Devices for separation of biological materials
Inventors
CHARLOT, David • HINESTROSA SALAZAR, Juan Pablo • DOBROVOLSKAYA, Irina V. • Yang, Kai • Swanson, Paul • Krishnan, Rajaram
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9682385-B2
Publication Date
2017-06-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating nanoparticulates, including nucleic acids, from biological samples. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity isolation of biological components from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to devices and methods for isolating a nanoscale analyte in a sample using alternating current (AC) electrodes arranged in three-dimensions within a housing. The AC electrodes are selectively energized to establish AC electrokinetic high field regions and AC electrokinetic low field regions, and the system isolates the nanoscale analyte based on the produced electrokinetic field regions, including a dielectrophoretic high field region.
The AC electrodes comprise conductive material configured within the AC electrodes for reducing, disrupting or altering fluid flow around or within the vicinity of the AC electrodes as compared to fluid flow in regions between or substantially beyond the vicinity. The conductive material is present at the edge of the individual AC electrodes, where the edge conductive material is used to affect local fluid flow behavior relative to regions outside the vicinity of the electrodes.
The conductive material at the edges is implemented in three-dimensional electrode configurations, including discontinuous curved lines in an open disk, a wavy line configuration, a hollow triangular tube, and a hollow ring with an extruded center. The conductive material is also described as including a hydrogel coating to mitigate electrochemistry, and the method applies the sample to an array of AC electrodes, produces a dielectrophoretic high field region, and isolates the nanoscale analyte in that region.
Claims Coverage
The patent provides two independent claims: a device claim and a method claim, each centered on AC electrokinetic field generation in a three-dimensional electrode array. Across the independent claims, the inventive features combine edge-located conductive material that disrupts or alters fluid flow with isolation of the analyte in a dielectrophoretic high field region.
Selectively energized three-dimensional ac electrokinetic regions with edge conductive material
A device comprising a housing and AC electrodes configured to be selectively energized to establish AC electrokinetic high field and AC electrokinetic low field regions, where the AC electrodes are configured in three-dimensions and comprise conductive material within the AC electrodes for reducing, disrupting or altering fluid flow around or within the vicinity of the AC electrodes as compared to fluid flow in regions between or substantially beyond the vicinity, and the conductive material is present at the edge of the individual AC electrodes.
Dielectrophoretic high field isolation using 3D ac electrode array with edge conductive material
A method comprising applying the sample to a device having an array of AC electrodes capable of establishing an AC electrokinetic high field and an AC electrokinetic low field, wherein the AC electrodes are configured in three-dimensions and comprise conductive material present at the edge of the individual AC electrodes which reduces, disrupts or alters fluid flow around or within the vicinity of the AC electrodes as compared to fluid flow in regions between or substantially beyond the vicinity; producing at least one AC electrokinetic field region that is a dielectrophoretic high field region; and isolating the nanoscale analyte in the dielectrophoretic high field region.
Overall claim coverage centers on selectively energized three-dimensional AC electrode arrays that create AC electrokinetic high and low field regions, combined with conductive material at electrode edges that reduces, disrupts or alters nearby fluid flow. The method claim further requires producing a dielectrophoretic high field region and isolating the nanoscale analyte within that region.
Stated Advantages
Reduces, disrupts or alters fluid flow around or within the vicinity of the AC electrodes compared to fluid flow in regions between or substantially beyond the vicinity.
Isolates the nanoscale analyte in a dielectrophoretic high field region.
Documented Applications
Downstream nucleic-acid use including PCR, digital PCR, and sequencing (Sanger, NGS).
Demonstrations using microelectrode arrays and fluorescent measurements for capture/isolation performance.
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