Quantum plasmonic resonant energy transfer and ultrafast photonic pcr

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020306757-A1
Application number	US-201816760983-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2018
Priority date	Nov 1, 2017
Publication date	Oct 1, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rapid and precision molecular diagnostic chip making use of quantum plasmonic resonance energy transfer is disclosed for performing ultrafast polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The chip includes functionally graded microfluidic structures capable of receiving and conveying a sample using self-powered capillary pumping and capable of performing on-chip separation and target pathogen lysis. The chip can include optical traps to selectively trap and enrich various constituents of the sample, such as cell-free deoxyribonucleic acids (cfDNAs) and exosomes. In some cases, a processing device can receive a diagnostic chip, induce PCR within the diagnostic chip, and optionally detect diagnostic data from the samples within the diagnostic chip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An ultrafast diagnostic device, comprising:
a sample input for accepting a sample containing desired particles; a fluid network comprising a plurality of fluid pathways extending distally away from the sample input, wherein the fluid network comprises:
a separation zone comprising one or more cavities configured to retain undesired particles from the sample, wherein the one or more cavities are coupled to the plurality of fluid pathways to permit passage of the desired particles through the separation zone;
a reaction zone comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanocavities fluidly coupled to the plurality of fluid pathways, wherein each plasmonic nanocavity comprises opposing walls each comprising a layer of plasmonic material, wherein the opposing walls of the plasmonic nanocavity are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 5 nanometers or less; and
a window permitting transmission of light into and out of the plurality of plasmonic nanocavities of the reaction zone, wherein the window permits transmission of light having wavelengths in the visible spectrum, the infrared spectrum, or the ultraviolet spectrum.

2 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the opposing walls of the plasmonic nanocavities are spaced apart by a distance at or less than 3 nm.

3 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid network further comprises:
a pumping zone comprising one or more capillaries sized to induce motive force in the sample through capillary action upon introduction of the sample into the sample input.

4 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cavities of the separation zone form a functional gradient having openings sized to accept the undesired particles.

5 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more cavities of the separation zone extend from the one of the plurality of fluid pathways within the separation zone to permit gravitational settling of the undesired particles within the cavity.

6 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid network further comprises:
a lysing zone comprising one or more cavities for receiving lysable particles of the sample and a set of electrodes positioned to supply an electrical current at the one or more cavities to facilitate lysing the lysable particles, wherein the desired particles of the sample are located within the lysable particles.

7 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 6 , further comprising a set of external electrical contacts operably coupled to the set of electrodes of the lysing zone, wherein the set of external electrical contacts are couplable to an external device for supplying the electrical current to the set of electrodes.

8 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cavities of the separation zone are sized to accept blood cells.

9 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein each plasmonic nanocavity of the reaction zone is sized to accept a single double helix of nucleic acid.

10 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the opposing walls of each plasmonic nanocavity of the reaction zone further comprises a layer of dielectric material.

11 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein each plasmonic nanocavity of the reaction zone further comprises a polymerase reagent.

12 . The ultrafast diagnostic device of claim 11 , wherein the polymerase reagent is a lyophilized polymerase reagent.

13 . A method of preparing materials, comprising:
receiving a sample containing desired particles at a sample input of a diagnostic device; conveying the desired particles through a fluid network in a distal direction, wherein conveying the desired particles through the fluid network comprises:
conveying the sample into a separation zone, wherein conveying the sample into the separation zone comprises separating undesired particles from the sample and conveying the desired particles through the separation zone; and
conveying the desired particles into plasmonic nanocavities of a reaction zone, wherein each plasmonic nanocavity comprises opposing walls each comprising a layer of plasmonic material, wherein the opposing walls of each plasmonic nanocavity are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 5 nanometers or less; and
transmitting light into each of the plasmonic nanocavities through a window, wherein the light is selected from the group consisting of infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet light.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein conveying the desired particles into plasmonic nanocavities of the reaction zone further comprises conveying each of the desired particles to a unique one of the plasmonic nanocavities.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein conveying each of the desired particles to unique ones of the plasmonic nanocavities comprises conveying double helixes of nucleic acids to unique ones of the plasmonic nanocavities.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein conveying the desired particles through the fluid network further comprises pumping the desired particles through the fluid network using capillary action.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein conveying the sample into the separation zone further comprises conveying the sample through a functional gradient having openings sized to accept the undesired particles, wherein separating the undesired particles from the sample comprises trapping the undesired particles in the functional gradient.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein trapping the undesired particles in the functional gradient includes permitting the undesired particles to gravitationally settle into one or more cavities of the separation zone.

19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising lysing lysable particles of the sample to release the desired particles, wherein lysing lysable particles occurs within a lysing zone of the fluid network located distally from the separation zone.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein lysing the lysable particles comprises applying an electrical current to the separation zone.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein separating undesired particles from the sample comprises separating blood cells from a blood sample.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the opposing walls of each plasmonic nanocavity of the reaction zone further comprises a layer of dielectric material.

23 . A diagnostic system, comprising:
a diagnostic chip comprising a sample input for accepting a sample containing desired particles and a fluid network, the fluid network comprising:
a separation zone comprising one or more cavities configured to retain undesired particles from the sample, wherein the one or more cavities are coupled to a plurality of fluid pathways of the fluid network to permit passage of the desired particles through the separation zone; and
a reaction zone comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanocavities fluidly coupled to the plurality of fluid pathways, wherein each plasmonic nanocavity comprises opposing walls each comprising a layer of plasmonic material, wherein the opposing walls of the plasmonic nanocavity are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 5 nanometers or less; and
a processing device for processing the diagnostic chip, wherein the processing device comprises:
a receptacle sized to accept the diagnostic chip;
a light source positioned to illuminate the reaction zone when

Assignees

• Nat Univ Singapore

Inventors

• Lee Luke P

Classifications

• B01L2400/0406

  capillary forces · CPC title

• B01L2300/087

  Multiple sequential chambers · CPC title

• B01L2200/0668

  Trapping microscopic beads · CPC title

• B01L2300/1861

  using radiation · CPC title

• G01N21/65

  Raman scattering · CPC title