Method and apparatus for processing nucleic acids using a small temperature-changing zone
First Claim
1. A method for rapid processing of nucleic acids in a reaction mixture, the method comprisingtemperature-regulating the reaction mixture by changing a temperature of a temperature-changing element to effect a temperature change in a temperature-changing zone which adjoins the temperature-changing element, while maintaining the remaining portion of the reaction mixture at essentially isothermal conditions throughout the temperature-regulating step, wherein the temperature-changing element has a surface which adjoins the temperature-changing zone, the temperature-changing zone is relatively small as compared to the entire reaction mixture and comprises an area less than 0.2 mm in length from the surface, and reagents capable of binding to the nucleic acids to be processed are bound to the surface.
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Abstract
Method and device for processing nucleic acids in a reaction mixture on a surface that can be temperature-controlled and its immediate vicinity wherein the main space of the reaction mixture remains essentially isothermal. The method has the advantage of a very short processing time.
38 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for rapid processing of nucleic acids in a reaction mixture, the method comprising
temperature-regulating the reaction mixture by changing a temperature of a temperature-changing element to effect a temperature change in a temperature-changing zone which adjoins the temperature-changing element, while maintaining the remaining portion of the reaction mixture at essentially isothermal conditions throughout the temperature-regulating step, wherein the temperature-changing element has a surface which adjoins the temperature-changing zone, the temperature-changing zone is relatively small as compared to the entire reaction mixture and comprises an area less than 0.2 mm in length from the surface, and reagents capable of binding to the nucleic acids to be processed are bound to the surface.
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3. A method for detecting nucleic acids in a reaction mixture, comprising
providing a reaction mixture containing nucleic acids to be detected and reactants for processing the nucleic acids in a processing procedure; -
temperature-regulating the reaction mixture by changing temperatures of a temperature-changing element to effect temperature changes in a temperature-changing zone which adjoins the temperature-changing element, while maintaining the remaining portion of the reaction mixture at essentially isothermal conditions throughout the temperature-regulating step, to amplify any nucleic acids in the temperature-changing zone, wherein the temperature-changing element has a surface which adjoins the temperature-changing zone, the temperature-changing zone is relatively small as compared to the entire reaction mixture and comprises an area less than 0.2 mm in length from the surface, and reagents capable of binding to the nucleic acids to be processed are bound to the surface; and detecting the amplified nucleic acids.
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18. A system for processing nucleic acids in a reaction mixture, comprising
a reaction mixture containing nucleic acids to be detected and reactants for processing the nucleic acids in a processing procedure, and a temperature-changing element which effects temperature changes in a temperature-changing zone of the reaction mixture while maintaining the remaining portion of the reaction mixture at essentially isothermal conditions, wherein the temperature-changing element has a surface which adjoins the temperature-changing zone, the temperature-changing zone is relatively small as compared to the entire reaction mixture and comprises an area less than 0.2 mm in length from the surface, and binding means for binding agents for processing the nucleic acids are bound to the surface.
Specification