Aclara Biosciences, Inc.

Monogram Biosciences, Inc.

Stephen J Williams

Sharat Singh

Hong Tan

Herbert H Hooper

Alexander P Sassi

Robert J Nelson

Hung Pin Kao

Alan K Hauser

Wyatt N Vreeland

A method of separating components having a given negative or positive charge and contained in a sample is disclosed. The method involves, in one embodiment, loading a microchannel with a sample, placed between a trailing-edge electrolyte having a selected concentration of a titratable species, and a leading-edge electrolyte. With the application of a voltage potential across the microchannel, charged components in the sample stack by isotachophoresis, and electrolytic hydroxyl or hydrogen ions formed by electrolysis at the upstream-end electrode migrate into the trailing-edge ion buffer, titrating the titratable species therein, where the concentration of the titratable species in the trailing-edge electrolyte is selected , in relation to the lengths of the upstream channel region and sample-loading volume, to permit the sample to stack into a relatively small sample volume before electrolytic-ion migration from the upstream electrode into and through the sample-volume region is effective to overtake the charge sample components. With continued application of an electric potential across the channel ends, charged sample components in the stacked sample volume separated by zone electrophoresis.

Tandem isotachophoresis/zone electrophoresis method and system

A method and device for injecting a liquid sample into an electrolyte channel in a microfluidics device is disclosed. The device has a channel network that includes an electrolyte channel having upstream and downstream channel portions and first, second, and third side channels that intersect the electrolyte channel between the two channel portions at first, second, and third ports, respectively. In the method, a sample is moved electrokinetically into the electrolyte channel, to form a defined sample volume therein. By simultaneously controlling the voltage applied to the three side channels, and at least one of the upstream and downstream channel end portions, the sample volume element can be shaped to have a desired leading- and trailing-edge shape and/or distribution of sample components within the volume elements.

Microfluidic device with sample injector and method of using

A method of separating components having a given negative or positive charge and contained in a sample is disclosed. The method involves, in one embodiment, loading a microchannel with a sample, placed between a trailing-edge electrolyte having a selected concentration of a titratable species, and a leading-edge electrolyte. With the application of a voltage potential across the microchannel, charged components in the sample stack by isotachophoresis, and electrolytic hydroxyl or hydrogen ions formed by electrolysis at the upstream-end electrode migrate into the trailing-edge ion buffer, titrating the titratable species therein, where the concentration of the titratable species in the trailing-edge electrolyte is selected, in relation to the lengths of the upstream channel region and sample-loading volume, to permit the sample to stack into a relatively small sample volume before electrolytic-ion migration from the upstream electrode into and through the sample-volume region is effective to overtake the charged sample components. With continued application of an electric potential across the channel ends, charged sample components in the stacked sample volume separate by zone electrophoresis.

Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel ( ) and a main electrophoretic flowpath ( ) are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet ( ). The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.

Microfluidic apparatus and method for purification and processing

Microfluidic method for nucleic acid purification and processing

Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel and a main electrophoretic flowpath are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet. The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Stephen J Williams