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Assignees
Member
NucleraNuclera develops automated benchtop platforms and integrated systems for rapid protein expression, optimization, and purification, utilizing cell-free synthesis, digital microfluidics, and software-driven workflows. Their technology enables miniaturized and scalable protein prototyping—including challenging targets such as membrane proteins—directly at the lab bench. Nuclera serves academic and industrial researchers, focusing on reducing turnaround time for functional protein access and streamlining screening and production. The company has secured significant funding to enable broad commercialization, expanded their leadership team to support scale-up, and continues to drive advancements in drug discovery, proteomics, and experimental automation.
Nuclera develops automated benchtop platforms and integrated systems for rapid protein expression, optimization, and purification, utilizing cell-free synthesis, digital microfluidics, and software-driven workflows. Their technology enables miniaturized and scalable protein prototyping—including challenging targets such as membrane proteins—directly at the lab bench. Nuclera serves academic and industrial researchers, focusing on reducing turnaround time for functional protein access and streamlining screening and production. The company has secured significant funding to enable broad commercialization, expanded their leadership team to support scale-up, and continues to drive advancements in drug discovery, proteomics, and experimental automation.
Publication Number
US-11927740-B2
Publication Date
2024-03-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
An active matrix electrowetting on dielectric (AM-EWoD) device including a substrate with thin-film transistors (TFT), a dielectric layer, and a spatially variable wettability layer covering the dielectric layer. As depicted herein, the spatially variable wettability layer may include a plurality of portions having different contact angles, one or more contact angle gradients, or both.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an active matrix electrowetting on dielectric (AM-EWoD) device comprising a substrate with a plurality of driving electrodes coupled to thin-film-transistors (TFT), a dielectric layer covering both the plurality of driving electrodes and the set of thin-film-transistors, and a spatially variable wettability layer covering the dielectric layer. The spatially variable wettability layer may include a plurality of portions having different contact angles, one or more contact angle gradients, or both. The device can include a singular top electrode and a top hydrophobic layer covering the singular top electrode, and the top hydrophobic layer may itself be a spatially variable wettability layer. The spatially variable wettability layer covering the dielectric layer can have portions which are hydrophobic and portions which are superhydrophobic.
The background identifies that in biological and chemical applications the content of the water droplet can have a major impact on its wetting properties on the hydrophobic layer, specifically related to the resting contact angle of the particular droplet formulation, and that it is possible to generate a wide range of droplet formulations that can span several tens of degrees of contact angle. The patent states that while changes in contact angle can partially be done with the addition of surfactant, it is not feasible in many cases to add substantial quantities of surfactant to a reaction liquid with biological molecules because the surfactant may cause damage to the biological molecules. The summary and detailed description state that variations in wettability on the coating surface may enable different aqueous formulations to have similar contact angles, thus allowing for the same electrical driving scheme across the entire surface of an array and for simpler, more reliable and straightforward electrical actuation. The description also states that an aqueous droplet will tend to preferentially migrate toward an area of lower contact angle if exposed to a hydrophobic gradient, which can be useful for preferentially causing droplets to migrate in a chosen direction, for example to ensure proper droplet migration from reservoir and inlet entry points.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims were identified, with nine main inventive features extracted from those claims.
Substrate with driving electrodes and thin-film-transistors
A substrate comprising a plurality of driving electrodes coupled to a set of thin-film-transistors, and including a dielectric layer covering both the plurality of driving electrodes and the set of thin-film-transistors.
Controller operatively coupled to thin-film-transistors
A controller operatively coupled to the set of thin-film-transistors and configured to provide a driving voltage to at least a portion of the plurality of driving electrodes.
Spatially variable wettability layer with hydrophobic and superhydrophobic portions
A spatially variable wettability layer covering the dielectric layer, wherein the spatially variable wettability layer has portions which are hydrophobic, and portions which are superhydrophobic.
Top hydrophobic layer with second spatially variable wettability layer
A top hydrophobic layer covering a singular top electrode, wherein the top hydrophobic layer includes a second spatially variable wettability layer.
Method step: coupling substrate to thin-film-transistors
Coupling a substrate comprising a plurality of driving electrodes to a set of thin-film-transistors as part of a method of manufacturing an AM-EWoD device.
Method step: operatively coupling controller
Operatively coupling a controller to the set of thin-film-transistors, wherein the controller is configured to provide a driving voltage to at least a portion of the plurality of driving electrodes.
Method step: forming a dielectric layer covering electrodes and thin-film-transistors
Forming a dielectric layer covering the plurality of driving electrodes and the set of thin-film-transistors as recited in the method claim.
Method step: forming a spatially variable wettability layer with hydrophobic and superhydrophobic regions
Forming a spatially variable wettability layer covering the dielectric layer, wherein the spatially variable wettability layer has a hydrophobic region and a superhydrophobic region, as recited in the method claim.
Method step: forming top hydrophobic layer with second spatially variable wettability layer
Forming a top hydrophobic layer covering a singular top electrode, wherein the top hydrophobic layer includes a second spatially variable wettability layer, as recited in the method claim.
The independent device claim centers on an AM-EWoD device combining a substrate with driving electrodes and TFTs covered by a dielectric, a controller to provide driving voltages, a spatially variable wettability layer with hydrophobic and superhydrophobic portions, and a top hydrophobic layer over a singular top electrode that includes a second spatially variable wettability layer. The independent method claim recites assembling these components and forming the dielectric and spatially variable wettability layers, including hydrophobic and superhydrophobic regions and a top hydrophobic layer with a second spatially variable wettability layer.
Stated Advantages
Variations in wettability on the coating surface may enable different aqueous formulations to have similar contact angles, thus allowing for the same electrical driving scheme across the entire surface of an array and for simpler, more reliable and straightforward electrical actuation.
An aqueous droplet will tend to preferentially migrate toward an area of lower contact angle if exposed to a hydrophobic gradient, which can be useful for preferentially causing droplets to migrate in a chosen direction, for example to ensure proper droplet migration from reservoir and inlet entry points.
A gradient can be used to facilitate removal of droplets from the microfluidic device, for example to recover a sample, or to extract a synthesized product.
A light-transmissive region in the top electrode enables visual or spectrophotometric monitoring of the droplets inside the device, including detection of the presence of a marker such as a fluorescent tag.
Documented Applications
Lab-on-a-chip devices for sample preparation, assays, and synthetic chemistry using tiny quantities of samples and reagents.
Active matrix EWoD arrays for performing massive parallel assays, reactions, and programmable droplet motion with many thousands to millions of addressable electrodes.
Introducing liquids from an external source via an inlet or reservoir entry point and directing droplet migration away from the inlet using contact angle gradients or variable wettability zones.
Facilitating removal or recovery of droplets or synthesized products from the microfluidic device.
Visual or spectrophotometric monitoring of droplets inside the device, including observation with a microscope or detection of fluorescent markers through a light-transmissive region.
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