Micro-fluidic Device Capture Micro-objects Assay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assaying biological activity in micro-fluidic devices are limited in their ability to efficiently culture and assess biological materials produced by cells, particularly in isolating and analyzing specific biological materials of interest within a micro-fluidic environment.
Innovation Solution
The process involves culturing biological cells in holding pens of a micro-fluidic device, introducing capture micro-objects with specific binding substances, allowing the biological materials to bind, and then removing and assessing these micro-objects using techniques such as dielectrophoresis or magnetic fields to move them to an assay region for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capture micro-objects are introduced into holding pens to bind biological materials, then the specificity of biological material isolation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple components and regions required
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-fluidic device is divided into distinct functional regions including holding pens for cell culture, channels for transport, and assay regions for analysis. Capture micro-objects are introduced into specific holding pens where they bind to biological materials produced by cells. This segmentation allows specific isolation of biological materials while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Capture micro-objects are introduced into holding pens to selectively bind and extract specific biological materials from cell culture media. The bound capture micro-objects are then moved from holding pens through channels to assay regions for analysis. This extraction approach enables specific isolation of target biological materials while leaving other components in the culture media behind.
2Productivity
If capture micro-objects are moved from holding pens to assay regions for analysis, then the productivity of biological assay is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple regions and transport mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into holding pens, channels, and assay regions that work together in a streamlined workflow. Capture micro-objects bind to biological materials in holding pens, then are transported through channels to assay regions for rapid analysis. This segmentation enables high-throughput processing of multiple samples simultaneously while maintaining clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-fluidic device integrates multiple functions into a single platform: cell culture in holding pens, specific binding of capture micro-objects to biological materials, transport through channels, and assay analysis in dedicated regions. This multi-functional integration improves assay productivity by eliminating the need for separate equipment for each step while managing complexity through unified design.
3Ease of operation
If light traps and dielectrophoresis electrodes are used to move capture micro-objects, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Physical manipulation of capture micro-objects is replaced with dielectrophoresis electrodes and light traps that use electrical and optical fields to move bound capture micro-objects from holding pens to assay regions. This substitution eliminates manual handling steps, improving ease of operation while the integrated field-based control mechanisms manage the added device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dielectrophoresis electrodes and light traps to change the physical state and position of capture micro-objects through electrical and optical field parameters. By adjusting field strength and distribution, the system enables precise control of capture micro-object movement, improving operational ease while the parameter-based control manages the complexity of the field generation components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables efficient isolation and analysis of biological materials, allowing for the determination of the type, amount, and activity of the biological materials produced by cells, even when dealing with single cells or clonal colonies, improving the sensitivity and specificity of biological assays.
Implementation Method 1
The light trap can include a light pattern, projected onto an inner surface of the micro-fluidic device, that surrounds the at least one capture micro-object and activates electrodes, such as dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes, within the micro-fluidic device.
Implementation Method 2
The one or more capture micro-objects are magnetic. In related embodiments, removing the one or more capture micro-objects can involve applying a magnetic field to the micro-fluidic device.
Data Source
AI summary
Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.