Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces

• US 6,955,751 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BioArray Solutions Limited (Werfen SA)
• Original Assignee: BioArray Solutions Limited (Werfen SA)
• Inventors: Seul, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayekar, Kishor
• Application Number:
  US09/688,574
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 204/450, 204/477, 204/478, 204/485, 204/490, 436/354
• US Class Current: 204/450
• 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 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 by the use of solid beads
• 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 2219/00713 Electrochemical synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0652 Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0663 Stretching or orienting elongated molecules or particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0454 radiation pressure, optical tweezers
• 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 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 : 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: 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 2563/155 : Particles of a defined size, e.g. nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/501 : being an array of oligonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 : being a sensor, e.g. electrode
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/00 : Libraries per se, e.g. arrays, mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/04 : Libraries containing only organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1468 : with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 : specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1497 : Particle shape
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/447 : using electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 : Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6845 : Methods of identifying protein-protein interactions in protein mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0012 : characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 : arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0075 : characterized by non-optical structures, e.g. having integrated holding or alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 3/04 : Acceleration by electromagnetic wave pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 : Optical sensing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 : Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/814 : Enzyme separation or purification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/806 : Electrical property or magnetic property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 : Automated or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 : Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25125 : Digestion or removing interfering materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for the creation of material surfaces with desired properties and far the fabrication of surface-mounted optical components.

Claims

1. A method of forming an array of particles, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a first and second electrodes, each having a surface, said surfaces being opposed and positioned to accommodate a liquid medium between said surfaces, said liquid medium having polarizable particles suspended therein; and

generating an electric field at an interface between the second electrode and the liquid medium, wherein the second electrode comprises either;

(a) a light-sensitive electrode capable of controlling the movement of the particles and/or the liquid medium in a direction substantially parallel to the electrode surface when an electric field is generated with n said interface and the light-sensitive electrode is illuminated with a predetermined light pattern, resulting in formation of an ordered array of particles in at least one designated area of the surface of the second electrode, said designated area being defined by the illumination pattern;

or

(b) the second electrode is physically or chemically patterned to distribute an electric field in a predetermined manner, when an electric field is generated within said interface, in order to control the movement of the particles and/or the liquid medium in a direction substantially parallel to the electrode surface, said patterning affecting the local distribution of the electric field at the interface, such that the generation of the electric field results in formation of an ordered array of particles in at least one designated area of the surface of the second electrode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the refractive index of the particles is different from the refractive index of the liquid medium.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is the planar light-sensitive electrode, and wherein the illumination in combination with the interfacial electric field results in formation of an ordered array of particles in said designated area defined by the illumination pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical or chemical patterning of the second electrode, which is a planar electrode, distributes the electric field in a predetermined manner so as to define said at least one designated area where the ordered array of particles is formed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second electrode has been modified so as to affect its interfacial impedance or surface charge density.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the second electrode also has an interior and the surface or the interior of the second electrode is modified by spatially modulated oxide growth, surface chemical patterning or surface profiling.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the second electrode also has an interior and one or more areas of the surface or the interior of the second electrode are modified to exhibit low impedance, said areas of low impedance defining said at least one designated area where the ordered array of particles is formed.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the second electrode is both physically or chemically patterned and light-sensitive and said at least one designated area where the ordered array of the particles is formed is defined in accordance with the predetermined light pattern and the physical or chemical patterning.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a silicon electrode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises an ITO film.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ITO film is deposited on a flexible transparent substrate.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrodes are both planar electrodes substantially parallel to each other.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric field is generated by applying an AC voltage between the first and the second electrodes, with or without application of a DC voltage.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles, in forming the array, are transported in a direction substantially parallel to said interface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium comprises an electrolyte solution.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles are glass or polymeric beads.