Photonic crystal sensors with integrated fluid containment structure, sample handling devices incorporating same, and uses thereof for biomolecular interaction analysis

• US 7,968,836 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: X-Body Incorporated (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois, Sru Biosystems Incorporated
• Inventors: Choi, Charles, Cunningham, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US12/800,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20100221847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.1, 250/239, 250/573, 250/237.R, 356/326, 356/437, 356/445, 385 12- 14, 385 4- 8, 385125-142, 436/518, 422 825- 8211, 435 71- 74, 264/108, 264/313, 264437-440
• US Class Current: 250/214.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4133 Refractometers, e.g. differential
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7743 the reagent-coated grating coupling light in or out of the waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/1213 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices

Abstract

Photonic crystal (PC) sensors, and sensor arrays and sensing systems incorporating PC sensors are described which have integrated fluid containment and/or fluid handling structures. The PC sensors are further integrated into a sample handling device such as a microwell plate. Sensors and sensing systems of the present disclosure are capable of high throughput sensing of analytes in fluid samples, bulk refractive index detection, and label-free detection of a range of molecules, including biomolecules and therapeutic candidates. The present disclosure also provides a commercially attractive fabrication platform for making photonic crystal sensors and systems wherein an integrated fluid containment structure and a photonic crystal structure are fabricated in a single molding or imprinting processing step amendable to high throughput processing.

Claims

1. A method of testing a sample with a photonic crystal biosensor in the form of a sample handling device having a plurality of sample wells and a common port;

a network of microfluidic flow channels having a common inlet connecting the common port to the plurality of sample wells, wherein each of the microfluidic flow channels incorporate therein a photonic crystal sensor, comprising the steps of;

a) introducing a sample into the common port;

b) transferring the sample into the microfluidic flow channels and over the photonic crystal biosensors formed therein;

c) performing a kinetic binding measurement in which Peak Wavelength Value measurements of the photonic crystal biosensors are obtained as a function of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the microfluidic flow channels have substantially the same path length between the common port and the sample wells.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the common inlet and the photonic crystal sensors formed in the microfluidic flow channels are spatially arranged in an aligned condition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample handling device comprises a microplate having M×

N sample wells arranged in M rows and N columns, each row having N wells.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample handling device comprises a microplate having M×

N sample wells arranged in M rows and N columns, each row having N wells.

5. A method of testing a sample with a photonic crystal biosensor in the form of a sample handling device having a plurality of sample wells and a common port;

a network of microfluidic flow channels having a common inlet connecting the common port to the plurality of sample wells, wherein each of the microfluidic flow channels incorporate therein a photonic crystal sensor, comprising the steps of;

a) introducing samples into the plurality of sample wells,

b) transferring the samples from the sample wells along the microfluidic flow channels and over the photonic crystal biosensors formed therein; and

c) performing a kinetic binding measurement in which Peak Wavelength Value measurements of the photonic crystal biosensors are obtained as a function of time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the microfluidic flow channels have substantially the same path length between the common port and the sample wells.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the common inlet and the photonic crystal sensors formed in the microfluidic flow channels are spatially arranged in an aligned condition.