Method for determining diffusivity and molecular weight in a microfluidic device
First Claim
1. A method for determining the diffusivity of an unknown sample solute in a microchannel network, comprising the steps of:
- providing an unknown sample solute stream;
providing a blank stream, wherein at least one of the unknown sample solute stream and the blank stream comprises a detectable first indicator;
allowing said unknown sample solute stream to contact said blank stream, such that a portion of said unknown sample solute in said unknown sample solute stream diffuses into said blank stream;
creating a curve that represents a concentration of said unknown sample solute that diffused into said blank stream as a function of flowrate of at least one of said unknown sample solute stream and said blank stream; and
extrapolating diffusivity of said unknown sample solute by comparing said curve to at least two curves created under similar conditions using solutes of known diffusivity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for determining the molecular weight and diffusivity of a sample solute by providing a plus shaped microchannel network on a microfluidic chip, having at least four microchannels intersecting at a cross point; flowing a sample stream comprising a sample solute of unknown diffusivity and a blank stream from separate microchannels through the cross point and out to separate microchannels; creating a sample curve measuring the concentration of the sample solute that diffuses from the sample stream to the blank stream at the cross point while altering the flowrate of one of the blank stream or the sample stream; and determining a diffusion coefficient of the sample solute by extrapolating data from similar curves of at least two solutes having known molecular weights and/or diffusion coefficients created under similar conditions as those generated by the sample solute.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for determining the diffusivity of an unknown sample solute in a microchannel network, comprising the steps of:
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providing an unknown sample solute stream; providing a blank stream, wherein at least one of the unknown sample solute stream and the blank stream comprises a detectable first indicator; allowing said unknown sample solute stream to contact said blank stream, such that a portion of said unknown sample solute in said unknown sample solute stream diffuses into said blank stream; creating a curve that represents a concentration of said unknown sample solute that diffused into said blank stream as a function of flowrate of at least one of said unknown sample solute stream and said blank stream; and extrapolating diffusivity of said unknown sample solute by comparing said curve to at least two curves created under similar conditions using solutes of known diffusivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification