METHODS FOR CULTURING AND ANALYZING CELLS

• US 20100297685A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stokes Bio Ltd. (Perspecta, Inc.), Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stokes Bio Ltd. (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davies, Mark, Dalton, Tara
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/10 Mixing by creating a vortex flow, e.g. by tangential introduction of flow components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/185 using a liquid as fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• 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: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00514 Stationary mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5008 for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to methods for culturing and analyzing cells using liquid bridges.

Claims

8. A method for analyzing effect of at least one agent on a cell or cellular component, the method comprising the steps of:

generating sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the droplets comprise at least one cell or cellular component;

dispensing the wrapped droplets to at least one vessel comprising at least one agent; and

analyzing the effect of the agent on the cells.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein prior to the dispensing step, the method further comprises lysing the cell in the wrapped droplet.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein generating comprises:

flowing a sample fluid comprising a plurality of cells to a liquid bridge, wherein the liquid bridge segments the sample fluid to produce the wrapped sample droplets.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein generating comprises:

dipping an open ended channel into a vessel to produce a sample droplet comprising at least one cell.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising mixing the sample droplet with cell culture media.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein mixing comprises:

flowing the sample droplet to a liquid bridge to mix with a droplet of cell culture media to generate a mixed wrapped droplet.

9. The method according to claim 31, wherein the droplets comprise a single cell.

13. A method for culturing cells, the method comprising:

generating sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the droplets comprise at least one cell; and

culturing the cells.

1. A method for analyzing the affect of at least one agent on a cell or cellular component, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the droplet comprises at least one cell or cellular component and at least one agent; and

analyzing the wrapped droplet to determine effect of the agent on the cell or cellular component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step, the method further comprises dispensing the mixed wrapped droplet to at least one collecting vessel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step, the method further comprises lysing the cell.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step, the method further comprises establishing a siphoning effect to dispense the mixed wrapped droplet.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a liquid bridge is used to form the wrapped droplet.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent is an anti-cancer agent.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the cell is a cancerous cell.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the wrapped droplet further comprises a support matrix.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein prior to the culturing step, the method further comprises establishing a siphoning effect, wherein the siphoning effect is used to dispense the wrapped droplets

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein generating comprises:

flowing a sample fluid comprising a plurality of cells to a liquid bridge, wherein the liquid bridge segments the sample fluid to produce the wrapped sample droplets.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein generating comprises:

dipping an open ended channel into a vessel to produce a sample droplet comprising at least one cell.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cells are obtained from a human tissue or body fluid.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cells are tumor cells.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cells are brain cells.

24. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cells are embryonic cells.

25. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cells are cell aggregates.

16-1. The method according to claim 13, wherein prior to the culturing step, the method further comprises dispensing the droplets.