International Business Machines Corporation

Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd

Xander Frank Van Kooten

Govind V Kaigala

Emmanuel Delamarche

Julien Autebert

Moran Bercovici

Nadya Ostromohov

Aditya Kashyap

Federico Paratore

Amit Meller

Joshua Spitzberg

Julien Cors

Devices for detecting a molecule of interest comprising an electrokinetic focusing apparatus and a nanopore apparatus are provided. Kits and systems comprising the apparatus are also provided; as are methods of detecting molecules of interest comprising running the molecules through the electrokinetic focusing apparatus and then detecting the focused molecules as they pass through the nanopore.

Devices and methods for improved single-molecule detection

The present invention provides, in some embodiments, an isotachophoresis (ITP) apparatus, a kit comprising same and method of use thereof for the focusing analytes of interest from large sample volumes.

Device and method for isotachophoretic focusing large sample volumes

Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers. The microfluidic probe head includes: an inlet, an outlet, a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel and a fluid bypass connecting the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. The first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet. The present invention also provides a microfluidic probe and method for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes.

Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of liquid volumes separated by spacers

Methods and systems are provided for characterizing responses of a ligand-functionalized surface, which rely on dispensing a segmented liquid flow including liquid sequences, each including: an analyte segment including biomolecules of analyte; a spacer segment; and a wash segment including a washing liquid, whereby spacer segments separate wash segments from analyte segments in the dispensed segmented liquid flow. A measurement cycle is performed for each of the liquid sequences of the segmented liquid flow being dispensed. A measurement cycle includes: ejecting an analyte segment of each liquid sequence toward the ligand-functionalized surface and extracting, from each liquid sequence, a spacer segment succeeding the analyte segment as the latter is being ejected; ejecting a wash segment succeeding the extracted spacer segment in each liquid sequence to flush unbound and/or weakly bound biomolecules of analytes from the surface; and reading out a signal of bound biomolecules of analytes on the surface.

Characterizing kinetic responses of a ligand-functionalized surface

A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.

Microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers

A microfluidic probe is disclosed. The microfluidic probe includes a probe head, a liquid spacer supply and a spacer modulation unit. The probe head may include a processing liquid channel in fluid communication with a processing liquid aperture provided on a face of the probe head. The probe head is configured to transport, circulate, recirculate, or move some processing liquid in (or via) the processing liquid channel toward and/or from the processing liquid aperture. The spacer supply is fluidly connected, via a spacer insertion junction, to the processing liquid channel. The spacer supply is configured for inserting liquid spacers into the processing liquid channel, via the spacer insertion junction. Liquid volumes can be obtained, which are separated by inserted liquid spacers. The spacer modulation unit is configured to control the spacer supply, to modulate the insertion of spacers via the spacer supply. Related devices and methods of operation are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Adliswil, Switzerland

Xander Frank Van Kooten