Sample Processing Droplet Actuator, System and Method

Abstract

Sample processing droplet actuators, systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a stamping device including a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first plate including a path or network of control electrodes for transporting droplets on a surface thereof; (b) a second plate mounted in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first plate providing an interior volume between the plates, the second plate including one or more stamping ports for transporting some portion or all of a droplet from the interior volume to an exterior location; (c) a port for introducing fluid into the interior volume between the plates; and (d) a path or network of reference electrodes corresponding to the path or network of control electrodes. Associated systems and methods including the stamping device are also provided.

Description

2 RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT / US2007 / 09379, entitled “Droplet-Based Multiwell Operations,” filed Apr. 18, 2007, pending, which claims the benefit of, is related to, and incorporates by reference related provisional U.S. Patent Application Nos. 60 / 745,049, entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Droplet-Based Protein Crystallization,” filed on Apr. 18, 2006; 60 / 745,054, entitled “Droplet-Based Multi-Well Plate,” filed on Apr. 18, 2006; and 60 / 806,400, entitled “Droplet-Microactuator Stamping Platform,” filed on Jun. 30, 2006.1 GRANT INFORMATION[0002]The work leading to this invention was supported at least in part by NIH Grant Nos. 1 R43 GM072155-01 and 2 R44 GM072155-02. The United States Government may have certain rights in the invention described herein.3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention broadly relates to a sample processing droplet actuator, system and method. Embodiments of the present in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a system and method for processing droplets using a droplet actuator. The system includes a stamping device with a first plate and a second plate, along with control electrodes and reference electrodes. The system also includes a computer processor for controlling droplet operations, input devices for user control, and output devices for outputting information. The method involves using the system to deliver MALDI-ready droplets to a MALDI substrate. The technical effects of the invention include improved accuracy and efficiency in droplet processing and analysis.

Problems solved by technology

Protein expression and purification is an expensive process, and it is sometimes difficult to express proteins in large quantities.

A large amount of expensive protein is required to establish conditions for crystallization.

Many proteins of interest are unfortunately available only in limited supply.

Despite efforts to reduce the protein volumes, these processes still consume significant amount of protein and are still labor-intensive.

Existing semi-automatic systems do not encompass ideal high-throughput configurations.

They require user intervention for multiple tray processing and have other material processing issues.

As most of the work performed with these systems is not on a large scale, automation of storage and handling of plates was not addressed in these systems.

Even though these industrial systems are capable of setting up thousands of crystallization screens a day, they are prohibitively expensive for academic research labs.

A common limitation that continuous flow systems face is that liquid transport is physically confined to fixed channels.

These approaches involve complex channeling and require large supporting instruments in the form of external valves or power supplies.

These restrictions make it difficult to achieve high degrees of functional integration and control in conventional continuous-flow systems.

However, none of them even remotely approaches the flexibility of conventional robotic systems.

This inadequacy results from inherent technical limitations associated with the way in which fluid handling is implemented in these devices.

The primary disadvantage of all of these continuous-flow microfluidic devices is their architectural and operational rigidity.

The required continuity of fluid in these devices also makes independent operation of different areas of the chip an inherently difficult proposition.

Consequently, these technologies are non-modular and difficult to scale.

The stamping is accomplished using complex robotic systems which are huge, expensive and immobile.

Existing microfluidic devices are based on continuous flow in fixed microchannels, offering very little flexibility in terms of scalability and reconfigurability.

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