Integrated droplet actuator for gel electrophoresis and molecular analysis
First Claim
1. An integrated droplet actuator device comprising:
- (a) a top substrate and a bottom substrate, the two substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap;
(b) electrodes associated with one or both of the bottom substrate and the top substrate, and configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap;
(c) a gel arranged on the top substrate;
(d) a pair of electrodes in electrical contact with the gel, the electrodes arranged at first and second locations in relation to the gel; and
(e) one or more fluid paths extending from inside the gap to the gel.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel. In one embodiment, an electrophoresis gel may be integrated on the top substrate of the droplet actuator.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An integrated droplet actuator device comprising:
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(a) a top substrate and a bottom substrate, the two substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap; (b) electrodes associated with one or both of the bottom substrate and the top substrate, and configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; (c) a gel arranged on the top substrate; (d) a pair of electrodes in electrical contact with the gel, the electrodes arranged at first and second locations in relation to the gel; and (e) one or more fluid paths extending from inside the gap to the gel. - 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)
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35. A method of preparing and delivering a sample droplet for gel electrophoresis in an integrated droplet actuator device comprising:
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(a) providing an integrated droplet actuator device comprising; (i) a top substrate and a bottom substrate, the two substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap; (ii) electrodes associated with one or both of the bottom substrate and the top substrate, and configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; (iii) a gel arranged on the top substrate; (iv) a pair of electrodes in electrical contact with the gel, the electrodes arranged at first and second locations in relation to the gel; and (v) one or more fluid paths extending from inside the gap to the gel; (b) loading a droplet containing a sample material on at least one of the one or more electrodes, wherein the at least one electrode is in proximity to the one or more fluid paths; (c) transferring the sample material into a loading buffer; and (d) transferring the sample material from the loading buffer into the gel. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of preparing and delivering a sample droplet for gel electrophoresis in an integrated droplet actuator device comprising:
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(a) providing an integrated droplet actuator device comprising; (i) a top substrate and a bottom substrate, the two substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap; (ii) electrodes associated with one or both of the bottom substrate and the top substrate, and configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; (iii) a gel arranged on the top substrate, wherein at least a portion of the gel extends into the gap of the integrated droplet actuator; (iv) a pair of electrodes in electrical contact with the gel, the electrodes arranged at first and second locations in relation to the gel; and (v) one or more fluid paths extending from inside the gap to the gel; (b) loading a droplet containing a sample material on at least one of the one or more electrodes, wherein the at least one electrode is in proximity to the one or more fluid paths; (c) transferring the sample material into a loading buffer retained in the one or more fluid paths; and (d) transferring the sample material from the loading buffer into the gel.
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Specification