U.S. patent application number 14/614376 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for microfluidic separation device and method of making same.
The applicant listed for this patent is CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Invention is credited to Alvaro GOMEZ, Frank GOMEZ, George MALTEZOS, Axel SCHERER.
Application Number | 20150209690 14/614376 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39684922 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150209690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MALTEZOS; George ; et
al. |
July 30, 2015 |
MICROFLUIDIC SEPARATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
Abstract
A device and method for making a microfluidic separation device.
A microfluidic separation device could include a microfluidic
column having an inlet, the microfluidic column being configured to
hold a first fluid and the microfluidic column including a porous
portion, and an outlet attached to the microfluidic column, the
outlet being configured to output a second fluid. The method may
include providing a microfluidic column having an inlet,
configuring the microfluidic column to hold a first fluid, forming
a porous portion in the microfluidic column, and attaching an
outlet to the microfluidic column.
Inventors: |
MALTEZOS; George;
(Oceanside, CA) ; GOMEZ; Alvaro; (Pasadena,
CA) ; GOMEZ; Frank; (Montebello, CA) ;
SCHERER; Axel; (BARNARD, VT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
Pasadena |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
39684922 |
Appl. No.: |
14/614376 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12028773 |
Feb 8, 2008 |
8986542 |
|
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14614376 |
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60900425 |
Feb 9, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
29/428 ;
264/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 30/603 20130101;
B01D 15/22 20130101; Y10T 29/49826 20150115; B29L 2031/756
20130101; B01L 3/502753 20130101; G01N 30/6095 20130101; B01L
2300/12 20130101; B01L 3/502707 20130101; B29K 2027/12 20130101;
B29C 65/70 20130101; B01L 2300/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B01D 15/22 20060101
B01D015/22; B29C 65/70 20060101 B29C065/70; B01L 3/00 20060101
B01L003/00 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] This invention was funded by the government under contract
numbers DMR-0351848 and DMR-0520565 from the Division of Materials
Research, National Science Foundation (NSF), 4201 Wilson Boulevard,
Arlington, Va. 22230, USA. The government has certain rights in
this invention.
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A method of making a microfluidic separation device, the method
comprising: providing a microfluidic column having an inlet;
configuring the microfluidic column to hold a first fluid; forming
a porous portion in the microfluidic column; and attaching an
outlet to the microfluidic column.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the forming the porous portion
further comprises including one of a filter, a paper filter; a
sodium silicate frit, a partially fused material.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the configuring the
microfluidic column to hold the first fluid includes configuring
the microfluidic column to process less than a range of 100
nanoliter to 1 milliliter of at least one of the first fluid and a
second fluid, the second fluid passing through the outlet.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing the microfluidic
column further comprises including a silica in the column.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing the microfluidic
column includes one of providing an elution column and providing an
affinity column.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising urging the first
fluid towards the porous portion.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the forming the porous portion
includes temporarily sealing the microfluidic column, and wherein
the method further comprises configuring the outlet to output a
second fluid.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing the microfluidic
column includes providing a microfluidic column of a material
selected from the group consisting of: fluorinated polymer,
elastomer, and plastic.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing the microfluidic
column further includes providing a plurality of microfluidic
columns.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing the microfluidic
column further includes connecting one or more of the microfluidic
columns to one or more of a first microfluidic channel enclosed in
a first microfluidic chip and a second microfluidic channel
enclosed in a second microfluidic chip.
22. A method of making a microfluidic separation device, the method
comprising: providing a microfluidic column having an inlet;
configuring the microfluidic column to hold a first fluid;
including a porous portion in the microfluidic column; configuring
an outlet to the microfluidic column; configuring the outlet to
output a second fluid; sizing the microfluidic column to process
less than a range of 100 nanoliter to 1 milliliter of at least one
of the first fluid and the second fluid; configuring the
microfluidic column to urge the first fluid towards the porous
portion; and sizing the microfluidic column to have a length and a
diameter, wherein the length is in a range of 5-40 times the
diameter.
23. A method of making a microfluidic separation device, the method
comprising: selecting one or more dimensions of a microfluidic
column; creating a mold of the microfluidic column; forming a
porous portion in the mold of the microfluidic column; embedding
the mold of the microfluidic column in one of: a fluorinated
polymer, an elastomer, and a plastic; and removing the mold.
24. The method of claim 23 further including removing the wax.
25-26. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/900,425; filed Feb. 9, 2007, titled
"Microfluidic Three-Dimensional Separation Column."
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] References cited within this application, including patents,
published patent applications other publications, such as listed
below: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/900,425; filed Feb. 9,
2007, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0004] California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., and
California State University, Los Angeles, Calif., joined under the
CSEM (Center for the Science & Engineering of Materials @
Caltech) program.
BACKGROUND
[0005] 1. Field
[0006] This disclosure is generally related to a separation column
and in particular to a microfluidic separation column.
[0007] 2. Description of Related Art
[0008] Typically, flash column chromatography is an existing
separation and/or a purification technique for use in synthetic
organic and inorganic chemistry laboratories for isolating
newly-synthesized materials. Generally, a column is filled with
silica or a similar solid (a solid adsorbent), to create a
"stationary phase." Such a column is termed a "packed column." A
liquid is added to a top end of the column to create a "mobile
phase." The mixture of chemicals to be separated is subsequently
introduced under a pressure into the top end of the column where an
equilibrium is established between a solute adsorbed and a solvent
eluted flowing down the column.
[0009] Generally, in column chromatography, molecules travel under
gravity through a gel (as the stationary phase) and a solvent (as
the mobile phase). The solvent is one in which the materials to be
separated are miscible. Different solutes will flow at different
speeds, allowing for the solutes to be separated.
[0010] A chromatographic separation process is based on the
difference in the surface interactions of a chemical to be analyzed
and eluent molecules. A molecule with a stronger surface
interaction will "sit" on the adsorbent for a longer time, will
move slower, and thus get separated from another material having a
weaker surface interaction which is therefore moving faster.
[0011] Existing apparatus and techniques only work with large
quantities of chemicals to be separated and large volumes of
liquids functioning as the mobile phase.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0012] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device and
method for making a microfluidic separation device. The present
disclosure addresses handling of micro volumes of chemicals or
specimens through the use of a miniaturized chromatographic column.
This disclosure presents a means for separating micro volumes. This
disclosure also presents a means for separating micro volumes using
a small amount of solute as the mobile phase. This disclosure
further presents the creation of a microfluidic column with a
porous frit or portion which may be made of other than glass. This
disclosure also presents the use of sodium silicate to make the
porous portion or frit.
[0013] Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the
device, among others, can be implemented as follows.
[0014] A microfluidic separation device could include a
microfluidic column having an inlet, the microfluidic column being
configured to hold a first fluid, the microfluidic column including
a porous portion. The microfluidic column may also have an outlet
attached to the microfluidic column, the outlet being configured to
output a second fluid.
[0015] The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a
method of making a microfluidic separation device. The method may
include providing a microfluidic column having an inlet,
configuring the microfluidic column to hold a first fluid, forming
a porous portion in the microfluidic column. This method may also
include attaching an outlet to the microfluidic column.
[0016] The methodology and device disclosed in this writing may
lead to the ability to separate minute quantities of material
(0.2-0.5_L per injection). An optional integration of a microchip
on top of a microfluidic column allows for manipulation of small
volumes of different samples and solutions into the microfluidic
column; and/or facilitating a reaction in a standard planar
microfluidic microchip, wherein the reaction compounds may be
separated out in a column that is bonded to the planar microfluidic
microchip.
[0017] Other devices, methods, features, and advantages of what is
disclosed here will be, or will become apparent, to a person having
ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following
drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such
additional devices, methods, features, and advantages included
within this description, be within the scope of the present
disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. Components in the drawings are
not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating principles of the present invention. Moreover,
in the drawings, like-referenced numerals designate corresponding
parts throughout the several views.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a computer model of a wax structure used
to make a microfluidic separation device of the present
disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 2A illustrates a photographic view of the microfluidic
separation device of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of the microfluidic
separation device shown in
[0022] FIG. 2A.
[0023] FIG. 2C illustrates a photographic view of a microchip
attached to the microfluidic separation device of the present
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 2D illustrates a further photographic view of the
microchip attached to the microfluidic separation device of the
present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 2E illustrates a front view of a microchip, including a
microfluidic channel, attached to another embodiment of the
microfluidic separation device of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 3A illustrates a photographic view of the microfluidic
separation device of the present disclosure separating a dye.
[0027] FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the microfluidic
separation device shown in
[0028] FIG. 3A.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of making the microfluidic
separation device of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The present disclosure relates to a device and method for
making a microfluidic separation device. In particular, the
disclosure pertains to flash chromatography of micro volumes by
constructing a microfluidic column capable of separating such micro
volumes.
[0031] As disclosed here, a method employing flash chromatography
is used. It differs from common gravity chromatography in the sense
that it uses pressure to run the molecules through a packed column.
In this case, using the three-dimensional "lost wax" approach for
microfluidics, a method is presented for miniaturizing a
chromatographic column. In the typical "lost wax" approach, a
"negative" mold is made. Molten wax is injected into this mold and
allowed to cool, thereby generating a wax model. The wax model is
covered with plaster of Paris, for example, and heated. The heat
melts the wax, which trickles out through a small hole and thus the
wax is "lost," leaving a precise replica of the desired
microfluidic separation column. A modification of this is here
disclosed. A computer model, a structure of the device, and
corresponding methods are described below.
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a computer model 100A of a wax structure
used to make a model of a microfluidic separation device of the
present disclosure. A three-dimensional computer model 100A was
first made and then realized using a rapid prototype machine, such
as Solidscape T66.RTM.. The model 100A is a computer model made
from the Solidworks.RTM. software, the model 100A is uploaded to a
Solidscape.RTM. T66 printer, and the Solidscape.RTM. T66 printer
generates a wax model. The microfluidic column described below is
obtained from the wax model. The wax model may be treated as an
intermediate stage between the computer model 100A and the
microfluidic column.
[0033] In FIG. 1, there is seen a microfluidic column 102. Such a
column may have exemplary dimensions of 600 microns in diameter and
15,000 microns in length. The dimensions may vary based on a given
application. A ratio of these dimensions (preferably in a range of
1/5 to 1/40) is comparable to a very long benchtop separation
column and is selected to ensure good separation of the chemicals,
such as a mixture, to be passed there through. The diameter of
microfluidic column 101 is of note. For example, if the diameter is
too thin, that is, the diameter of microfluidic column 101 is
thinner than that specified here, the microfluidic column may
collapse upon construction.
[0034] In order to make such a thin vertical microfluidic column
102 of wax as shown in FIG. 1 with good reliability, it may be
preferable to place one or more larger supports, such as column
supports 106, around the microfluidic column 102 and a cross bar
109 as shown in FIG. 1, These may be used to secure the
microfluidic column 102 during its construction or processing
steps. The column supports 106 could serve as anchors for the
microfluidic column 102. The column supports 106 may be used to
substantially prevent the microfluidic column 102 from collapsing
as the microfluidic column 102 is built by the Solidscape T66.RTM.
printer. Therefore, the column supports 106 are printed together
with the microfluidic column 102.
[0035] After the microfluidic column 102 is made, the column
supports 106 and the cross bar 109 may be cut leaving just the
microfluidic column 102. The wax made computer model 100A may
include a porous portion 104, such as a "frit," a sodium silicate
frit, a filter, a paper filter, glass, or a partially fused
material. Other porous materials will be obvious to those skilled
in the art. The inclusion of the porous portion 104 is further
discussed below.
[0036] Once the wax made computer model 100A is completed, it is
then embedded into a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer. The
wax is then melted away to create microfluidic column 102 as seen
in FIG. 2A inside the PDMS elastomer. Microfluidic column 102 has
substantially the same dimensions as the wax microfluidic column
102.
[0037] FIG. 2A is a photographic view of the completed microfluidic
column 101 obtained from microfluidic column 102 of FIG. 1 and cast
in PDMS. A sodium silicate frit is visible at 107 and serves as the
porous portion 104. The microfluidic column 101 is packed with
silica 110. Traditionally, a glass frit-like material would be
embedded into the microfluidic column 101 to serve as the porous
portion 104 and to act as a base for the silica 110 or similar
solid adsorbent which is to function as the stationary phase.
[0038] However, it is very difficult to embed a traditional glass
frit into the monolithic structure of the PDMS elastomer with the
necessary leak tight fit. Therefore, an alternative method was
devised using sodium silicate as here presented.
[0039] Sodium silicate is liquid at room temperature. This allows
construction of the porous portion 104 by placing a wire or metal
pin of an appropriate diameter, for example, substantially of the
same the diameter as that of the internal dimension of the
microfluidic column 101, into the microfluidic column 101, up to a
point in a space allocated for the porous portion 104. Leakage
could be a problem if the wire or the pin is not placed at a
location substantially at least one quarter the length, measured
from an inlet 103 described below, of the microfluidic column
101.
[0040] As noted, the porous portion 104 is being formed in the wax
mold of the microfluidic column 101. This then enables the porous
portion 104 to be trapped in the polymer such that it becomes part
of the microfluidic column 101 as shown in FIG. 2. for the porous
portion 104. The wire or the pin is dimensioned to serve as a seal,
preferably an air tight seal in the microfluidic column during
formation of the porous portion 104, to hold the sodium silicate in
a liquid state in the porous portion 104. In this respect, once the
wire or pin is inserted to the appropriate position, sodium
silicate is then injected into the microfluidic column 101 above
the wire or pin and then heated at about 175 degrees Celsius for
about 10 minutes or until the sodium silicate substantially
crystallizes and forms a porous solid having a property for use as
a frit in the microfluidic column 101. The silica 110 may then be
carefully poured into the microfluidic column 101, either in dry or
in a slurry form. Typically, the heating of the sodium silicate is
done with a heat plate causing the sodium silicate to be
substantially solidified in about 10-15 minutes. However, if the
heat source used for the crystallization of the sodium silicate is
a heat gun, the crystallization process is sped up and the sodium
silicate may substantially crystallize in about 3 minutes.
[0041] FIG. 2B illustrates a graphical representation of the
photographic view of FIG. 2A which is a front view of the
microfluidic separation device 100 shown in FIG. 2A. The graphical
representation shows an approximate location of various features of
the microfluidic separation device 100 not easily discernible in a
photograph of FIG. 2A taken under a high magnification. As
described above, the microfluidic separation device 100 may include
a microfluidic column 101, and a porous portion 104. Further, the
microfluidic column 101 may have an inlet 103, the microfluidic
column 101 being configured to hold a first fluid, such as an input
to be processed. Still further, an outlet 105 may be attached or
defined in the microfluidic column 101, the outlet 105 being
configured to output a second fluid, such as an output of a
process. It may be noted that the first fluid and the second fluid
may be mixed together before entering the inlet 103. That is, a
second fluid may be purified or separated from a mixture of the
first fluid and the second fluid.
[0042] The microfluidic column 101 may be an elution column, an
affinity column or any other column that finds application in a
field, such as chromatography and analytical chemistry.
[0043] In the microfluidic separation device 100 of this
disclosure, the first fluid may be urged, such as under pressure
transmitted by a separate object, towards the porous portion 104.
The microfluidic column 101 has a length and a diameter and the
length being preferably in a range of 5-40 times the diameter.
[0044] In another embodiment of the microfluidic separation device
100, the microfluidic separation device. 100 may include a
microfluidic column 101 having an inlet 103, the microfluidic
column 101 may be configured to hold a first fluid and the
microfluidic column 101 may include a porous portion 104, such as
an at least partially fused material. In the microfluidic
separation device 100, an outlet 105 may be attached to or defined
in the microfluidic column 101, and the outlet 105 could be
configured to output a second fluid, the microfluidic column 101
may be configured to process less than about 100 nanoliter to 1
milliliter of at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid.
Additionally, the microfluidic column 101 may be configured to urge
the first fluid towards the porous portion 104, and the
microfluidic column 101 may have a length and a diameter and the
length could be in a range of 5-40 times the diameter.
[0045] Now turning to the next two figures, a structure including a
microchip is described. FIG. 2C illustrates a photographic view of
a microchip 152 attached to the microfluidic separation device 100
of the present disclosure. A pressure transmitting element 154 and
passages 156 for one or more fluids are also shown.
[0046] FIG. 2D illustrates a further photographic view of the
microchip 152 attached to the microfluidic separation device 100 of
the present disclosure. This photographic view is from a different
angle to show features that were not easily discernible in FIG. 2A.
The pressure transmitting element 154 is shown. Further, the
microfluidic column 101, the porous portion 104, and the column
supports 106 are also shown.
[0047] In the context of the microchip 152, the microfluidic
separation device 100 may include a plurality of microfluidic
columns 101. The microchip 152, integrated on top of one or more
microfluidic columns 101, may permit the manipulation of small
volumes of different fluids into the microfluidic column 101 in a
three-dimensional arrangement of the plurality of microfluidic
columns 101. As a further example, there may be two chemicals, for
example, A and B, being mixed on the microchip 152 located on top
of the microfluidic column 101 where the two chemicals undergo a
chemical reaction or the two chemicals are simply directed into a
respective microfluidic column 101 to undergo a separation.
Alternately, chemicals A and B could go into separate channels and
are mixed, where a chemical reaction may occur, and reaction
products may be processed into the same microfluidic column
101.
[0048] FIG. 2E illustrates a front view of a microchip, including a
microfluidic channel, attached to another embodiment of the
microfluidic separation device of the present disclosure. As seen
in FIG. 2E, in the microfluidic separation device 200, one or more
of the microfluidic columns 201 may be connected to one or more of
a first microfluidic channel 262 enclosed in a first microfluidic
chip 268 and a second microfluidic channel 264 enclosed in a second
microfluidic chip 270. As described earlier, a column support 266
may be included as appropriate. The microfluidic chip 270 may rest
at least on top (that is, before separation of the fluid) or on the
bottom (that is, after separation of the fluid) of the microfluidic
separation device. In this way, one can have communication from a
microfluidic channel to the microfluidic column 201 to a
microfluidic channel if desired.
[0049] Several experiments showing a separation of fluids are
described next. FIG. 3A illustrates a photographic view where a
microfluidic column 101 is shown separating blue (114), green
(112), and red (116) dye colors. The three bands of dye color are
visible traveling down the column. FIG. 3A is shown in a graphic
form as well in FIG. 3B. The microfluidic separation device 100 may
include a metal cylinder 120 (typically made of Titanium) for
transmitting a pressure to contents of the microfluidic separation
device 100, a microfluidic column 101, a silica 110 which may
further include a solvent, and a porous portion 104. Titanium may
be preferred for the metal cylinder because of being non-corrosive
to chemicals or organic compounds used in a typical microfluidic
column 101. However, other materials may be used. Column supports
106 may also be included as shown to support the microfluidic
column 101. The metal cylinder is introduced to transmit the
pressure in the column to facilitate the processing of the
materials to be fed through the column for separation.
[0050] In FIG. 3A, it should be noted that the silica 110 is in a
portion of the microfluidic column 101 in a space between the metal
cylinder 120 and the porous portion 104. A solution to be processed
also occupies the space between the metal cylinder 120 and the
porous portion 104. As soon as the solution comes into contact with
the silica 110, which may include a solvent, a separation of
constituents of the solution begins. This is because of a
difference between rates of travel for molecules of constituents of
the solution as known to a person having ordinary skill in the art
and as discussed earlier herein. A function of the porous portion
104 is to let a liquid pass but stop a solid from passing. That is,
the porous portion 104 does not let the silica 110 "drop" or pass
through the porous portion 104 in order for the silica 110 to be
available for the separation of the constituents of the solution,
such as a green dye 112, a blue dye 114, and a red dye 116 as
shown. The green dye 112, the blue dye 114, and the red dye 116 are
collected at the end of the porous portion 104. The red dye 116 is
followed by the blue dye 114 and the blue dye 114 is followed by
the green dye 112 based on a respective traveling rate through
silica 110.
[0051] FIG. 3B illustrates a graphical representation of the
photographic view of pertinent parts of FIG. 3A, which is a front
view of the microfluidic separation device 100 shown in FIG. 3A.
The graphical representation shows the approximate location of
various features of the microfluidic separation device 100 not
easily discernible in the photograph of FIG. 3A taken under a high
magnification. The microfluidic separation device 100 may include
an inlet 103 to the microfluidic column 101. The microfluidic
column 101 may include the metal cylinder 120 to transmit a
pressure to the contents of the microfluidic column 101. The
microfluidic column 101 may also include the silica 110, the porous
portion 104, and an outlet 105. As described above, the green dye
112, the blue dye 114, and the red dye 116 may separate as shown.
In the microfluidic separation device 100, the microfluidic column
101 may be configured to process less than about 100 nanoliter to 1
milliliter of at least one of a first fluid and a second fluid.
[0052] The above description reflects an experiment in separating
food dyes using the device of the present disclosure. Two food dyes
were mixed and introduced into the microfluidic column 101. A
pressure of 2 psi was transmitted via a 23 gauge steel pin, such as
the metal cylinder 120 shown in the preceding figures, to move the
two dyes through the microfluidic column 101. Typically, separation
took less than about 20 minutes to be substantially complete.
[0053] In another experiment, a 0.2_L plug of a mixture of dyes was
introduced through the inlet 103 of microfluidic column 101 via a
pipette. The dyes were observed to separate in the microfluidic
column 101 and were collected at the outlet 105 by a suitable micro
slide, for example.
[0054] The pattern of the dyes in these experiments was similar to
a thin layer chromatography (TLC) done on the same dyes. Ideal
conditions and solvents were not found for separating these dyes so
experimental separations have been slightly "smeared." Collection
is also a concern due to the fact that the microfluidic column 101
lacked a mouth initially from where the purified material may drip
easily from. This was solved by using micro slides (concave slides
commonly used in microbiology) attached to the bottom of the
column, such as at the outlet 105, allowing the purified material
to drip and be collected for further TLC plate studies.
[0055] An attempt of the microfluidic separation device 100 is to
separate minute quantities of a material (0.2-0.5_L per injection),
a further attempt is to use only small volumes of the material
needed for the mobile phase. These goals are potentially important
for separating expensive materials and for a situation when only a
small quantity of material or fluid is available. Furthermore, the
microfluidic separation device 100 is portable, hence, usable both
in a laboratory and in the field and easily transported
between.
[0056] Now turning to FIG. 4, a flowchart is described for a method
200 of making the microfluidic separation device of the present
disclosure. The method 200 may include providing a microfluidic
column having an inlet (block 202), configuring the microfluidic
column to hold a first fluid (block 204), forming a porous portion
in the microfluidic column (block 206), and attaching or forming an
outlet to the microfluidic column (block 208). The method 200 may
further include configuring the outlet to output a second fluid. In
the method 200, forming the porous portion may further be including
at least a partially fused material, such as a vitreous frit, in
the porous portion. Including an at least partially fused material
which may further encompass including a sodium silicate.
[0057] In the method 200, when configuring the microfluidic column
to hold the first fluid, such configuring could include configuring
the microfluidic column to process less than 100 nanoliter to 1
milliliter, plus or minus 1%, of at least one of the first fluid
and the second fluid, the second fluid passing through the
outlet.
[0058] In the method 200, providing the microfluidic column may
further include including a silica in the column. Providing the
microfluidic column may further include providing an elution, an
affinity, or a similar column.
[0059] The method 200 may further include urging the first fluid
towards the porous portion. This urging may be done by any device
as known to a person having ordinary skill in the art and may
include vacuum or pressure or other means to move the fluid. In the
method 200, the forming the porous portion may include temporarily
sealing the microfluidic column at an output end of the porous
portion. In the method 200, the providing the microfluidic column
may include providing a microfluidic column of a material selected
from: fluorinated polymer, elastomer, and plastic.
[0060] In the method 200, providing the microfluidic column may
further include providing a plurality of microfluidic columns.
[0061] In the method 200, the providing the microfluidic column may
further include connecting one or more of the microfluidic columns
to one or more of a first microfluidic channel enclosed in a first
microfluidic chip and a second microfluidic channel enclosed in a
second microfluidic chip.
[0062] In a further embodiment of the method 200, the method 200
may include selecting one or more dimensions of a microfluidic
column, creating a mold of the microfluidic column, forming a
porous portion in the mold of the microfluidic column, embedding
the mold of the microfluidic column in one of a fluorinated
polymer, an elastomer, and a plastic; and removing the mold. In the
further embodiment of the method 200, the method 200 may further
include removing the wax.
[0063] Another embodiment of the method 200 may include: providing
a microfluidic column having an inlet, configuring the microfluidic
column to hold a first fluid, including a porous portion in the
microfluidic column, including at least a partially fused material,
such as a vitreous frit, in the porous portion, attaching or
including an outlet to the microfluidic column, configuring the
outlet to output a second fluid, sizing the microfluidic column to
process less than about 100 nanoliter to 1 milliliter of at least
one of the first fluid and the second fluid, configuring the
microfluidic column to urge the first fluid towards the porous
portion, and sizing the microfluidic column to have a length and a
diameter, wherein the length is in a range of 5-40 times the
diameter.
[0064] The foregoing method 200, or elements of the method 200,
could also be stored on a computer-readable medium having
computer-executable instructions to implement the method 200 or the
elements of the method 200.
[0065] As a person having ordinary skill in the art would
appreciate, the elements or blocks of the methods described above
could take place at the same time or in an order different from the
described order.
[0066] Obvious modifications to the foregoing involve using a
larger number of solvents. Further, the microfluidic columns may be
made in fluorinated polymers such as sifel and PFPE and to allow
the majority of organic solvents to be used. Additionally a
multilayer stack of two and three-dimensional microfluidics can be
aligned to the columns in order to introduce fluids into the
microfluidic columns and extract it afterwards. Additionally, it is
quite easy to make large arrays of these columns to facilitate the
possibilities for combinatorial chemistry and other applications in
which multiple reactions need to be carried out and purified.
[0067] The microfluidic columns may be built in a variety of
molding methods, including 2-piece and 1-piece molds where the
column is formed by two pieces or even one piece wherein the column
slides out after the polymer is cured. If the polymer is soft
enough the piece used to create the porous portion 104 for the frit
will be able to get out of an elastic material without damage to
the microfluidic column, These microfluidic columns do not have to
be formed by rapid prototyping and simpler molds can be used. These
microfluidic columns can be built from many different types of
elastomers and plastics.
[0068] As used in this specification and appended claims, the
singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless
the specification clearly indicates otherwise. The term "plurality"
includes two or more referents unless the specification clearly
indicates otherwise. Further, unless described otherwise, all
technical and scientific terms used herein have meanings commonly
understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which
the disclosure pertains.
[0069] It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments
are merely some possible examples of implementation, set forth for
a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many
variations and modifications may be made to the above-described
embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from
the principles of the invention. All such modifications and
variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of
this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the
following claims.
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