Methods for filing a sample array by droplet dragging

• US 7,547,556 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Kanigan, Tanya S., Brenan, Colin J. H., Hunter, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Soderquist; Arlen
• Application Number:
  US10/958,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20050079105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 356/244, 356/246, 359/599, 359/886, 362/318, 362/342, 362354-356, 422 56- 58, 422 8205- 8209, 422/100, 422/102, 422/104, 436/43, 436164-166, 436171-172, 436/174, 436179-180, 436/183, 506/34
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30351 using hydrophilic/hydrophobic surfaces
• 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 2219/00283 Reactor vessels with top opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00319 the blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0036 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00373 Hollow needles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00389 Feeding through valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0043 for direct application of reagents, e.g. through openings in a shutter
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00479 Means for mixing reactants or products in the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00511 Walls of reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00533 essentially rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00536 in the shape of disks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00549 : 2-dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 : Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 : High throughput 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 2219/00659 : Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00686 : Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 : Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 : Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0845 : Filaments, strings, fibres, i.e. not hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/022 : droplet contacts the surface of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0262 : using touch-off at substrate or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 : for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 : for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 : Multi-well filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 : using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 : Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 : Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 : Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 : with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/82 : Automatic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 : Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0481 : Puncturing

Abstract

A method and an array filling system for loading a plurality of disparate sample containers, the sample containers comprising an integral structure. Each receptacle is characterized by a hydrophilic surface, and the receptacles are separated by a hydrophobic surface. The system has a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid and adapted for motion to cause sequential communication of liquid held in the liquid transfer device with successive receptacles of the array by dragging the liquid across the hydrophobic surface.

Claims

1. An array filling system for transferring liquid to an array of receptacles, the system comprising:

an array of receptacles characterized by a hydrophilic surface, the receptacles separated by a hydrophobic surface;

a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid; and

a controller configured to position the liquid transfer device in proximity to the hydrophobic surface and to move the liquid transfer device across the hydrophobic surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause sequential communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with the hydrophilic surface of each receptacle.

2. An array filling system in accordance with claim 1, the system further comprising:

an array of liquid transfer devices capable of holding liquid,

wherein the controller is configured to position the array of liquid transfer devices in proximity to the hydrophobic surface and to move the array of liquid transfer devices across the hydrophobic surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause sequential communication of liquids in the array of liquid transfer devices with the hydrophilic surface of each receptacle.

3. An array filling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to move the liquid transfer device away from the hydrophobic surface to cause the removal of any excess liquid from the hydrophobic surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a test sample.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the receptacles contain a reagent.

6. A method for transferring a liquid into an array of receptacles, each receptacle having a hydrophilic surface, the receptacles separated by a hydrophobic surface, the method comprising:

a. positioning a liquid transfer device in proximity to the hydrophobic surface; and

b. moving the liquid fluid transfer device across the hydrophobic surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause sequential communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with the hydrophilic surface of each receptacle.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

c. withdrawing residual liquid from the hydrophobic surface.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of causing communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with the hydrophilic surfaces of the plurality of hydrophilic receptacles includes forming a droplet of the liquid on the end of a capillary.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of causing communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with hydrophilic surfaces of the plurality of hydrophilic receptacles includes forming a droplet of the liquid on the end of a pipette.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of causing communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with hydrophilic surfaces of the plurality of hydrophilic receptacles includes forming a droplet of the liquid on the end of a needle.

11. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of causing communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with hydrophilic surfaces of the plurality of hydrophilic receptacles includes transferring liquid into through-holes of an array of through-holes.

12. A method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

c. moving the fluid transfer device away from the hydrophobic surface to cause the removal of any excess liquid from the hydrophobic surface.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid is a test sample.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of the receptacles contain a reagent.

15. A method for loading a liquid into a plurality of through-holes of a platen, the platen having a top surface, the top surface having an opening to each through-hole, the method comprising:

a. forming a droplet of the liquid on the end of a liquid transfer device;

b. moving the liquid transfer device so as to drag the droplet across the top surface of the platen and over the through-holes to be filled;

c. dispensing the liquid in such a manner as to keep the droplet from being depleted; and

d. withdrawing the droplet from the surface after the through-holes are filled.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid transfer device is a capillary.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the platen is characterized by two outer layers of hydrophobic material, and wherein each through-hole has an inner hydrophilic surface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the inner hydrophilic surface draws the liquid samples into the through-holes and the outer hydrophobic layers prevent outmigration of the liquid sample.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the liquid is a test sample.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the receptacles contain a reagent.