Capillary electrokinesis based cellular assays
First Claim
1. A method for performing cell-based operations capable of identifying single cell status, employing a microfluidic device having (i) a reservoir containing cells for said cell-based operations, said reservoir containing an appropriate viable cell supporting medium, (ii) a first capillary channel in fluid transfer relationship with said reservoir, (iii) an electroosmotic pump comprising a second capillary channel in fluid receiving relationship with said first channel, (iv) an electrokinetic medium in said second capillary channel and (v) a pair of electrodes for creating an electrical field in said electrokinetic medium for moving electrokinetic medium in said second channel, and (vi) a detector, said method comprising:
- at least prior to adding said cells to said reservoir, contacting said cells with a compound of interest that affects the status of said cells;
contacting said cells with a labeled ligand which competes with the compound of interest for binding to a cell receptor;
applying an electrical field to said electrokinetic medium in said second capillary channel in a direction to remove liquid from said first channel, whereby cells move from said reservoir into said first channel;
continuing removal of liquid from said first channel while moving said cells to the site of said detector, and determining the effect of said compound of interest on the status of said cells by measuring the amount of labeled ligand bound to said cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cell based assays are performed in a microfluidic device, where the cells are introduced into a reservoir and are contacted with one or more agents prior to or during their residence in the reservoir or in a capillary channel connected to the reservoir. The cells are moved by electrokinesis individually from the reservoir to a detector, where the status of the cells as a result of contacting said agents is determined. Conditions are provided for moving the cells electrophoretically or by electroosmotic force, where the cells may be viable or fixed, natural or genetically modified.
232 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for performing cell-based operations capable of identifying single cell status, employing a microfluidic device having (i) a reservoir containing cells for said cell-based operations, said reservoir containing an appropriate viable cell supporting medium, (ii) a first capillary channel in fluid transfer relationship with said reservoir, (iii) an electroosmotic pump comprising a second capillary channel in fluid receiving relationship with said first channel, (iv) an electrokinetic medium in said second capillary channel and (v) a pair of electrodes for creating an electrical field in said electrokinetic medium for moving electrokinetic medium in said second channel, and (vi) a detector, said method comprising:
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at least prior to adding said cells to said reservoir, contacting said cells with a compound of interest that affects the status of said cells;
contacting said cells with a labeled ligand which competes with the compound of interest for binding to a cell receptor;
applying an electrical field to said electrokinetic medium in said second capillary channel in a direction to remove liquid from said first channel, whereby cells move from said reservoir into said first channel;
continuing removal of liquid from said first channel while moving said cells to the site of said detector, and determining the effect of said compound of interest on the status of said cells by measuring the amount of labeled ligand bound to said cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for performing cell-based operations identifying single cell status, employing a microfluidic device having a reservoir containing cells for said cell-based operations, said reservoir containing an appropriate viable cell supporting medium, a first capillary channel in fluid transfer relationship with said reservoir, an electroosmotic pump comprising a second capillary channel in fluid receiving relationship with said first channel, an electrokinetic medium in said second capillary channel and a pair of electrodes for creating an electrical field in said electrokinetic medium for moving electrokinetic medium in said second channel, and a detector, said method comprising:
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adding a labeled ligand by electrokinetic means into said first capillary channel to contact said cells, wherein said labeled ligand binds to a cell surface receptor of said cells;
applying an electrical field to said electrokinetic medium in said second capillary channel in a direction to remove liquid from said first channel, whereby cells move individually from said reservoir into said first channel;
adding by electrokinetic means into said first channel a compound of interest for contact in said first channel with said cells;
moving said cells to the site of said detector; and
determining the effect of said compound on the status of said cells by detecting the presence of said labeled ligand. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for performing cell based operations identifying single cell status, employing a microfluidic device having a reservoir containing fixed cells for said cell based operations, a capillary channel in fluid transfer relationship with said reservoir, a pair of electrodes for creating an electrical field in a conductive medium for moving cells in said channel and a detector, said method comprising:
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at least prior to adding said cells to said reservoir, contacting said cells with an agent that affects the status of said cells;
applying an electrical field to said conductive medium in said capillary channel, whereby cells individually move from said reservoir into said channel;
moving said cells to the site of said detector; and
determining the effect of said agent on the status of said cells. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification