Individually addressable micro-electromagnetic unit array chips
First Claim
1. A method for directing reactions between ligand molecules and target molecules, comprising the steps of:
- providing a unit having a plurality of individually addressable micro-electromagneticcores;
forming a functional layer for immobilizing ligand molecules above said cores;
providing modified ligand molecules capable of being positioned by magnetic fields;
disposing a solution containing said modified ligand molecules on said functional layer;
creating a pattern of immobilized ligand molecules by selectively energizing said cores to form magnetic fields which position said modified ligand molecules at predetermined locations where said ligand molecules become immobilized on said functional layer;
providing modified target molecules able to be positioned by magnetic fields;
disposing a solution containing said modified target molecules on said pattern of immobilized ligand molecules; and
selectively energizing said cores to form magnetic fields which position said modified target molecules in juxtaposition to predetermined immobilized ligand molecules thereby directing a reaction between said target molecules and said ligand molecules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides electromagnetic chips and electromagnetic biochips having arrays of individually addressable micro-electromagnetic units, as well as methods of utilizing these chips for directed manipulation of micro-particles and micro-structures such as biomolecules and chemical reagents. An electromagnetic biochip comprises an individually addressable micro-electromagnetic unit chip with ligand molecules immobilized on its surface. By controlling the electromagnetic field at each unit of the array and combining this control with magnetic modification of biomolecules, these chips can be used for directed manipulation, synthesis and release of biomolecules in order to increase sensitivity of biochemical or chemical analysis and reduce assay time. Other advantages with these chips include minimized damages to biological molecules and increased reproducibility of assay results.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for directing reactions between ligand molecules and target molecules, comprising the steps of:
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providing a unit having a plurality of individually addressable micro-electromagneticcores;
forming a functional layer for immobilizing ligand molecules above said cores;
providing modified ligand molecules capable of being positioned by magnetic fields;
disposing a solution containing said modified ligand molecules on said functional layer;
creating a pattern of immobilized ligand molecules by selectively energizing said cores to form magnetic fields which position said modified ligand molecules at predetermined locations where said ligand molecules become immobilized on said functional layer;
providing modified target molecules able to be positioned by magnetic fields;
disposing a solution containing said modified target molecules on said pattern of immobilized ligand molecules; and
selectively energizing said cores to form magnetic fields which position said modified target molecules in juxtaposition to predetermined immobilized ligand molecules thereby directing a reaction between said target molecules and said ligand molecules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification