Method for performing crystallization and reactions in pressure-driven fluid plugs
First Claim
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1. A method of crystallization, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first carrier-fluid, a first fluid comprising a precipitant, a second fluid comprising water, and a third fluid comprising a crystallization target wherein the capillary number of an interface between the first carrier fluid and either the first fluid, the second fluid, the third fluid or a mixture thereof is calculated to be sufficient to allow a plurality of plugs to form in the first carrier-fluid, at least one of the plugs comprising the first, second and third fluids;
b. introducing the first carrier-fluid into a first microchannel of a substrate;
c. introducing into a plug-forming region of the first microchannel;
1) the first fluid comprising the precipitant;
2) the second fluid comprising water; and
3) the third fluid comprising the crystallization target;
where each of the first, second and third fluids is substantially immiscible with the first carrier-fluid;
where pressure is applied when introducing each of the first, second and third fluids; and
where the crystallization target forms a crystal in the at least one of the plugs.
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Abstract
The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of crystallization, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first carrier-fluid, a first fluid comprising a precipitant, a second fluid comprising water, and a third fluid comprising a crystallization target wherein the capillary number of an interface between the first carrier fluid and either the first fluid, the second fluid, the third fluid or a mixture thereof is calculated to be sufficient to allow a plurality of plugs to form in the first carrier-fluid, at least one of the plugs comprising the first, second and third fluids; b. introducing the first carrier-fluid into a first microchannel of a substrate; c. introducing into a plug-forming region of the first microchannel; 1) the first fluid comprising the precipitant; 2) the second fluid comprising water; and 3) the third fluid comprising the crystallization target; where each of the first, second and third fluids is substantially immiscible with the first carrier-fluid; where pressure is applied when introducing each of the first, second and third fluids; and where the crystallization target forms a crystal in the at least one of the plugs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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9. A method of crystallization, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first carrier-fluid and one or more first fluids wherein the capillary number of an interface between the first carrier fluid and either one or a mixture of the first fluids is calculated to be sufficient to allow a plurality of plugs to form in the first carrier-fluid, the plugs comprising the first fluids; b. introducing the first carrier-fluid into a first microchannel of a substrate; c. introducing the one or more first fluids into a first plug-forming region of the first microchannel to form a plug of a first plug type; where the one or more first fluids comprise a precipitant and a crystallization target; and where at least one plug of the first plug type comprises the precipitant and the crystallization target; d. introducing one or more second fluids into either one of; 1) the first plug-forming region; 2) a second plug-forming region of the first microchannel;
or3) a second plug-forming region of a second microchannel; where each of the fluids is substantially immiscible with the first carrier-fluid; where the one or more second fluids form a plug of a second plug type at either one of the first plug-forming region, the second plug-forming region of the first microchannel, or the second plug-forming region of a second microchannel; where the one or more second fluids comprise a precipitant; where at least one of the plugs of the second plug type comprises the precipitant; where pressure is applied to the first and second microchannels when introducing the one or more first fluids and the one or more second fluids; where at least one or more plugs of the first plug type alternate in sequence with one or more plugs of the second plug type; and where the crystallization target forms a crystal in at least one of the at least one or more plugs of the first plug. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33)
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40. A method of crystallization, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first carrier-fluid, a first fluid comprising a precipitant, and a second fluid comprising a crystallization target wherein the capillary number of an interface between the first carrier fluid and either the first fluid, the second fluid or a mixture of the first and second fluids is calculated to be sufficient to allow a plurality of plugs to form in the first carrier-fluid, at least one of the plugs comprising the first and second fluids; b. introducing the first carrier-fluid into a first microchannel of a substrate; c. introducing into a first inlet in fluid communication with the first microchannel; 1) the first fluid comprising the precipitant; and 2) the second fluid comprising the crystallization target; where each of the first and second fluids is substantially immiscible with the first carrier-fluid; where pressure is applied when introducing each of the first and second fluids; and where the crystallization target forms a crystal in the at least one of the plugs. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method of conducting a reaction, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first carrier-fluid, a first fluid comprising a first reagent and a second fluid comprising a second reagent wherein the capillary number of an interface between the first carrier fluid and either the first fluid, the second fluid or a mixture of the first and second fluids is calculated to be sufficient to allow a plurality of plugs to form in the first carrier-fluid, at least one of the plugs comprising the first and second fluids; b. introducing the first carrier-fluid into a first microchannel of a substrate; c. introducing into a first inlet in fluid communication with the first microchannel; 1) the first fluid comprising the first reagent; and 2) the second fluid comprising the second reagent; where each of the first and second fluids is substantially immiscible with the first carrier-fluid; where pressure is applied when introducing each of the first and second fluids; and where the first and second reagent undergo a reaction in the at least one of the plugs.
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Specification