Disposable reagent scaffold for biochemical process integration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12576404-B2
Application number	US-201917051717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2019
Priority date	Apr 30, 2018
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

Devices for assaying a biomolecule from a sample, including: a cartridge assembly structured to accept and secure a magnetofluidic cartridge to be used for the assaying, and a magnetic particle manipulation assembly arranged proximate the cartridge assembly, the magnetic particle manipulation assembly having a pair of magnets arranged to be on opposing sides of said magnetofluidic cartridge and which are substantially aligned along a line that will be transverse to the magnetofluidic cartridge such that the line can be aligned with a well in the magnetofluidic cartridge, and methods of using and assembling such devices.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A magnetofluidic device for assaying a biomolecule from a sample, comprising:
a magnetofluidic cartridge having a plurality of wells configured for said assaying, at least one well of the plurality of wells comprising a plurality of magnetic particles;
a cartridge assembly securing the magnetofluidic cartridge;
a magnetic particle manipulation assembly arranged proximate said cartridge assembly, said magnetic particle manipulation assembly comprising: a first magnet arranged at a first side of the magnetofluidic cartridge and a second magnet arranged at a second side opposite the first side of the magnetofluidic cartridge such that the first magnet and the second magnet are on opposing sides of said magnetofluidic cartridge, the first magnet and the second magnet are substantially aligned along a line that is transverse to said magnetofluidic cartridge such that said line is alignable with a first well of the plurality of wells in said magnetofluidic cartridge, and a dual-axis actuator configured to drive the first magnet and the second magnet; and
a temperature control assembly arranged proximate said cartridge assembly, said temperature control assembly comprising a heat exchange portion structured and arranged to be in thermal connection with a second well of the plurality of wells,
wherein at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet is movable, by the dual-axis actuator, in a first degree of freedom along said line relative to said magnetofluidic cartridge such that the plurality of magnetic particles when contained within said first well will be drawn out of said first well during operation along the first degree of freedom, and wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are movable, by the dual-axis actuator, along a second degree of freedom parallel to a surface of the magnetofluidic cartridge to translate said plurality of magnetic particles along said surface of the magnetofluidic cartridge such that said line is alignable with said second well, and wherein at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet are movable, by the dual-axis actuator, in said first degree of freedom along said line relative to said magnetofluidic cartridge such that the plurality of magnetic particles will be drawn into said second well in said magnetofluidic cartridge.

2 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange portion is a heat block that has a shape that is at least partially complementary to a shape of said at least one well to provide an enhanced surface for heat exchange therethrough, and wherein said temperature control assembly further comprises:
a heater in thermal contact with said heat block; a temperature sensor in thermal contact with said heat block; a cooling system in thermal contact with said heat block; and a temperature control device configured to receive temperature signals from said temperature sensor and to provide control signals to said heater and said cooling system.

3 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said magnetic particle manipulation assembly further comprises:
a first actuator assembly operatively connected to said first magnet and said second magnet such that said first magnet and said second magnet are movable along said line in the first degree of freedom, and a second actuator assembly operatively connected to said first magnet and said second magnet such that said first magnet and said second magnet are movable from the first location of said first well to the second location of said second well in the second degree of freedom, and wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are permanent magnets.

4 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 3 , wherein said second actuator assembly is a rotational assembly, said second degree of freedom being a rotational degree of freedom.

5 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising a detection system arranged proximate said cartridge assembly so as to be able to detect a physical parameter for a test concerning the biomolecule.

6 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetofluidic cartridge comprises a top first layer, a second layer spaced apart from the first layer, the second layer defining the plurality of wells therein, and a spacer layer disposed between and in contact with the first layer and at least a periphery of the second layer to seal the magnetic particles within the magnetofluidic cartridge.

7 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said magnetofluidic device is a portable device.

8 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said magnetofluidic device is a handheld device.

9 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 1 , the magnetofluidic cartridge for assaying a nucleic acid sequence from a sample, comprising:
a first layer; and a second layer spaced apart from said first layer in a generally parallel orientation with respect to said first layer, said second layer defining a plurality of wells therein that protrude from a surface of said second layer, wherein at least one of said plurality of wells comprises a wall sufficiently thin to allow a heat transfer rate such that a nucleic acid amplification assay will be completed in under 20 minutes.

10 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 9 , wherein one of said plurality of wells comprises a wall of between 0.05 mm-0.5 mm in thickness.

11 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 9 , wherein the magnetofluidic cartridge comprises a spacer layer between and in contact with said first layer and said second layer at least along a periphery thereof to seal contents within the at least one well of the plurality of wells said magnetofluidic cartridge.

12 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 9 , wherein the magnetofluidic cartridge comprises the plurality of magnetic particles preloaded into the at least one of said plurality of wells,
wherein said at least one of said plurality of wells is a sample well having a port for disposing a sample therein during use, and wherein said plurality of magnetic particles are coated magnetic nanoparticles so as to adhere electrostatically to nucleic acids.

13 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 12 , wherein the magnetofluidic cartridge comprises:
a plurality of processing fluids each preloaded in a respective one of said plurality of wells; and a sealing fluid preloaded into said magnetofluidic cartridge between said first and second layers, wherein said sealing fluid is immiscible with said plurality of processing fluids so as to provide containment of each of said plurality of processing fluids in a respective one of said plurality of wells, and wherein said sealing fluid is hydrophobic.

14 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of processing fluids preloaded into said magnetofluidic cartridge are selected in number and type according to a test to be performed.

15 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of said plurality of processing fluids comprises a reagent for a nucleic acid amplification assay.

16 . The magnetofluidic device of claim 15 , wherein said magnetofluidic cartridge is self-contained and remains sealed other than to receive a sample during an entirety of said nucleic acid amplification assay.

17 . A method of detecting a biomolecule in a sample using a magnetofluidic device for assaying a biomolecule from a sample, comprising: a magnetofluidic cartridge having a plurality of wells configured for said assaying, at least one well of the plurality of wells comprising a plurality of magnetic

Assignees

• Univ Johns Hopkins

Inventors

• Wang Tza-Huei
• Shin Dong Jin
• Trick Alexander Y

Classifications

• G01N2035/00346

  Heating or cooling arrangements · CPC title

• G01N35/00

  Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor · CPC title

• B01L2400/043

  magnetic forces · CPC title

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L2300/0816

  Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions · CPC title