Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Firefly Bioworks, Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

Daniel Colin Pregibon

Patrick Seamus Doyle

Andreas Windemuth

Timothy Erps

Isaac Stoner

Dhananjay Dendukuri

Mehmet Toner

Ramin Haghgooie

Davide M Marini

Jessica Dawn Tytell

Ki Wan Bong

Stephen C Chapin

Graeme Doran

The present invention provides, among other things, methods, compositions and systems for highly efficient, robust, multiplex analysis of biomolecules based on substrate-mediated compartmentalization in conjunction with controlled release of assay reagents for interference-free detection of biomolecules.

Substrate-mediated reactors for bioassays

In a method for synthesizing polymeric microstructures, a monomer stream is flowed, at a selected flow rate, through a fluidic channel. At least one shaped pulse of illumination is projected to the monomer stream, defining in the monomer stream a shape of at least one microstructure corresponding to the illumination pulse shape while polymerizing that microstructure shape in the monomer stream by the illumination pulse. An article of manufacture includes a non-spheroidal polymeric microstructure that has a plurality of distinct material regions.

Microstructure synthesis by flow lithography and polymerization

Techniques are provided to independently control 3D shape and chemistry of rapidly produced colloids. A pre-polymer mixture including a monomer is made to flow into a channel with insular relief in a wall at a known location of the channel. A stimulus that polymerizes the pre-polymer mixture is directed onto the known location to form a structure locked in place at the known location by the insular relief. A pressure is applied to the channel that is sufficient to deflect the wall having the insular relief sufficiently to release a hydrogel particle comprising the structure.

Lock-release polymerization

The present invention provides, among other things, methods and systems for characterizing multifunctional objects using a flow-through device, such as, a flow cytometer. In some embodiments, an inventive method according to the present invention includes one more steps of (a) interrogating a plurality of objects (e.g., particles), wherein each individual object (e.g., particle) comprises one or more interrogation regions detectable as a sequence of events; (b) recording multiple events, wherein each individual event corresponds to each individual interrogation region detectable above a pre-determined triggering threshold; (c) grouping the recorded multiple events, and (d) characterizing the plurality of objects based on the grouped events.

Scanning multifunctional particles

Method for making multifunctional particles. The method includes flowing a first monomer stream loaded with a fluorescent entity along a microfluidic channel and flowing a second monomer stream loaded with a probe adjacent to the first monomer stream along the microfluidic channel. The monomer streams are polymerized to synthesize particles having a fluorescent, graphically encoded region and a probe-loaded region.

Multifunctional encoded particles for high-throughput analysis

The present invention provides, among other things, methods and compositions for encoding a substrate for detecting and quantifying target nucleic acids.

Nucleic acid detection and quantification by post-hybridization labeling and universal encoding

Techniques are provided to produce and use non-spherical colloidal particles with independently tuned size, shape, flexibility, and chemical properties. A pre-polymer mixture for forming hydrogel particles includes a percentage of PEGDA selected to impart a target stiffness to the particles and includes, a percentage of acrylic acid selected to impart an independent target chemical function to the particles. The mixture also includes a percentage of photo-initiator to polymerize PEGDA upon exposure to a light source to impart an independently selected target size or shape or both to the particles.

Tunable hydrogel microparticles

Techniques are provided for high precision scanning of hydrogel microparticles. The high precision is achieved by one or more modifications to the microparticle composition, or microfluidics apparatus that align the microparticles in a detection channel, or method of preparing a sample for introduction into the apparatus, or some combination. An apparatus comprises a body structure having formed therein a central channel and multiple focusing channels in fluid communication with the central channel through multiple junctions. A width of the central channel is smaller in a portion downstream of each junction. A particle comprises a hydrogel matrix and a probe molecule. The particle has an aspect ratio greater than about three. A method includes loading into a sample fluid inlet a mixture, wherein a number of particles lies within a range from about 15 to about 20 particles/&#x3bc;l.

High precision scanning of encoded hydrogel microparticles

In a method for synthesizing polymeric microstructures, a monomer stream is flowed, at a selected flow rate, through a fluidic channel. At least one shaped pulse of illumination is projected to the monomer stream, defining in the monomer stream a shape of at least one microstructure corresponding to the illumination pulse shape while polymerizing that microstructure shape in the monomer stream by the illumination pulse.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Daniel Colin Pregibon