Washington University

Michael Binkley

John Mark Meacham

Mikhail Y Berezin

Arpita Bose

Andrei G Fedorov

Courtney Swadley

Fahrettin Levent Degertekin

Karthikeyan Rengasamy

A micro-bioelectrochemical cell (μ-BEC) device is disclosed that includes from 4 to 96 microfluidically connected chambers, in which each chamber encloses a volume of about 1 μL to 2 μL. A working electrode, reference electrode, and counting electrode contacts each volume. The μ-BEC device includes a support layer coated with a working electrode layer, a microfluidics layer containing a plurality of wells, and an electrical layer containing the reference and counter electrodes. Methods of using the μ-BEC device to perform bioelectrochemical measurements of cells are also disclosed.

Micro-bioelectrochemical cell devices and methods of detecting electron flows

Disclosed herein is are methods for isolating mammalian cells under continuous flow conditions, enriching mammalian cells under continuous flow conditions, and enriching microorganisms under continuous flow conditions. The methods include providing and loading a plurality of mammalian cells or microorganisms into an acoustic separation device. The acoustic separation device includes: an inlet; an outlet; a channel coupled to the inlet and the outlet, wherein the channel defines a flow path between the inlet and the outlet; a standing acoustic wave generating device; and at least one pillar array comprising a plurality of pillars, wherein the at least one pillar array is situated within the flow path defined by the channel, wherein the at least one pillar array includes a first pillar array and a second pillar array, wherein the first pillar array is substantially parallel to the second pillar array, wherein the first pillar array and the second pillar array form an enrichment structure. The methods further include generating an augmented pressure field comprising locally augmenting, by the enrichment structure, a pressure field generated by the standing acoustic wave generating device.

Synthesis, post-modification and separation of biologics using acoustically confined substrates

A micro-bioelectrochemical cell (μ-BEC) device is disclosed that includes from 4 to 96 microfluidically connected of chambers, in which each chamber encloses a volume of about 1 μL to 2 μL. A working electrode, reference electrode, and counting electrode contacts each volume. The μ-BEC device includes a support layer coated with a working electrode layer, a microfluidics layer containing a plurality of wells, and an electrical layer containing the reference and counter electrodes. Methods of using the μ-BEC device to perform bioelectrochemical measurements of cells are also disclosed.

An acoustic separation device for reagent manipulation a standing acoustic including a wave generating device and pairs of perforated pseudo walls comprising a longitudinal standing bulk acoustic wave (LSBAW) channel. The LSBAW channel provides local pressure field amplification to overcome drag forces arising from reagent flow. Further, method for manipulating a reagent under continuous flow conditions microcarrier particles locally confined in an acoustic separation device comprising an inlet and an outlet, a fluid routing layer coupled to a channel, a plurality of loading wells configured to hold a plurality of substances required for a desired synthesis, and a controller configured to distribute the plurality of substances held by the loading wells in a desired sequence. The device for antibody manipulation further comprises an ultrasound actuator, and a channel wherein the channel is separated from the ultrasound actuator.

Disclosed herein are devices and methods of high throughput separation. A device comprises a reservoir for receiving a fluid in a flow direction and a transducer for generating a pressure field that is not perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid through the reservoir. A method comprises receiving a fluid in a flow direction into a reservoir comprising an array of openings on at least one side of the channel or reservoir, generating a pressure field that is not perpendicular to the flow of the fluid through the reservoir, wherein at least one node and at least one antinode of the pressure field are within the reservoir, and separating the plurality of objects within the fluid, wherein at least a first object is retained within the reservoir and at least a second object is passed from the reservoir through the array of openings.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Michael Binkley