Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502707—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
  • F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
  • F26B5/06—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum the process involving freezing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/12—Specific details about manufacturing devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/16—Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L7/00—Heating or cooling apparatus; Heat insulating devices
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/25—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing including sample preparation
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/25—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing including sample preparation
  • Y10T436/2525—Stabilizing or preserving
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/25—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing including sample preparation
  • Y10T436/2575—Volumetric liquid transfer

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for providing a dried reagent in a microfluidic system as well as a microfluidisclies system.
• Microfluidic systems have, at least in sections, a microfluidic structure in which one or more microcompartments and / or microchannels are formed.
• microfluidic systems are provided as microfluidic test elements or test systems with which one or more analytes can be analyzed, for example, in a sample of body fluid.
• one or more reagents are then provided in the microfluidic structure, in particular for a detection reaction with the analyte to be analyzed.
• the one or more reagents are arranged in the microchannels and / or the microcompartments of the microfluidic structure, so that they come into contact with the sample liquid when the sample to be examined is placed on the microfluidic test element, whereupon a detection reaction usually takes place.
• Lyophilization is a freeze-drying process that results in the removal of liquid from the frozen material in vacuo. In this freezing of the solvent, which is usually water, the solvent evaporates in the frozen state (sublimation drying). In this way, a gentle drying and preservation of one or more reagents is possible.
• the end product of lyophilization is a frozen mass (lyophilisate), which may also be referred to as a porous, stable and dry "lyo cake”.
• the lyophilized pellets may contain various biological reagents or microparticles.
• the pellets are prepared by placing drops of a reagent solution on a cooled plate and frozen there, followed by vacuum treatment.
• the object of the invention is to provide a method for providing a dried reagent in a microfluidic system as well as a microfluidic system in which at least one dried reagent can be introduced into the microfluidic system for retention herein in a flexible and adaptable manner to a particular application ,
• One aspect of the invention is a method for providing a dried reagent in a microfluidic system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a microfluidic system having a microfluidic structure, introducing a reagent-containing flowable carrier medium into the microfluidic structure, and drying of the reagent in the microfluidic structure by lyophilization.
• a microfluidic system in which a lyophilization-dried reagent is arranged in a microfluidic structure.
• the possibility is created to first introduce the reagent to be stored in the microfluidic structure in dissolved or suspended form into the microfluidic structure in order then to carry out a drying by means of lyophilization.
• the reagent can be more easily introduced into the sections of the microfluidic structure by means of the flowable carrier medium, for example in the form of a solution or a suspension. It is not necessary to geometrically separate the sections of the microfluidic structure for the Incorporation of pellets or particles to optimize. Rather, the carrier medium, which may be, for example, water, flows with the reagent into the sections of the microfluidic structure in the microfluidic system.
• microfluidic structure may in this case be formed in sections in the microfluidic system or this essentially completely.
• the advantage is that the dried reagent dissolves rapidly and completely in a liquid.
• the dried reagent dissolves rapidly and completely in a liquid.
• aqueous solution which is introduced into the microfluidic structure when using the microfluidic system. This is particularly advantageous for kinetic measurements, for example.
• one or more reagents can be incorporated into the microfluidic structure.
• the incorporation of several reagents can also be carried out, for example, by multiple application of the steps for introducing the carrier medium and subsequent lyophilization. However, such a multiple application can also be provided in connection with the introduction of only one reagent in the microfluidic structure.
• a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the microfluidic structure is thermally treated prior to introduction of the flowable carrier medium. In this way, the incorporation of the reagent (s) in the microfluidic structure can be specifically influenced.
• the microfluidic structure is thermally treated when the flowable carrier medium is introduced.
• An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the microfluidic structure is cooled during the thermal treatment.
• the cooling of the microfluidic structure is a form of thermal treatment in which, for example, the microfluidic structure or parts thereof or the entire microfluidic system are cooled.
• the cooling can be done so far that the flowable carrier medium freezes after application on contact with the surface of the microfluidic structure equal or in temporal proximity thereto. In this way, a targeted influencing of the distribution of the flowable carrier medium within the microfluidic structure is made possible. Cooling is advantageous, for example, if the flowable carrier medium contains a surfactant whose distribution in the microfluidic structure can be influenced in a targeted manner.
• a development of the invention provides that the microfluidic structure is heated during the thermal treatment.
• the heating is another form of thermal treatment of the microfluidic system or parts thereof, in particular the micro fluidic structure.
• This type of thermal treatment can also be used to control and regulate the spatial distribution of the reagent suspension or solution within the microfluidic structure.
• heating is advantageous when the flowable carrier medium contains surfactants whose distribution is otherwise difficult to control in microfluidic structures.
• An expedient embodiment of the invention may provide that the reagent is incorporated in the microfluidic structure with a substantially homogeneous distribution.
• the flowable carrier medium contains one or more surfactants and / or one or more fillers. These form after drying a kind of chemical lattice for the one or more reagents in the microfluidic structure, whereby, for example, a homogeneous and rapid dissolution of the reagents is supported.
• microfluidic test element selected from the following group of systems: microfluidic test element and microfluidic chip.
• test elements are preferably used, as they are as such in the document EP 1 916 524 A1 are described.
• analysis systems that are loaded with dry reagents and are substantially disk-shaped.
• a reagent solution or suspension is initially prepared in which one or more reagents are present in dissolved or suspended form.
• the microfluidic system is then provided, for example in the form of a microfluidic test element or a microfluidic chip.
• the reagent solution or suspension is applied, for example, about 10 microliters are applied. This again takes place at atmospheric pressure.
• the applied liquid penetrates at least partially into the microfluidic structure of the microfluidic system.
• the microfluidic system can be pre-cooled, for example by placing it on a cooled storage surface, which in turn was pre-cooled, for example, at about -50 ° C.
• the described method can be carried out, for example, with a cholesterol reagent which contains a surface-active substance.
• reagents in dried form within the microfluidic structure of the microfluidic system with a desired distribution, for example a substantially homogeneous distribution.
• the application of the reagent solution or suspension allows easy penetration of the reagent (s) into the microstructure. Subsequently, the drying is then carried out by lyophilization.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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Cited By (3)

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Citations (7)

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• 2008
  • 2008-11-06 EP EP08019462.4A patent/EP2198964B8/fr not_active Not-in-force
• 2009
  • 2009-10-05 US US12/573,472 patent/US8790932B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-11-03 CA CA2684268A patent/CA2684268A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-11-05 JP JP2009254147A patent/JP2010112953A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-11-06 CN CN200910212006A patent/CN101737989A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (7)

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