according to claim 2, wherein the droplet further comprises nucleic acid for a nucleic acid amplification,

the temperature variation area has a temperature necessary at least for a nucleic-acid amplification, and

the nucleic acid amplification is conducted by moving the droplet to a spot in the temperature variation area controlled to keep at least one temperature necessary for the nucleic-acid amplification.

4. A chemical reaction method according to claim 3, wherein the nucleic acid is attached to surfaces of the magnetic body particles by contacting the magnetic body particles with the hydrophilic surfaces with a sample including the nucleic acid inside the droplet having nucleic-acid extraction liquid for extracting the nucleic acid from the sample.

5. A chemical reaction method according to claim 4, wherein the nucleic acid attached to the surfaces of the magnetic body particles is cleaned inside the droplet including cleaning liquid of the magnetic body particles.

6. A chemical reaction method according to claim 1, wherein a droplet inclusion medium is filled in the reaction receptacle or contacted with the surface of the reaction substrate, said droplet inclusion medium being insoluble in the aqueous solution forming the droplet, the droplet being confined in the droplet inclusion medium.

7. A chemical reaction method according to claim 6, wherein the droplet inclusion medium has a melting point lower than a temperature for conducting the chemical reaction, the droplet inclusion medium being in a solid state and fixing the droplet before conducting the chemical reaction, and being in a liquid state and enabling the droplet to move when the chemical reaction is conducted.

8. A chemical reaction device, comprising:

a droplet formed from an aqueous solution including magnetic body particles with hydrophilic surfaces,

a reaction support for disposing the droplet, and

magnetic field applying means for moving the droplet by providing fluctuations of a magnetic field to the droplet to thereby conduct a chemical reaction.

9. A chemical reaction device according to claim 8, wherein the reaction support is a reaction receptacle or reaction substrate.

10. A chemical reaction device according to claim 9, wherein the reaction receptacle or reaction substrate comprises a temperature variation area so that a temperature changes continuously, and the magnetic field applying means moves the droplet to at least one spot in the temperature variation area and controls to keep a temperature of the droplet.