Electronic device for pathogen detection
Inventors
Weber, Monika • Lo, Siu Lung • Montanaro Ochoa, Hazael Fabrizio • Yerino, Christopher Daniel • Reed, Mark A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9120105-B2
Publication Date
2015-09-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus and method for separating an analyte from a test sample, such as bacteria from blood components, based on their dielectric properties, localizing or condensing the analyte, flushing substantially all remaining waste products from the test sample, and detecting low concentrations of the analyte. Species movement is caused by a module array imparting opposing dielectrophoretic forces. The module array includes a plurality of microfluidic channels with connecting microfluidic waste channels for directing undesired material away from the analyte. An electric field is applied causing a positive dielectrophoretic force to the analyte to capture the analyte. The Clausius-Mossotti factor of the analyte is changed by flushing the analyte with a reference solution, which causes a negative dielectrophoretic force to facilitate release of the analyte. A field effect nanowire or nanoribbon sensor detects the analyte after capture.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a chip-scale electronic microfluidic pathogen detection system that uses a microfluidic separator implementing multi-module dielectrophoretic separation. The microfluidic separator includes an array of microfluidic channels formed by stacked plates patterned with metal electrodes and internal channel structures with electrodes patterned on internal surfaces, so that plate electrodes and internal channel electrodes provide opposing dielectrophoretic forces on a test sample.
A reference solution is stored in a separate chamber and introduced with the test sample to change the dielectrophoretic behavior, including a change in the Clausius-Mossotti factor sign via a reference solution, and to enable capture and release of an analyte. Flushing through branched microfluidic waste channels removes microscaled components and waste, while a condenser captures the analyte after it passes through the microfluidic separator, and a sensor detects the captured analyte.
For detection, the system supports low-concentration bacteria detection using sensor modalities such as a field-effect transistor based sensor, including ion sensitive field effect transistor, and nanowire and nanoribbon sensors. The document also describes isolating analyte from microsealed components by tuning electric field behavior, including pDEP and nDEP behavior around a CM crossover frequency.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover two related apparatus embodiments, each centered on microfluidic dielectrophoretic separation using opposing dielectrophoretic forces between patterned plate and internal-channel electrodes, followed by waste removal and condenser-localized analyte sensing using a sensor. Across the independent claims, the core inventive features include a first/second chamber architecture with reference solution injection into a microfluidic separator and a microfluidic assembly that separates a test sample into analyte and waste product with localized sensing at a condenser area electrode, plus receiving microchannels for waste removal.
Chambered sample and reference solution injection to microfluidic separator
A first chamber stores a test sample including analyte and microscaled components, and a second chamber stores a reference solution, with a pump and a plurality of injection chambers introducing the reference solution and the test sample to a microfluidic separator.
Plate-electrode and internal-channel-electrode array providing opposing dielectrophoretic forces
The microfluidic separator includes a plurality of plates patterned with metal electrodes and a plurality of internal channel structures having electrodes patterned on at least one internal surface, where each internal channel structure is sandwiched between two plates forming an array of microfluidic channels; the plate electrodes and internal channel electrodes provide opposing dielectrophoretic forces to separate the test sample into the analyte and microsealed components.
Receiving microchannels to remove microscaled components and condenser capture
Receiving microchannels adjacent the microfluidic channels are configured to receive and remove microscaled components when separated from the analyte, and a condenser is configured to capture the analyte once the analyte has passed through the microfluidic separator.
Sensor detection of captured analyte with integrated dielectrophoretic separation
A sensor is configured to detect the captured analyte as the separated analyte is localized and captured by the condenser in the microfluidic system.
Opposing dielectrophoretic forces separating analyte and waste product with receiving microchannels
A microfluidic assembly uses plate-patterned metal electrodes and internal-channel electrodes configured to provide opposing dielectrophoretic forces on a test sample, which separates the test sample into an analyte and a waste product; plurality of receiving microchannels adjacent the microfluidic channels receive and remove the waste product.
Condenser area electrode localizing analyte for sensing
A condenser area includes an electrode configured to localize the analyte for sensing.
Label-free analyte detection without labeling or marking steps
The apparatus enables detection of an analyte using opposing dielectrophoretic forces for which detection occurs without any labeling or marking process steps.
Overall, the independent claims define an apparatus that separates an analyte from other microscaled components using a microfluidic separator with patterned plate and internal-channel electrodes providing opposing dielectrophoretic forces, removes separated waste/microscaled components using receiving microchannels, localizes captured analyte using a condenser or condenser area electrode, and detects the analyte with a sensor. Dependent claim refinement in the provided set further narrows detection to label-free operation without any labeling or marking process steps.
Stated Advantages
Detection without any labeling or marking process steps.
Documented Applications
Chip-scale electronic microfluidic pathogen detection using dielectrophoretic separation and sensor detection of analytes.
Detection of low-concentration bacteria in the presence of blood components such as RBC and WBC.
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