Microfluidic detection of analytes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for introducing an analyte of interest in a sample to a microfluidic device, comprising:
- providing an aqueous sample in a large volume reservoir, said sample containing the analyte and having a volume of greater than 10 microliters, wherein the analyte of interest is charged or has been associated with a charged molecule;
providing a microfluidic device comprising an analysis area;
providing a connector, wherein the large volume reservoir and the microfluidic device are fluidically connected via the connector;
electrophoresing the analyte from the large volume reservoir to the microfluidic device via the connector; and
further transporting the analyte to the analysis area for a time sufficient to result in a higher concentration of analyte in the analysis area than the concentration in the sample, wherein the analyte is continuously flowed from the large volume reservoir to the analysis area during said time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for concentrating samples for application to microfluidic devices are disclosed. The methods involve electrophoresing charged molecules from a high volume sample into a smaller volume. The analyte of interest can be a charged molecule or can be modified to be charged using, for example, one or more ionic moieties.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method for introducing an analyte of interest in a sample to a microfluidic device, comprising:
-
providing an aqueous sample in a large volume reservoir, said sample containing the analyte and having a volume of greater than 10 microliters, wherein the analyte of interest is charged or has been associated with a charged molecule; providing a microfluidic device comprising an analysis area; providing a connector, wherein the large volume reservoir and the microfluidic device are fluidically connected via the connector; electrophoresing the analyte from the large volume reservoir to the microfluidic device via the connector; and
further transporting the analyte to the analysis area for a time sufficient to result in a higher concentration of analyte in the analysis area than the concentration in the sample, wherein the analyte is continuously flowed from the large volume reservoir to the analysis area during said time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A microfluidic device for detection of an analyte comprising:
-
a) a staging reservoir in fluidic communication with an analysis area that comprises capture agents for the (i) the analyte, (ii) an antibody or (iii) a nucleic acid, wherein the staging reservoir is configured to receive the analyte via electrophoresis from a large volume reservoir fluidically connected to the staging reservoir; and b) a first microelectrode located in the staging reservoir and a second microelectrode located in or distal to at least a portion of the analysis area, said microelectrodes being positioned such that an electric field may be generated between the electrodes and a charged analyte electrophoresed from the staging reservoir to the analysis area.
-
-
37. A system for introducing a charged analyte in a sample to a microfluidic device, comprising:
-
at least one large volume reservoir, operably attached to a first electrode; a microfluidic device having at least one analysis area, wherein said microfluidic device is operably attached to a second electrode; and at least one connector for moving charged analytes from said large volume reservoir to said microfluidic device, wherein said microfluidic device comprises a staging reservoir positioned between said at least one large volume reservoir and said analysis area, said large volume reservoir is fluidically connected to said staging reservoir via the connector, said second electrode is operably attached to said staging reservoir, and said first electrode and said second electrode are positioned such that an electric field may be generated between the electrodes and a charged analyte electrophoresed from said at least one large volume reservoir to said staging reservoir.
-
-
38. A method for introducing an analyte of interest in a sample to a microfluidic device, comprising:
-
providing an aqueous sample in a large volume reservoir comprising a first microelectrode operably attached thereto, said sample containing the analyte and having a volume of greater than 10 microliters, wherein the analyte of interest is charged or has been associated with a charged molecule; providing a microfluidic device comprising a staging reservoir and an analysis area, a second microelectrode located in the staging reservoir and a third microelectrode located in or distal to at least a portion of the analysis area, said microelectrodes being configured such that an electric field may be generated between the electrodes and a charged analyte electrophoresed from the first microelectrode to the second microelectrode and from the second microelectrode to the third microelectrode; providing a connector, wherein the large volume reservoir and the staging reservoir are fluidically connected via the connector; electrophoresing the analyte from the large volume reservoir to the staging reservoir via the connector; and further transporting the analyte to the analysis area for a time sufficient to result in a higher concentration of analyte in the analysis area than the concentration in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (39)
-
Specification