Amplification of biological targets via on-chip culture for biosensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9857370-B2
Application number	US-201414157378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

The present invention, in part, relates to methods and apparatuses for on-chip amplification and/or detection of various targets, including biological targets and any amplifiable targets. In some examples, the microculture apparatus includes a single-use, normally-closed fluidic valve that is initially maintained in the closed position by a valve element bonded to an adhesive coating. The valve is opened using a magnetic force. The valve element includes a magnetic material or metal. Such apparatuses and methods are useful for in-field or real-time detection of targets, especially in limited resource settings.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A microculture apparatus comprising:
a first reservoir comprising at least one first outlet, wherein the first reservoir comprises a cell medium;
a second reservoir, wherein the first outlet is configured for fluidic communication between the first and second reservoirs;
a first valve element;
a first valve seat conformed to support the first valve element in a position that closes the first outlet, wherein the first valve seat comprises a first via within which the first valve element rests and a second via, wherein a shoulder on which the first valve element rests is provided by an edge of the second via; and
a first layer of adhesive deposited on at least a portion of the shoulder of the first valve seat and configured to releasably bond to a surface of the first valve element when seated in the outlet-closed position,
wherein the first valve element is responsive to an applied magnetic field of sufficient strength by detaching from the first valve seat and undergoing a displacement that causes the first outlet to open.

2. The microculture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second reservoir further comprises a capture agent and/or a detection agent.

3. The microculture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first valve element comprises a magnetic material and/or a metal.

4. The microculture apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a third reservoir and comprising a second outlet configured for fluidic communication between the first and third reservoirs, wherein the third reservoir comprises a sterilization agent;
a second valve element; and
a second valve seat conformed to support the second valve element in a position that closes the second outlet,
wherein the second valve element is responsive to an applied magnetic field of sufficient strength by detaching from the second valve seat and undergoing a displacement that causes the second outlet to open.

5. The microculture apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first reservoir comprises an inlet for introducing a sample, and the apparatus is completely sealed except for the inlet.

6. The microculture apparatus of claim 4 , where the first layer of adhesive is further deposited on at least a portion of the second valve seat and configured to releasably bond to a surface of the second valve element when seated in the outlet-closed position.

7. The microculture apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a second layer of adhesive that is deposited on at least a portion of the second valve seat and configured to releasably bond to a surface of the second valve element when seated in the outlet-closed position.

8. The microculture apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated source configured to provide the applied magnetic field to the first valve element.

9. The microculture apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the integrated source is an integrated electromagnet.

10. The microculture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first via is larger than the second via.

11. The microculture of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first sheet comprising a first perforation; and
a second sheet underlying the first sheet and comprising a second perforation, wherein the second perforation has a smaller diameter than the first perforation so as to provide the shoulder on which the first valve element rests.

12. The microculture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of adhesive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

13. The microculture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cell medium is a stabilized cell medium.

14. The microculture apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the stabilized cell medium is in powder, granule, pellet, gel, lyophilized, freeze-dried, and/or foam form.

15. The microculture apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sterilization agent comprises a stabilized sterilization agent.

16. The microculture apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the stabilized sterilization agent is in powder, granule, pellet, gel, lyophilized, freeze-dried, and/or foam form.

17. The microculture apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first valve element and the second valve element actuate in different directions.

18. A microculture apparatus comprising:
a first reservoir comprising at least one first outlet, wherein the first reservoir comprises a cell medium;
a second reservoir, wherein the first outlet is configured for fluidic communication between the first and second reservoirs;
a first valve element;
a first valve seat conformed to support the first valve element in a position that closes the first outlet, wherein the first valve seat comprises a first via within which the first valve element rests and a second via, wherein a shoulder on which the first valve element rests is provided by an edge of the second via;
a first layer of adhesive deposited on at least a portion of the shoulder of the first valve seat and configured to releasably bond to a surface of the first valve element when seated in the outlet-closed position,
wherein the first valve element is responsive to an applied magnetic field of sufficient strength by detaching from the first valve seat and undergoing a displacement that causes the first outlet to open,
a third reservoir and comprising a second outlet configured for fluidic communication between the first and third reservoirs, wherein the third reservoir comprises a sterilization agent;
a second valve element; and
a second valve seat conformed to support the second valve element in a position that closes the second outlet,
wherein the second valve element is responsive to an applied magnetic field of sufficient strength by detaching from the second valve seat and undergoing a displacement that causes the second outlet to open.

19. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a second layer of adhesive that is deposited on at least a portion of the second valve seat and configured to releasably bond to a surface of the second valve element when seated in the outlet-closed position.

20. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second valve seat comprises a shoulder on which the second valve element rests.

21. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first via is larger than the second via.

22. The microculture of claim 18 , further comprising:
a first sheet comprising a first perforation; and
a second sheet underlying the first sheet and comprising a second perforation, wherein the second perforation has a smaller diameter than the first perforation so as to provide the shoulder on which the first valve element rests.

23. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first layer of adhesive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

24. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the cell medium is a stabilized cell medium.

25. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the sterilization agent comprises a stabilized sterilization agent.

26. The microculture apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first valve element and the second valve element actuate in different directions.

Assignees

• Nat Tech & Eng Solutions Sandia Llc

Inventors

• Harper Jason C
• Edwards Thayne L
• Carson Bryan
• Finley Melissa
• Arndt William

Classifications

• F16K99/0046

  using magnets · CPC title

• F16K99/003

  Valves for single use only · CPC title

• B01L3/502738

  characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746) · CPC title

• B01L2400/0633

  with moving parts · CPC title

• Y10T137/87917

  Flow path with serial valves and/or closures · CPC title