Producing a Separation Medium Using Grayscale Mask

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016258901-A1
Application number	US-201415023800-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 24, 2014
Priority date	Sep 24, 2013
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are methods for producing a separation medium, where the method includes exposing a separation medium precursor solution to light from a light source through a photomask that includes a region with varied light transmittance to produce the separation medium. Systems that find use in performing the methods, microfluidic devices that include the separation medium, as well as methods of using the microfluidic devices, are also provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure find use in a variety of different applications, including detecting whether an analyte is present in a fluid sample.

First claim

1 . A method for producing a spatially varied separation medium, the method comprising:
exposing a separation medium precursor solution to light from a light source through a photomask comprising a region with varied light transmittance to produce the separation medium.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the region with varied light transmittance is semi-transparent.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing the light from the light source through a light diffuser between the photomask and the separation medium precursor solution.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the photomask comprises two or more regions having a different light transmittance.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a region of the photomask has a light transmittance ranging from 10% and 90%.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a region of the photomask has a light transmittance ranging from 40% and 90%.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the photomask has a linear gradient of light transmittance from 0% to 100%.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the photomask has a linear gradient of light transmittance from 10% to 90%.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the separation medium precursor solution comprises an acrylamide monomer, a crosslinker and a photoinitiator.

10 . A separation medium produced by the method of claim 1 .

11 . A microfluidic device comprising:
a support; and a separation medium associated with the support and configured to separate a sample along a directional axis, wherein the separation medium has a homogeneous composition and comprises regions having different degrees of polymerization.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the separation medium comprises a polymeric gel.

13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the separation medium comprises a contiguous polymeric gel monolith having regions with different densities.

14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the separation medium has a linear density gradient.

15 . A system for producing a separation medium, the system comprising:
a support configured to contain a separation medium precursor solution; a photomask comprising a semi-transparent region; and a light source configured to direct a light from the light source to the separation medium precursor solution through the photomask.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the photomask comprises two or more regions having a different light transmittance.

17 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a light diffuser between the support and the photomask.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein a light diffuser is not present between the support and the photomask.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the support comprises a gasket on a surface of the support configured to contain the separation medium precursor solution.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the support comprises a microchannel configured to contain the separation medium precursor solution.

21 . A method of detecting an analyte in a sample, the method comprising:
introducing a fluid sample into the separation medium of the microfluidic device of claim 11 ; directing the sample through the separation medium to produce a separated sample; and detecting the analyte in the separated sample.

22 . A kit comprising:
a microfluidic device of claim 11 ; and a packaging containing the microfluidic device.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Kang Chi-Chih
• Herr Amy E
• Duncombe Todd A

Classifications

• G03F1/50

  Mask blanks not covered by G03F1/20 - G03F1/34; Preparation thereof · CPC title

• B01L2200/12

  Specific details about manufacturing devices · CPC title

• G01N27/44782

  of a plurality of samples · CPC title

• B01L3/502753

  characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation · CPC title

• G01N27/44726

  using specific dyes, markers or binding molecules · CPC title