Electrophoretic buss for transport of charged materials in a multi-chamber system

• US 6,375,899 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gamida for Life B.V.
• Original Assignee: Nanogen, Inc.
• Inventors: Ackley, Donald E., Sheldon, Edward L., Krihak, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marschel, Ardin H.
• Application Number:
  US09/203,730
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/63, 422/68.1, 422/69, 422/70, 422/99, 422/129, 435/283.1, 435/285.1, 435/285.2, 435/286.5, 435/287.3, 435/289.1, 435/294.1, 435/305.1, 435/305.2
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00614 Delimitation of the attachment areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00617 by chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00686 Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 : Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00713 : Electrochemical synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0072 : Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 : Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 : Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00731 : Saccharides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 : Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 : Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 : Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 : Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 : Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 : Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 : electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 : electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0424 : Dielectrophoretic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 : specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 : characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 : characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 : characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 : specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 : Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 : Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: C07B 2200/11 : Compounds covalently bound to a solid support
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 21/00 : Compounds containing two or more mononucleotide units having separate phosphate or polyphosphate groups linked by saccharide radicals of nucleoside groups, e.g. nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/04 : on carriers C07K1/003, C07K1/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/045 : using devices to improve synthesis, e.g. reactors, special vessels
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/047 : Simultaneous synthesis of different peptide species; Peptide libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6813 : Hybridisation assays
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6816 : characterised by the detection means C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 : Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6837 : using probe arrays or probe chips C12Q1/6874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/515 : characterised by the interaction between or sequential use of two or more arrays
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 : being a sensor, e.g. electrode
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 : Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/12 : Libraries containing saccharides or polysaccharides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 : Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44743 : Introducing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0014 : comprising cells based on organic memory material
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0019 : comprising bio-molecules
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/04 : using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 19/00 : Digital stores in which the information is moved stepwise, e.g. shift registers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/50 : Multistep manufacturing processes of assemblies consisting of devices, each device being of a type provided for in group H01L27/00 or H01L29/00 H01L21/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and applications for use of a stacked, reconfigurable system for electrophoretic transport are provided. In one embodiment, a system having a first chamber including at least a bottom support and an intermediate support, and a second chamber, said second chamber including a bottom support and a top member, the first and second chambers being coupled through a via. Electrophoretic, and optional electro-osmotic and thermal, transport is effected. In another aspect of this invention, three or more chambers are coupled by an electrophoretic buss. The electrophoretic buss includes driving electrodes and is adapted to receive fluid containing materials for transport. The chambers are coupled to the electrophoretic buss and serve as a tap from the buss for delivery of charged materials. In one embodiment, certain functions are performed in different chambers. For example, the first chamber may receive the sample and perform sample processing functions, the second chamber may perform amplification procedures, yet a third chamber may perform hybridization or other assays, and yet another chamber may perform immunoassays. By separating various functions to different chambers, speed and sensitivity may be improved. In yet another aspect of this invention, analysis from a earlier stage may be utilized in a subsequent stage to reconfigure the system for optimum use. In one application, analysis at a first level is utilized to determine an action at a second level, such as the synthesis of a compound. The synthesized compound in response to a biohazard may comprise vaccine or antidote.

Claims

1. A system for the transport of charged materials comprising:

a first chamber,

a second chamber stacked on top of the first chamber,

a third chamber stacked on top of the second chamber, and

an electrophoretic buss, said buss defining a chamber region spanning the first, second, and third chambers, the chamber region disposed on one side of the first, second, and third chambers, said buss including at least first and second driving electrodes disposed at substantially opposite ends of the chamber region.

2. A system for the transport of charged materials comprising:

a first chamber,

a second chamber stacked on top of the first chamber,

a third chamber stacked on top of the second chamber,

at least one collection electrode disposed within one of said first, second, and third chambers, and

an electrophoretic buss, said buss defining a chamber region spanning the first, second, and third chambers, the chamber region disposed on one side of the first, second, and third chambers, said buss including at least first and second driving electrodes disposed at substantially opposite ends of the chamber region.

3. A system for the transport of charged materials comprising:

a first chamber,

a second chamber stacked on top of the first chamber,

a third chamber stacked on top of the second chamber,

an electrophoretic buss, said buss defining a chamber region spanning the first, second, and third chambers, the chamber region disposed on one side of the first, second, and third chambers, said buss including at least first and second driving electrodes disposed at substantially opposite ends of the chamber region, and

a molecular weight cut-off membrane disposed within at least one via located between the first and second chamber or between the second and third chamber.

4. A system of claim 3, wherein the molecular weight cut-off membrane is disposed in said buss.

5. A system for the transport of charged materials comprising:

a first chamber,

a second chamber stacked on top of the first chamber,

a third chamber stacked on top of the second chamber,

an assay chip located in one of said first, second, and third chambers, and

an electrophoretic buss, said buss defining a chamber region spanning the first, second, and third chambers, the chamber region disposed on one side of the first, second, and third chambers, said buss including at least first and second driving electrodes disposed at substantially opposite ends of the chamber region.

6. A system for the transport of charged materials comprising:

a first chamber,

a second chamber stacked on top of the first chamber,

a third chamber stacked on top of the second chamber,

a reconfigurable array of electronically addressable microlocations located in one of said first, second, and third chambers, and

an electrophoretic buss, said buss defining a chamber region spanning the first, second, and third chambers, the chamber region disposed on one side of the first, second, and third chambers, said buss including at least first and second driving electrodes disposed at substantially opposite ends of the chamber region.

7. A system for the transport of charged materials comprising:

a plurality of stacked chambers, wherein adjacent chambers are stacked on top of one another,

an electrophoretic buss, said buss including a chamber region spanning said plurality of chambers, the chamber region disposed on one side of the plurality of stacked chambers , said buss including at least first and second driving electrodes disposed on substantially opposite ends of the chamber region, and

at least one electrode disposed within one of the plurality of chambers, the at least one electrode having a charge opposite to at least a portion of the charged materials so as to attract the oppositely charged materials from the electrophoretic buss and into the chamber containing the at least one electrode.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one electrode is a collection electrode.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one electrode is an upper electrode.

10. A method of taping selected charged biological materials from an electrophoretic buss, said buss located on the side of and spanning a plurality of stacked chambers, said buss including a first and second driving electrode, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting charged biological materials within the buss in a first direction via said first and second driving electrodes, and

charging at least one collection electrode located in one of said plurality of chambers with a charge that is opposite to at least a portion of the charged biological material, wherein said charging attracts a portion of the charged biological materials and transports said portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in the chamber containing the at least one collection electrode.

11. The method according to claim 10 further including the step of charging at least one upper electrode disposed with one of said plurality of chambers with a charge that is opposite to at least a portion of the charged biological material, wherein said charging of the at least one upper electrode assists in the attraction and transportation of the portion of charged biological materials.