Dielectric materials
Inventors
HINESTROSA SALAZAR, Juan Pablo • Krishnan, Rajaram • Conradson, Scott • HARRIS, Tyler Lee • TURNER, Robert Paul • THOMAS, George Maroor
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11883833-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure describes methods, devices and systems comprising materials comprising dielectrics. In various aspects, electrodes layered or imbedded with these dielectrics provide enhanced properties for a wide range of applications, such as the enhanced separation of analytes, such as biological molecules or particles (nucleic acids, viruses) with an electrokinetic field.
Core Innovation
The disclosure relates to dielectric materials used with electrokinetic (AC/DC) electrode devices to enhance analyte capture and/or separation. It describes forming an electrokinetic field region using an electrode and placing a dielectric layer in contact with at least a portion of the electrode to increase total yield of analyte capture compared to a device lacking the layer or having a thicker layer.
A key aspect is using a dielectric material layer with a thickness of about 5 angstroms to about 25 angstroms. The disclosure further describes dielectric material selection and tuning, including dielectric chemistries such as metalloid oxides, nitrides, carbides, and silicides, as well as polymers and ceramics, and tuning electrical properties such as dielectric constant and resistivity, including dielectric:conductive material ratios, to improve analyte capture and/or reduce conductivity-related effects.
The disclosure also describes analyte isolation using AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field regions. In this workflow, a sample is applied to a device that includes the electrode and the dielectric layer, at least one AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field region is produced, and the analyte is isolated in the AC field region, optionally as part of downstream analyte amplification/diagnostic workflows.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set includes two independent claims: one directed to a device for capturing analytes and one directed to a method for isolating an analyte. Across these independent claims, the primary inventive concepts are an electrode generating an electrokinetic field region together with a dielectric layer of about 5-25 angstroms thickness that increases total analyte capture yield versus no layer or a thicker layer, and producing and using at least one AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field region to isolate the analyte within that region.
Electrokinetic field electrode with ultra-thin dielectric layer for increased analyte capture yield
An electrode configured to generate an electrokinetic field region, and a layer in contact with at least a portion of the electrode, wherein the layer comprises a dielectric material of about 5 angstroms to about 25 angstroms in thickness, wherein the device increases the total yield of analyte capture as compared to a device that lacks a layer or has a layer that is more than 25 angstroms in thickness.
Ac dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field isolation using a dielectric-layer enhanced electrokinetic device
Applying the sample to a device comprising an electrode configured to generate an electrokinetic field region and a layer in contact with at least a portion of the electrode with dielectric material thickness of about 5 angstroms to about 25 angstroms in thickness that increases total yield of analyte capture versus no layer or more than 25 angstroms; producing at least one AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field region; and isolating the analyte in the AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field region.
Claim coverage centers on electrokinetic analyte capture devices and isolation methods that incorporate an ultra-thin dielectric layer (about 5-25 angstroms) in contact with an electrode generating an electrokinetic field region, where total analyte capture yield is increased versus no layer or a thicker layer. The method claim further specifies isolating analytes in an AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field region produced using the dielectric-layer enhanced device.
Stated Advantages
Increases the total yield of analyte capture compared to a device that lacks a layer or has a layer that is more than 25 angstroms in thickness.
In the dependent method claim, increases analyte capture on the surface by at least 5-fold compared to a device without the layer.
Documented Applications
PCR/QPCR and sequencing workflows using nucleic acids obtained after electrokinetic isolation, including disease characterization and cancer detection using cell-free biomarkers.
Assay contexts discussed in the document include fluorescence-based quantification and immunoassays using isolated analytes.
Environmental sample, food or beverage, growth medium, and water sample contexts are described for the electrokinetic analyte-isolation platform.
Isolating analytes in a sample using AC dielectrophoretic and/or AC electrokinetic field regions produced by a device with an electrode and a dielectric layer.
Capturing biological analytes such as nucleic acids, viruses, and exosomes/extracellular vesicles from complex fluids using dielectric materials with electrokinetic electrode devices.
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