Microfluidic system and method to test for target molecules in a biological sample
First Claim
1. A test system for use with a buffer to test for the presence of target molecules of one or more target types in a biological test sample, the test system comprising:
- (a) a first set of detection molecules, each comprising one or more biorecognition molecules (BRMs) immobilized relative to one or more BRM fluorophores, wherein each of the BRMs is specific for one of the target types, so as to form conjugates of the BRMs and the target molecules, if present in the test sample, with the conjugates comprising one or more conjugate types each corresponding to a different one of the detection molecules in conjugation with its specific one of the target types;
(b) a microfluidic chip comprising a chip substrate portion shaped to define;
(i) one or more elongate sample channels therein sized to enable passage therethrough of the conjugates; and
(ii) one or more flow focusing channels therein for operative passage therethrough of the buffer, with the one or more flow focusing channels adjoining the one or more elongate sample channels, with the buffer exiting from the flow focusing channels operatively directing a single-file stream of the conjugates through at least one of the sample channels;
(c) an irradiating device operatively delivering electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation, at an irradiation position along said at least one of the sample channels, for absorption by the conjugates in the single-file stream, wherein the conjugates emit fluorescence after absorption of the EMF radiation, and wherein the fluorescence of the conjugates comprises a distinct fluorescent spectrum for each one of the conjugate types; and
(d) a detection device monitoring the single-file stream for the fluorescence emitted by the conjugates, wherein the detection device identifies the presence of the conjugates by monitoring for the distinct fluorescent spectrum of each one of the conjugate types;
wherein each of the detection molecules further comprises a microbead directly or indirectly coupled to, and substantially interposed between, the BRMs and the BRM fluorophores, wherein each of the conjugates further comprises a target marker fluorophore bound to a respective one of the target molecules, and wherein for each of the conjugates, the BRM fluorophores emit a BRM part, and the target marker fluorophore emits a target part, of the fluorescence of the distinct fluorescent spectrum after absorption of the EMF radiation, such that the BRM fluorophores and the target marker fluorophore together emit the fluorescence of the distinct fluorescent spectrum after absorption of the EMF radiation; and
whereby the test system identifies the presence of the target molecules in the test sample.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to test for the presence of target molecules in a biological test sample includes test molecules, a microfluidic chip, and irradiating and detection devices. The test molecules include bio-recognition molecules conjugable with the target molecules, and the corresponding conjugates. The microfluidic chip includes sample channels and flow focusing channels adjoining the sample channels. A buffer exiting from the focusing channels directs a single-file stream of the test molecules through one of the sample channels. The irradiating device delivers radiation for absorption by the test molecules in the single-file stream. After absorption, the test molecules emit fluorescence of a distinct fluorescent spectrum for each of the conjugates. The detection device monitors identifies the presence of the conjugates by monitoring for the distinct fluorescent spectrum. Thus, the test system and method identifies the presence of the target molecules in the test sample.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A test system for use with a buffer to test for the presence of target molecules of one or more target types in a biological test sample, the test system comprising:
-
(a) a first set of detection molecules, each comprising one or more biorecognition molecules (BRMs) immobilized relative to one or more BRM fluorophores, wherein each of the BRMs is specific for one of the target types, so as to form conjugates of the BRMs and the target molecules, if present in the test sample, with the conjugates comprising one or more conjugate types each corresponding to a different one of the detection molecules in conjugation with its specific one of the target types; (b) a microfluidic chip comprising a chip substrate portion shaped to define; (i) one or more elongate sample channels therein sized to enable passage therethrough of the conjugates; and (ii) one or more flow focusing channels therein for operative passage therethrough of the buffer, with the one or more flow focusing channels adjoining the one or more elongate sample channels, with the buffer exiting from the flow focusing channels operatively directing a single-file stream of the conjugates through at least one of the sample channels; (c) an irradiating device operatively delivering electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation, at an irradiation position along said at least one of the sample channels, for absorption by the conjugates in the single-file stream, wherein the conjugates emit fluorescence after absorption of the EMF radiation, and wherein the fluorescence of the conjugates comprises a distinct fluorescent spectrum for each one of the conjugate types; and (d) a detection device monitoring the single-file stream for the fluorescence emitted by the conjugates, wherein the detection device identifies the presence of the conjugates by monitoring for the distinct fluorescent spectrum of each one of the conjugate types; wherein each of the detection molecules further comprises a microbead directly or indirectly coupled to, and substantially interposed between, the BRMs and the BRM fluorophores, wherein each of the conjugates further comprises a target marker fluorophore bound to a respective one of the target molecules, and wherein for each of the conjugates, the BRM fluorophores emit a BRM part, and the target marker fluorophore emits a target part, of the fluorescence of the distinct fluorescent spectrum after absorption of the EMF radiation, such that the BRM fluorophores and the target marker fluorophore together emit the fluorescence of the distinct fluorescent spectrum after absorption of the EMF radiation; and whereby the test system identifies the presence of the target molecules in the test sample. - 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, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A test system to test for the presence of target molecules of one or more target types in a biological test sample, with the test system being for use with:
-
a first set of detection molecules, each comprising one or more biorecognition molecules (BRMs) immobilized relative to one or more BRM fluorophores, wherein each of the BRMs is specific for one of the target types, so as to form conjugates of the BRMs and the target molecules, if present in the test sample, with the conjugates comprising one or more conjugate types each corresponding to a different one of the detection molecules in conjugation with its specific one of the target types, with the conjugates emitting fluorescence after absorption of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation; and a microfluidic chip comprising a chip substrate portion shaped to define one or more elongate sample channels therein sized to enable passage therethrough of the conjugates, with a single-file stream of the conjugates passing through at least one of the sample channels; wherein each of the detection molecules further comprises a microbead directly or indirectly coupled to, and substantially interposed between, the BRMs and the BRM fluorophores, wherein each of the conjugates further comprises a target marker fluorophore bound to a respective one of the target molecules, and wherein for each of the conjugates, the BRM fluorophores emit a BRM part, and the target marker fluorophore emits a target part, of the fluorescence of the distinct fluorescent spectrum after absorption of the EMF radiation, such that the BRM fluorophores and the target marker fluorophore together emit the fluorescence of the distinct fluorescent spectrum after absorption of the EMF radiation; and wherein the test system comprises; (a) an irradiating device operatively delivering the EMF radiation, at an irradiation position along said at least one of the sample channels, for absorption by the conjugates in the single-file stream, wherein the conjugates emit fluorescence after absorption of the EMF radiation, and wherein the fluorescence of the conjugates comprises a distinct fluorescent spectrum for each one of the conjugate types; and (b) a detection device monitoring the single-file stream for the fluorescence emitted by the conjugates, wherein the detection device identifies the presence of the conjugates by monitoring for the distinct fluorescent spectrum of each one of the conjugate types; whereby the test system identifies the presence of the target molecules in the test sample.
-
Specification