University of California

California Institute of Technology

Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Sofie Biosciences, Inc.

R Michael Van Dam

Hartmuth C Kolb

Arkadij M Elizarov

Gaurav Shah

Chang-Jin Kim

Nagichettiar Satyamurthy

Jorge R Barrio

Mark Eddings

Sebastian Olma

Clifton Kwang-Fu Shen

Pei Yuin Keng

Dirk Williams

Supin Chen

Melissa Moore

Huijiang Ding

Bernard Amarasekera

Jianzhong Zhang

Stephen R Quake

Jia Wang

James R Heath

Sean Ford

Reza Miraghaie

Carroll Edward Ball

Lawrence Diener

Noel Seunghyun Ha

Jimmy Ly

Brandon Maraglia

Marc Alexander Unger

Daniel Bryce Thompson

James P Brody

Hsian-Rong Tseng

Alexander Hsiao

Mark Saul Lazari

Kan Liu

Eric Schopf

Kwang-Fu Clifton Shen

Kevin Quinn

Shane Claggett

Rebecca Shafee

Henry Herman

Jason Jones

Shilin Cheung

Stephen Liu

Alejandra Rios

Pei-Yuin Keng

Philip Hong-Sean Chao

A method of performing high-throughput radio thin layer chromatography (radio-TLC) includes spotting a plurality of locations on one or more TLC plates with samples containing a radiochemical or a radiopharmaceutical, each location defining an individual lane on the one or more TLC plates for the respective samples. The one or more TLC plates are developed with a developing solution and dried. The TLC plates are imaged with an imaging device comprising a camera, wherein the image obtained from the camera comprises a field of view that contains regions of interest (ROIs) from the plurality of lanes. The ROIs in the images obtained from the camera may then be analyzed by the user. The ROIs may be used, for example, reaction optimization or for quality control check of the production of radiotracers.

System and method for high-throughput radio thin layer chromatography analysis

A microfluidic chip device for the purification of radiochemical compounds includes a chip having an injection channel and intersecting branch channels with a plurality of valves are located along the injection channel and branch channels and configured to retain a plug of solution containing the radiochemical compound. The chip further includes a serpentine channel segment (for separation) coupled to the output of the injection channel. A high voltage power source advances the plug of solution through the purification region and into the downstream fraction collection channel. The chip includes a downstream fraction collection channel coupled to the serpentine channel segment and having an optical and radiation detection regions. One or more branch fraction channels intersect with the fraction collection channel and include valves located therein so that the radiochemical compound that is detected using a radiation detector is directed into the desired branch fraction channel for subsequent use.

Microscale device and method for purification of radiopharmaceuticals

A microfluidic synthesis platform includes a microfluidic chip holder that has a computer controlled heating element and cooling element therein. A microfluidic chip is mountable in the microfluidic chip holder. The microfluidic chip is formed by a hydrophobic substrate having patterned thereon a hydrophilic reaction site and a plurality of hydrophilic channels or pathways extending outward from the hydrophilic reaction site and terminating at respective loading sites on the substrate, wherein the hydrophilic channels or pathways are tapered with an increasing width in an inward direction toward the hydrophilic reaction site. A fixture is provided for holding a plurality of non-contact reagent dispensing devices above the microfluidic chip at locations corresponding to the loading sites of the plurality of hydrophilic channels or pathways, the fixture further holding a moveable collection tube disposed above the hydrophilic reaction site of the microfluidic chip for removing droplets containing reaction products.

Device and method for microscale chemical reactions

A volumetric microfluidic injector for capillary electrophoresis (CE) for highly repeatable sample injection has been designed and built to eliminate known injection bias in hydrodynamic injection. A defined volume from 1-10 nL or 0.1-100 nL of sample is confined in a defined region of a micro-valve PDMS microfluidic injector chip and electrophoretic potential is applied to drive sample into a separation device such as an embedded fused silica capillary for separation and detection. Using a 75 &#x3bc;m ID capillary, the RSD of an absorbance peak area as low as 1.32% (n=11) is obtained. As a comparison, the time-dependent injection was tested using the same chip which resulted in an inferior repeatability.

Volumetric micro-injector for capillary electrophoresis

A device for purifying and formulating a radiopharmaceutical compound includes an automated purification subsystem that automates the loading of a sample into a sample loop for downstream purification via HPLC. A column selector valve is provided to select from one of a plurality of columns. Fractions can be collected as well as the desired product. The device includes an automated formulation subsystem that first sends the product to a dilution reservoir prior to being pneumatically pushed onto a solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. Automated rinse, elution, and reconstitution are also performed with the automated formulation subsystem. The device may be directly coupled to the output of an automated radiosynthesizer.

Automated purification and formulation device for radiopharmaceutical compounds

A self-shielded, bench-top radiochemistry system, including a radioactive isotope dispensing module configured to draw an isotope out of a vial and dispense one or more metered doses of the isotope to a concentration module that concentrates the metered dose into a droplet amount of isotope and a synthesizer module that delivers the droplet amount of isotope along with one or more reagents to an electrowetting on dielectrics (EWOD) chip to produce a radiolabeled molecule.

Self-shielded, benchtop radio chemistry system with a plurality shielded carriers containing a disposable chip cassette

An automated radiosynthesizer device includes a plurality of reactor assemblies, each reactor assembly being operatively connected to a horizontal actuator for moving the reactor assembly in the horizontal direction and a vertical actuator for moving the reactor assembly in the vertical direction. A plurality of disposable cassettes are disposed above each of the plurality of reactor assemblies, each cassette comprising a lower surface comprising a plurality of sealed and un-sealed gaskets, wherein the un-sealed gaskets are connected to internal fluid paths within the cassette. The device includes a three-axis reagent and gas handling robot disposed above the plurality of cassettes and terminates in a vial gripper and a gas manifold having an inert gas port and a vacuum port. The device includes a control system configured to control the horizontal actuator and vertical actuator of each reactor assembly and the three-axis reagent and gas handling robot.

Automated, multi-pot high-pressure radio-synthesizer for production of pet tracers

The present disclosure sets forth incorporating microfluidic chips interfaces for use with digital microfluidic processes. Methods and devices according to the present disclosure utilize compact, integrated platforms that interface with a chip upstream and downstream of the reaction, as well as between intermediate reaction steps if needed. In some embodiments these interfaces are automated, including automation of a multiple reagent process. Various reagent delivery systems and methods are also disclosed.

Disposable world-to-chip interface for digital microfluidics

Disclosed herein are methods of performing microchemical reactions and electro-wetting-on-dielectric devices (EWOD devices) for use in performing those reactions. These devices and method are particularly suited for preparing radiochemical compounds, particularly compounds containingF.

Digital microfluidic platform for radiochemistry

A modular chemical production system includes multiple modules for performing a chemical reaction, particularly of radiochemical compounds, from a remote location. One embodiment comprises a reaction vessel including a moveable heat source with the position thereof relative to the reaction vessel being controllable from a remote position. Alternatively the heat source may be fixed in location and the reaction vial is moveable into and out of the heat source. The reaction vessel has one or more sealing plugs, the positioning of which in relationship to the reaction vessel is controllable from a remote position. Also the one or more reaction vessel sealing plugs can include one or more conduits there through for delivery of reactants, gases at atmospheric or an elevated pressure, inert gases, drawing a vacuum and removal of reaction end products to and from the reaction vial, the reaction vial with sealing plug in position being operable at elevated pressures. The modular chemical production system is assembled from modules which can each include operating condition sensors and controllers configured for monitoring and controlling the individual modules and the assembled system from a remote position. Other modules include, but are not limited to a Reagent Storage and Delivery Module, a Cartridge Purification Module, a Microwave Reaction Module, an External QC/Analysis/Purification Interface Module, an Aliquotting Module, an F-18 Drying Module, a Concentration Module, a Radiation Counting Module, and a Capillary Reactor Module.

Modular radiochemistry synthesis system

The invention may provide a microfluidic mixer having a droplet generator and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with the droplet generator. The droplet generator comprises first and second fluid chambers that are structured to be filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time. The first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow the first and second fluids in the first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in the combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into the droplet mixer.

Accurate and rapid micromixer for integrated microfluidic devices

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

R Michael Van Dam