Three-dimensional polymer networks with channels situated therein

Inventors

Klapproth, Holger • Bednar, Sonja

Assignees

Safeguard Biosystems Holdings Ltd

Abstract

The disclosure provides three-dimensional crosslinked polymer networks comprising one or more channels extending from the surface and/or near the surface of the network into the interior of the network, arrays comprising the networks, processes for making the networks, and uses of the networks and arrays.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a three-dimensional network having a surface and an interior, composed of a water-swellable polymer formed by crosslinking water-soluble polymer chains. The water-swellable, crosslinked polymer network is crosslinked to the surface of a substrate, enabling immobilized probe molecules within an interior of the network. The interior includes transport-access features rather than relying only on surface exposure.

The network comprises a plurality of channels that extend into the interior and converge at a point in the interior of the network. The lateral distance between the channels decreases from the surface of the network toward the point in the interior, producing a converging channel geometry. Probe molecules covalently attached to the polymer chains are distributed such that a majority of the probe molecules are immobilized in the interior, and at least a portion of the probe molecules adjoin a channel.

The document further describes forming channel-containing crosslinked water-swellable polymer networks using needle-shaped salt crystals that are retained during crosslinking and then dissolved to create channels, including embodiments forming an array of many such networks on a substrate in biochip or microwell format. Probe molecules include nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, antibodies, and labeled control probes, and the resulting probe-containing arrays are used for analyte detection and quantification, including nucleic-acid hybridization assays for bacteria detection.

Claims Coverage

The document includes one independent claim. It defines a three-dimensional water-swellable, crosslinked polymer network with interior converging channels whose spacing decreases toward an interior convergence point, together with covalently attached probe molecules biased toward interior immobilization and at least partial adjacency to channels. Dependent claims further refine the probe types, include labeled control probes, and add specific channel-formation and assay-use details.

Overall claim coverage centers on a water-swellable, crosslinked polymer network crosslinked to a substrate, having interior converging channels with decreasing lateral spacing from the surface inward, and covalently attached probe molecules that are predominantly immobilized in the interior with at least some probes adjoining a channel. Dependent claims refine the probe molecular types and include assay-related features such as analyte detection via probe binding, as well as channel formation using needle-shaped salt crystals retained during crosslinking and subsequently dissolved.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications