Gas evacuation system for nanofluidic biosensor
Inventors
Durand, Nicolas • Maerki, Iwan • Geissbuehler, Matthias
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10166540-B2
Publication Date
2019-01-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A nanofluidic biosensor system (200) comprising a bottom substrate (120) and a top substrate (110) between which are defined an input lateral aperture (210), a nanoslit (230) which contains at least one functionalized area (231) and an output lateral aperture (220) or an internal reservoir (221), said biosensor system (200) being adapted to let a solution containing biomolecules (320) enter the input lateral aperture (210) and successively pass through said nanoslit (230) and said output lateral aperture (220) or internal reservoir (221); said biosensor system (200) furthermore comprising a gas evacuation subsystem (150-155) which is located between said nanoslit (230) and the biosensor external environment.
Core Innovation
A nanofluidic biosensor system includes a bottom substrate and a top substrate arranged along a flow direction. Between the bottom substrate and the top substrate, the system provides an input lateral aperture, a nanoslit having a functionalized area as a measurement area, and at least one of an output lateral aperture and an internal reservoir.
A gas evacuation subsystem is located at least one of the output lateral aperture and the internal reservoir along the flow direction, between the nanoslit and an external environment downstream. The gas evacuation subsystem evacuates trapped air from the nanofluidic biosensor system and is implemented using porous material, crossing-through pores/holes, slits, or locally structured substrate regions.
In detection, a biomolecule-containing solution enters through the input lateral aperture and successively passes through the nanoslit and at least one of the output lateral aperture and the internal reservoir. Fluorescently-labeled biomolecules are detected by quantifying fluorophores, with biomolecules immobilized on biomarkers inside the nanoslit, and a non-specific layer reduces non-specific functionalization.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two areas: a nanofluidic biosensor system architecture with a downstream gas evacuation subsystem positioned between the nanoslit and the external environment, and a method of detecting biomolecules in which trapped air bubbles are evacuated and biomolecules immobilized on biomarkers are detected by quantifying fluorophores. Across the independent claims, three main inventive features are identified from the claim language.
Nanofluidic biosensor with downstream gas evacuation for trapped air removal
A nanofluidic biosensor system having a bottom substrate and a top substrate with an input lateral aperture, a nanoslit having a functionalized area, and at least one of an output lateral aperture and an internal reservoir arranged along a flow direction, and a gas evacuation subsystem located at at least one of the output lateral aperture and the internal reservoir along the flow direction between the nanoslit and an external environment downstream, wherein the gas evacuation subsystem evacuates trapped air from the nanofluidic biosensor system.
Biomolecule detection method using nanofluidic flow with trapped air evacuation and fluorophore quantification
A method for detecting biomolecules with a nanofluidic system including a bottom substrate and a top substrate, an input lateral aperture, a nanoslit having a functionalized area, and at least one of an output lateral aperture and an internal reservoir arranged between the substrates; a gas evacuation subsystem located between the nanoslit and an external environment downstream from the nanoslit; and an optical system, wherein the method comprises entering a solution having the biomolecules through the input lateral aperture and successively passing the solution through the nanoslit and the at least one of the output lateral aperture and internal reservoir, evacuating trapped air bubbles by the gas evacuation subsystem, and detecting specific biomolecules immobilized on biomarkers inside the nanoslit by quantifying fluorophores attached to the biomolecules of the solution.
The claim set centers on integrating a gas evacuation subsystem downstream of the nanoslit to evacuate trapped air/bubbles, and on performing biomolecule detection in which the biomolecule-containing solution flows through the nanoslit while trapped air is removed, followed by optical detection of immobilized specific biomolecules via fluorophore quantification.
Stated Advantages
Improved inter-biosensor variability.
Improved detection sensitivity.
Documented Applications
In vitro diagnostic applications for detecting biomarkers/biomolecules using the nanofluidic biosensor system.
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