Biochannel assay for hybridization with biomaterial

• US 6,960,467 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Osmetech Technology Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Clinical Micro Sensors Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Choong, Vi-En, Foley, Barbara, Shieh, Chan-Long, Yu, Huinan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Christopher L.
• Application Number:
  US10/028,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 435/4, 435/6, 435/7.1, 435/287.1, 435/287.2, 435/288.4, 435/288.5, 435/810, 436/514, 436/517, 436/518, 436/528, 436/529, 436/531
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00416 Vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00418 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00421 using centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00432 Photolithographic masks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0052 in the shape of elongated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00522 in a multiple parallel arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel 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 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 by the use of solid beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00707 separated from the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00711 Light-directed synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• 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 2300/087 : Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 : electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 : magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 : vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 : by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• 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 7/525 : with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6834 : Enzymatic or biochemical coupling of nucleic acids to a solid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/629 : being a microfluidic device
• 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 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/02 : Micromixers: segmented laminar flow with boundary mixing orthogonal to the direction of fluid propagation with or without geometry influences from the pathway
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 : Packaged device or kit

Abstract

The invention relates to a microfluidic device with microchannels that have separated regions which have a member of a specific binding pair member such as DNA or RNA bound to porous polymer, beads or structures fabricated into the microchannel. The microchannels of the invention are fabricated from plastic and are operatively associated with a fluid propelling component and detector.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

(i) a first microchannel comprising a plurality of spatially distinct regions upon which a member of a specific binding pair is immobilized;

(ii) at least a first entrance port and at least a first exit port for the transportation of at least one test sample;

(iii) a fluid propelling component that controls that flow rate of said test sample; and

(iv) a recirculating arm for recirculating said test sample across a spatially distinct regions.

2. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said first microchannel is serpentine.

3. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one valve in said exit port.

4. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said first microchannel branches into multiple second microfluidic channels each of which comprises a plurality of spatially distinct regions upon which a member of a specific binding pair is immobilized.

5. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said device is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon dioxide, glass, plastic and ceramic.

6. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, where in said spatially distinct regions comprise porous polymers.

7. A microfluidic device according to claim 6, wherein said porous polymer is a a hydrogel pad.

8. A microfluidic device according to claim 7, wherein said hydrogel pad is a patterned gel pad further comprising spatially separated portions within said hydrogel pad.

9. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein each of said spatially distinct regions has a different member of a specific binding pair immobilized thereto.

10. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said spatially distinct regions in said microchannel comprise beads with said member of said specific binding pair immobilized thereto.

11. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said spatially distinct regions comprise microstructures fabricated into said microchannel.

12. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said microstructures comprise a series of columns molded into said first microchannel.

13. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said microstructures comprise domes molded into said first microchannel.

14. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said specific binding pair members are nucleic acids.

15. A microfluidic device according to claim 14, wherein said nucleic acid is a DNA.

16. A microfluidic device according to claim 14, wherein said nucleic acid is a RNA.

17. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said specific binding pair members are proteins.

18. A microfluidic device according to claim 17, wherein the proteins for one member of said specific binding pair are antigens.

19. A microfluidic device according to claim 17, wherein the proteins for one member of said specific binding pair are antibodies.

20. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid propelling component comprises a pressurized gas, a vacuum, an electrical field, a magnetic field or a centrifugal force.

21. A method of detecting a specific binding member in a test sample, said method comprising passing said test sample through the microfluidic device described in claim 1, 2, or 4, to form a binding pair and detecting said binding pair.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said test sample is recirculated.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the flow rate of said test sample is adjusted using a fluid propelling component to increase contact between said binding pairs.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein said fluid propelling component comprises a pressurized gas, a vacuum, an electrical field, a magnetic field or a centrifugal force.