Process for manipulation of non-aqueous surrounded microdroplets

• US 5,225,332 A
• Filed: 04/22/1988
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Joseph, Julian, Weaver, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kepplinger, Esther L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scheiner, Toni R.
• Application Number:
  US07/184,969
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 435/29, 435/30, 435/34, 435/39, 435/32, 435/5.7, 435/177, 435/182, 436/518, 436/526, 436/535, 436/829, 428/402.24, 428/402.2, 427/213.35, 264/5
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/00 Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms measuring or testing apparatus with condition measuring or sensing means, e.g. colony counters, C12M1/34; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/18 Testing for antimicrobial activity of a material
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/24 Methods of sampling, or inoculating or spreading a sample; Methods of physically isolating an intact microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/50 Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/829 Liposomes, e.g. encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2984 Microcapsule with fluid core [includes liposome]

Abstract

A process for manipulation of liquid microdroplets is disclosed. The process involves formation of microdroplets such that physical forces based on particular interactions of the microdroplets with a surrounding non-aqueous fluid results can be used to alter the position of the microdroplets.

Claims

1. A method for causing a differential response of an aqueous liquid microdroplet to an applied physical force, relative to a non-aqueous medium in which the aqueous liquid microdroplet is suspended, comprising the steps of:

a) forming at least one aqueous liquid microdroplet from an aqueous medium, whereby the aqueous liquid microdroplet is suspended in a non-aqueous medium, the aqueous medium of the microdroplet including a responsive component, selected from the group consisting of beads and non-biological particles, which responds differentially to the applied physical force relative to the non-aqueous medium and wherein said physical force is a function of electromagnetism; and

b) applying said physical force to the aqueous liquid microdroplet and the non-aqueous medium, thereby causing said differential response of the aqueous liquid microdroplet relative to the non-aqueous medium.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein at least two aqueous liquid microdroplets are formed and the applied physical force causes aggregation of the aqueous liquid microdroplets.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein at least two aqueous liquid microdroplets are formed and the applied physical force causes dispersion of the aqueous liquid microdroplets.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein a biological entity is disposed within at least one of the aqueous liquid microdroplets.

5. A method of claim 4 wherein the biological entity is selected from the group consisting of protoplasts, vesicles, spores, organelles, parasites, viruses, nucleic acid molecules, antibody molecules, antigen molecules and cells.

6. A method for detecting a differential response of an aqueous liquid microdroplet to an applied physical force relative to a non-aqueous medium in which the microdroplet is suspended, comprising the steps of:

a) forming at least one aqueous liquid microdroplet from an aqueous medium, whereby the aqueous liquid microdroplet is suspended in a non-aqueous medium, the aqueous medium of the aqueous liquid microdroplet including a responsive component, selected from the group consisting of beads and non-biological particles, which responds differentially to the applied physical force relative to the non-aqueous medium and wherein said physical force is a function of electromagnetism;

b) applying said physical force to the aqueous liquid microdroplet and the non-aqueous medium, thereby causing said differential response of the aqueous liquid microdroplet relative to the non-aqueous medium; and

c) detecting the differential response of the aqueous liquid microdroplet relative to the non-aqueous medium.

7. A method for detecting a differential response of an aqueous microdroplet to an applied physical force relative to a non-aqueous medium in which the microdroplet is suspended, comprising the steps of:

a) forming an aqueous solution including a solute which causes the aqueous solution to be differentially responsive to the applied physical force relative to said non-aqueous medium and wherein said physical force is a function of electromagnetism;

b) forming the aqueous solution into at least one aqueous liquid microdroplet which is suspended in a non-aqueous medium, whereby the aqueous liquid microdroplet is differentially responsive to said applied physical force relative to the non-aqueous medium;

c) applying said physical force to the aqueous liquid microdroplet and the non-aqueous medium, thereby causing said differential response of the aqueous liquid microdroplet relative to the non-aqueous medium; and

d) detecting the differential response of the aqueous liquid microdroplet relative to the non-aqueous medium.