Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces

• US 6,468,811 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BioArray Solutions Limited (Werfen SA)
• Original Assignee: BioArray Solutions Limited (Werfen SA)
• Inventors: Seul, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Christopher L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DO, PENSEE T
• Application Number:
  US09/690,041
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 436/534, 436/535, 436/63, 436/164, 436/165, 436/166, 436/169, 436/172, 436/175, 436/501, 435/91.2, 435/41.5, 435/91.51, 435/283.1, 435/173.1, 435/174, 435/176, 435/177, 435/285, 435/287, 435/288.7, 435/289, 435/290, 435/808, 435/810, 435/814, 204/415, 204/400, 204/403, 204/414, 204/417
• US Class Current: 436/535
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 by the use of solid beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00713 Electrochemical synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0652 Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0663 Stretching or orienting elongated molecules or particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0454 radiation pressure, optical tweezers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 : specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 : Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6837 : using probe arrays or probe chips C12Q1/6874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/155 : Particles of a defined size, e.g. nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/501 : being an array of oligonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 : being a sensor, e.g. electrode
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/00 : Libraries per se, e.g. arrays, mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/04 : Libraries containing only organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1468 : with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 : specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1497 : Particle shape
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/447 : using electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 : Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6845 : Methods of identifying protein-protein interactions in protein mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0012 : characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 : arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0075 : characterized by non-optical structures, e.g. having integrated holding or alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 3/04 : Acceleration by electromagnetic wave pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 : Optical sensing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 : Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/814 : Enzyme separation or purification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/806 : Electrical property or magnetic property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 : Automated or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 : Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25125 : Digestion or removing interfering materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for the creation of material surfaces with desired properties and for the fabrication of surface-mounted optical components.

Claims

1. A method for moving particles suspended at an interface between an electrode and electrolyte solution comprising the following steps:

providing a first electrode positioned in a first plane, and a second electrode positioned in a second plane different from the first plane, an electrolyte solution located therebetween and a plurality of particles suspended in the electrolyte solution, wherein the second electrode comprises a planar electrode having a surface and an interior, the surface or interior having been modified to produce spatial modulations in electrochemical properties of the second electrode; and

generating an electric field at an interface between the electrolyte solution and the second electrode to effect movement of the particles, wherein the movement of the particles at the interface is in accordance with the electric field in combination with the spatial modulations in the properties of the second electrode, said properties affecting the local distribution of the electric field at the interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said patterning step is used to create one or more areas of low impedance on said electrode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the frequency or magnitude of the applied voltage is adjusted so as to cause said particles to move preferentially into or out of one or more of said areas of low impedance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrode includes a silicon electrode which is coated with a dielectric layer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial modulations of the properties of the second electrode are produced by patterning the surface or the interior of the second electrode by spatially modulated oxide growth, surface chemical patterning or surface profiling.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each comprises a planar electrode, said first and second electrodes being parallel to another and separated by a gap, with the electrolyte solution containing the particles being located in the gap.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the property of the second electrode being modulated comprises impedance, one or more areas of the surface or the interior of the second electrode being modified to exhibit low impedance, and wherein the particles move to the areas of low impedance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric field is generated by applying an AC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a light-sensitive electrode, the method further comprising the step of illuminating the second electrode with a predetermined light pattern.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the particles is in a direction substantially parallel to the second electrode.

11. A method for controlling the movement of an electrolyte solution comprising the following steps:

providing a first electrode positioned in a first plane, and a second electrode positioned in a second plane different from the first plane, and an electrolyte solution located therebetween, wherein the second electrode comprises a planar electrode having a surface and an interior, the surface or interior having been modified to produce spatial modulations in electrochemical properties of the second electrode; and

generating an electric field at an interface between the electrolyte solution and the second electrode to create fluid flow of the electrolyte solution having a velocity, said velocity having a magnitude determined by said electric field and a direction determined by said spatial modulations in the properties of the second electrode, said properties affecting the local distribution of the electric field at the interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the spatial modulations of the properties of the second electrode are produced by patterning the surface or the interior of the second electrode by spatially modulated oxide growth, surface chemical patterning or surface profiling.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the property of the second electrode being modulated comprises impedance, one or more areas of the surface or the interior of the second electrode being modified to exhibit low impedance, and wherein the electrolyte solution moves to the areas of low impedance.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each comprises a planar electrode, said first and second electrodes being parallel to another and separated by a gap, with the electrolyte solution being located in the gap.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric field is generated by applying an AC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second electrode comprises a light-sensitive electrode, the method further comprising the step of illuminating the second electrode with a predetermined light pattern.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the second electrode comprises a silicon electrode.