MICROPLATES AND METHODS FOR PROTEIN CRYSTALLIZATION AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

• US 20150093306A1
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiTeGen, LLC
• Original Assignee: MiTeGen, LLC
• Inventors: Thorne, Robert E., Apker, Benjamin, Newman, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,855,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/552
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0678 Facilitating or initiating evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0893 having a very large number of wells, microfabricated wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/12 Well or multiwell plates C12M25/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 35/002 Crucibles or containers

Abstract

Devices and methods for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth and growth of other biological and organic crystals. A microplate includes a plurality of cells and a frame that defines the cells in the microplate. In each cell there is at least one well open at top. Each well in a cell may be enclosed at bottom, or it may be open at bottom, in which case the well bottom may be sealed by a separate part, which may be, e.g., a separate film or plate (e.g., of plastic, glass or metal) or a molded part.

Claims

1. A microplate comprising:

a frame comprising a substantially planar top surface, a bottom surface, and including a plurality of cells formed therein, each cell comprising;

a first well;

a second well;

wherein said first well and said second well are separated by a separation wall extending in a first direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of said frame, and extending in a second direction along a longitudinal axis; and

wherein said first well and said second well are connected via at least one vapor communication channel structured to allow vapor communication between said first well and said second well, and to facilitate the inhibition of liquid transfer between said first well and said second well when at least one cell contains a liquid and when said frame is tilted from a horizontal position or when said frame is subjected to impulsive accelerations.

2. The microplate of claim 1, wherein one of said first well and said second well has a volume of between about 10 microliters to about 200 microliters.

3. The microplate of claim 1, wherein said at least one vapor communication channel is carved into the top surface of said frame.

4. The microplate of claim 3, wherein a top surface of said separation wall comprises a center point and a two end points, and wherein said at least one vapor communication channel is carved into the top surface of said separation wall at a position between the center point and one of the two end points of the top surface of said separation wall.

5. The microplate of claim 4, wherein said at least one vapor communication channel is located adjacent to one of the two end points of the top surface of said separation wall.

6. The microplate of claim 4, wherein said at least one vapor communication channel is carved into the top surface of said separation wall at an angle to the longitudinal axis.

7. The microplate of claim 3, wherein said at least one vapor communication channel is non-linear.

8. The microplate of claim 7, wherein said at least one vapor communication channel is carved into the top surface of said separation wall in a jogged manner.

9. The microplate of claim 3, wherein said at least one vapor communication channel has a width of between about 0.075 millimeters to about 0.25 millimeters.

10. The microplate of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vapor communication channels structured to allow vapor communication between said first well and said second well, and to facilitate the inhibition of liquid transfer between said first well and said second well when at least one cell contains a liquid and when said frame is tilted from a horizontal position or when said frame is subjected to impulsive accelerations, wherein each of which of said plurality of vapor communication channels is carved into the top surface of said frame.

11. The microplate of claim 1, further comprising a liquid retention ledge that is connected to and extends around at least a portion of an interior perimeter of one of said first well and said second well at a predetermined distance below the top surface of the frame, and projects outward from the interior perimeter forming an aperture with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the interior of said one of said first well and said second well.

12. The microplate of claim 11, wherein said liquid retention ledge is structured to facilitate uniform filling of said one of said first well and said second well with liquid as liquid is added and to facilitate the prevention of the formation of air bubbles therein.

13. The microplate of claim 12, wherein said liquid retention ledge is structured to pin the liquid contact line when liquid is added to said one of said first well and said second well thereby facilitating the prevention of the liquid from rising above the level of the liquid retention ridge during the addition of the liquid.

14. The microplate of claim 13, wherein said liquid retention ledge projects outward at a distance of at least 0.2 millimeters from the interior perimeter of said one of said first well and said second well.

15. The microplate of claim 11, wherein said liquid retention ledge is structured to facilitate the prevention of liquid from flowing out of said one of said first well and said second well when said frame is tilted from a horizontal position or when said frame is subjected to impulsive accelerations.

16. The microplate of claim 15, wherein said liquid retention ledge comprises a rectangular cross-section.

17. The microplate of claim 15, wherein said liquid retention ledge comprises a curved bottom portion, wherein said curved bottom portion of said liquid retention ledge is structured to facilitate the prevention of air bubble trapping during filling of said one of said first well and said second well with liquid.

18. The microplate of claim 17, wherein said liquid retention ledge is structured to form a plurality of apertures.

19. The microplate of claim 18, wherein a first one of said plurality of apertures is formed adjacent to the interior perimeter of said one of said first well and said second well.

20. The microplate of claim 19, wherein a second one of said plurality of apertures is substantially centrally formed in said one of said first well and said second well.

21. The microplate of claim 20, wherein each of said first and said second one of said plurality of apertures is substantially circle-shaped.

22. The microplate of claim 21, wherein a diameter of said second one of said plurality of apertures is larger than the diameter of said first one of said plurality of apertures.

23. The microplate of claim 22, wherein said first one of said plurality of apertures has a diameter of about 150 micrometers.

24. The microplate of claim 11, wherein said one of said first well and said second well including said liquid retention ledge further comprises a bottom portion with rounded corners.

25. A microplate comprising:

a frame comprising a substantially planar top surface, a bottom surface, and including a plurality of cells formed therein, each cell comprising;

a first well;

a second well;

wherein said first well and said second well are separated by a separation wall extending in a first direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of said frame, and extending in a second direction along a longitudinal axis; and

a liquid retention ledge that is connected to and extends around at least a portion of an interior perimeter of one of said first well and said second well at a predetermined distance below the top surface of the frame, and projects outward from the interior perimeter forming an aperture with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the interior of said one of said first well and said second well, wherein said liquid retention ledge is structured to facilitate uniform filling of said one of said first well and said second well with liquid as liquid is added and to facilitate the prevention of the formation of air bubbles therein.

26. A microplate comprising:

a frame comprising a substantially planar top surface, a bottom surface, and including a plurality of cells formed therein, each cell comprising;

a first well;

a second well;

wherein said first well and said second well are separated by a separation wall extending in a first direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of said frame, and extending in a second direction along a longitudinal axis; and

a liquid retention ledge that is connected to and extends around at least a portion of an interior perimeter of one of said first well and said second well at a predetermined distance below the top surface of the frame, and projects outward from the interior perimeter forming an aperture with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the interior of said one of said first well and said second well, wherein said liquid retention ledge is structured to facilitate the prevention of liquid from flowing out of said one of said first well and said second well when said frame is tilted from a horizontal position or when said frame is subjected to impulsive accelerations.