Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090012187 | Emulsions and Techniques for Formation - The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet. | 01-08-2009 |
20090068170 | DROPLET-BASED SELECTION - The present invention generally relates to fluidic droplets, and techniques for screening or sorting such fluidic droplets. In some embodiments, the fluidic droplets may contain cells (e.g., hybridoma cells) that can secrete various species, such as antibodies, for example. In one aspect, a plurality of fluidic droplets containing cells is screened to determine proteins, antibodies, polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, or the like. For example, cells able to secrete species such as antibodies may be selected according to certain embodiments of the invention. Examples of such cells include, for instance, immortal cells such as hybridomas, or non-immortal cells such as B-cells. For instance, blood cells may be encapsulated within a plurality of fluidic droplets, and the cells able to produce antibodies may be determined. In some cases, expression or secretion levels may be determined using signaling entities, for example, determinable microparticles present within the fluidic droplet. Other aspects of the invention relate to kits involving such fluidic droplets, methods of promoting the making or use of such fluidic droplets, and the like. | 03-12-2009 |
20090131543 | Method and Apparatus for Forming Multiple Emulsions - The present invention generally relates to multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making multiple emulsions. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. The larger droplets may be suspended in a third fluid in some cases. These can be useful for encapsulating species such as pharmaceutical agents, cells, chemicals, or the like. In some cases, one or more of the droplets can change form, for instance, to become solidified to form a microcapsule, a liposome, a polymerosome, or a colloidosome. Multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include one, two, three, or more inner droplets within a single outer droplet (which droplets may all be nested in some cases). | 05-21-2009 |
20100105112 | FLUOROCARBON EMULSION STABILIZING SURFACTANTS - Surfactants (e.g., fluorosurfactants) for stabilizing aqueous or hydrocarbon droplets in a fluorophilic continuous phase are presented. In some embodiments, fluorosurfactants include a fluorophilic tail soluble in a fluorophilic (e.g., fluorocarbon) continuous phase, and a headgroup soluble in either an aqueous phase or a lipophilic (e.g., hydrocarbon) phase. The combination of a fluorophilic tail and a headgroup may be chosen so as to create a surfactant with a suitable geometry for forming stabilized reverse emulsion droplets having a disperse aqueous or lipophilic phase in a continuous, fluorophilic phase. In some embodiments, the headgroup is preferably non-ionic and can prevent or limit the adsorption of molecules at the interface between the surfactant and the discontinuous phase. This configuration can allow the droplet to serve, for example, as a reaction site for certain chemical and/or biological reactions. In another embodiment, aqueous droplets are stabilized in a fluorocarbon phase at least in part by the electrostatic attraction of two oppositely charged or polar components, one of which is at least partially soluble in the dispersed phase, the other at least partially soluble in the continuous phase. One component may provide collodial stability of the emulsion, and the other may prevent the adsorption of biomolecules at the interface between a component and the discontinous phase. Advantageously, surfactants and surfactant combinations of the invention may provide sufficient stabilization against coalescence of droplets, without interfering with processes that can be carried out inside the droplets. | 04-29-2010 |
20100105866 | MICROFLUIDIC MANIPULATION OF FLUIDS AND REACTIONS - The present invention relates generally to microfluidic structures, and more specifically, to microfluidic structures and methods including microreactors for manipulating fluids and reactions. In some embodiments, structures and methods for manipulating many (e.g., 1000) fluid samples, i.e., in the form of droplets, are described. Processes such as diffusion, evaporation, dilution, and precipitation can be controlled in each fluid sample. These methods also enable conditions within the fluid samples (e.g., concentration) to be controlled. Manipulation of fluid samples can be useful for a variety of applications, including testing for reaction conditions, e.g., in crystallization, chemical, and biological assays. | 04-29-2010 |
20100124759 | MICROFLUIDIC DROPLETS FOR METABOLIC ENGINEERING AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - The present invention relates generally to the use of droplets to culture and/or assay cells or other species. In some cases, the cells or other species may be sorted based upon the results of the culture and/or assay. In some embodiments, cells other species can be encapsulated in droplets and exposed to one or more agents (e.g., a sugar, an indicator dye, etc.). For instance, in some cases, exposure of cells to the agents may result in the production of metabolites or other compounds (e.g., amino acids, proteins, organic acids, etc.) which may be, for example, assayed or otherwise determined. In some embodiments, the reaction of an agent with cells and/or other species within a droplet may reveal a property of the cells or other species (e.g., sugar consumption, growth rate, ability to withstand exposure to the agent, etc.). As an example, cells that produce desired metabolites or exhibit certain properties may be separated from the other cells via sorting techniques. Other aspects of the invention relate to devices or kits for implementing such sorts, methods of promoting such techniques, or the like. | 05-20-2010 |
20100136544 | ASSAYS AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 06-03-2010 |
20100172803 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLUID DISPERSION - A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques. | 07-08-2010 |
20100213628 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR ENCAPSULATING ACTIVE AGENTS - Methods for making self-assembled, selectively permeable elastic microscopie structures, referred to herein as colloidosomes, that have controlled pore-size, porosity and advantageous mechanical properties are described. In one form of the invention, a method of forming colloidosomes includes providing particles formed from a biocompatible material in a first solvent and forming an emulsion by adding a first fluid to the first solvent wherein the emulsion is defined by droplets of the first fluid surrounded by the first solvent. The method includes coating the surface of droplet with the particles and the stabilizing the particles on the surface of droplet. The colloidosomes produced typically have a yield strength of at least about 20 Pascals. In certain forms of the invention, the particles are spherical and are formed of a biocompatible polymer. Colloidosomes formed according to the methods described herein are also provided. In one form, a colloidosome includes a shell formed of biocompatible, substantially spherical particles wherein each of the particles are linked to neighboring particles. The shell defines an inner chamber sized for housing a desired active agent and has a plurality of pores extending therethrough. The colloidosomes are structurally stable, typically having a yield strength of at least about 20 Pascals. Colloidal suspension and methods of encapsulating a desired active agent are also described | 08-26-2010 |
20100239824 | Metal Oxide Coating On Surfaces - The present invention provides a method for coating metal oxide on a PDMS surface. The method includes preparing a mixture that contains a sol-gel precursor, reacting the mixture to form a preconverted sol-gel precursor, where the preconverted sol-gel precursor does not diffuse into PDMS and is not in the form of a gel, forming a reactive PDMS surface, applying the preconverted sol-gel precursor onto the reactive PDMS surface, binding the preconverted sol-gel precursor to the re-active PDMS surface, and converting the bound preconverted sol-gel precursor to a metal oxide to form a metal oxide coating on the PDMS surface. The present invention also provides a PDMS microfluidic device where one or more channels of the microfluidic device is provided with a metal oxide coating covalently bound only on the surface of the one or more channels. | 09-23-2010 |
20100252118 | MANIPULATION OF FLUIDS, FLUID COMPONENTS AND REACTIONS IN MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS - Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply. | 10-07-2010 |
20110123413 | SURFACES, INCLUDING MICROFLUIDIC CHANNELS, WITH CONTROLLED WETTING PROPERTIES - The present invention generally relates to coating materials, including photoactive coating materials. In some aspects of the invention, a sol-gel is provided that can be formed as a coating on a microfluidic channel. One or more portions of the sol-gel can be reacted to alter its hydrophobicity, in some cases. For instance, in one set of embodiments, a portion of the sol-gel may be exposed to light, such as ultraviolet light, which can be used to induce a chemical reaction in the sol-gel that alters its hydrophobicity. In one set of embodiments, the sol-gel can include a photoinitiator, that upon exposure to light, produces radicals. Optionally, the photoinitiator may be conjugated to a silane or other material within the sol-gel. The radicals so produced may be used to cause a polymerization reaction to occur on the surface of the sol-gel, thus altering the hydrophobicity of the surface. In some cases, various portions may be reacted or left unreacted, e.g., by controlling exposure to light (for instance, using a mask). Such treated surfaces within a microfluidic channel may be useful in a wide variety of applications, for instance, in the creation of emulsions such as multiple emulsions. | 05-26-2011 |
20110151578 | VALVES AND OTHER FLOW CONTROL IN FLUIDIC SYSTEMS INCLUDING MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS - Articles and methods for controlling flow in fluidic Systems, especially in microfluidic Systems, are provided. A microfluidic System includes a configuration such that the actuation of a single valve can allow the switching of fluids from a first fluid path (e.g., a first channel section) to a second fluid path (e.g., a second channel section). This may be achieved by incorporating a valve ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110190146 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE FOR STORAGE AND WELL-DEFINED ARRANGEMENT OF DROPLETS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for the arrangement of droplets in pre-determined locations. Many applications require the collection of time- resolved data. Examples include the screening of cells based on their growth characteristics or the observation of enzymatic reactions. The present invention provides a tool and related techniques which addresses this need, and which can be used in many other situations. The invention provides, in one aspect, a tool that allows for stable storage and indexing of individual droplets. The invention can interface not only with microfluidic/microscale equipment, but with macroscopic equipment to allow for the easy injection of liquids and extraction of sample droplets, etc. | 08-04-2011 |
20110218123 | CREATION OF LIBRARIES OF DROPLETS AND RELATED SPECIES - The present invention is generally related to systems and methods for producing a plurality of droplets. The droplets may contain varying species, e.g., for use as a library. In some cases, the fluidic droplets may be rigidified to form rigidified droplets (e.g., gel droplets). In certain embodiments, the droplets may undergo a phase change (e.g., from rigidified droplets to fluidized droplets), as discussed more herein. In some cases, a species may be added internally to a droplet by exposing the droplet to a fluid comprising a plurality of species. | 09-08-2011 |
20110229545 | MELT EMULSIFICATION - The present invention generally relates to colloidal systems, which may include colloidal particles and/or other types of particles. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to a system comprising fluidic droplets that can be at least partially solidified, e.g., to form colloidal particles. In some embodiments, particles comprising an at least partially solid outer phase encapsulating an inner phase are formed. The inner phase may be any phase, e.g., a solid, a liquid, or a gas. In some cases, solidifying at least a portion of the outer phase of the droplets to form particles may increase the stability of the particles and/or the colloidal system containing the particles. In one set of embodiments, melting or liquefying the outer phase of the particles (for example, by heating the particle to a temperature above a threshold temperature) can allow release of an agent contained within the inner phase, and/or allow the inner phase to coalesce with a phase external to the particles. The melting temperature of the outer phase can be controlled in some embodiments such that the outer phase will melt above a predetermined temperature. In some embodiments, the particles may be formed to be essentially free of an auxiliary stabilizing agent. In some embodiments, an agent may be encapsulated within a particle with relatively high efficiency. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making and using such colloidal systems, e.g., containing such particles, kits involving such colloidal systems, or the like. | 09-22-2011 |
20110267457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCING - The present invention relates to systems and methods for sequencing nucleic acids, including sequencing nucleic acids in fluidic droplets. In one set of embodiments, the method employs sequencing by hybridization using droplets such as microfluidic droplets. In some embodiments, droplets are formed which include a target nucleic acid, a nucleic acid probe, and at least one identification element, such as a fluorescent particle. The nucleic acid probes that hybridize to the target nucleic acid are determined, in some instances, by determining the at least one identification element. The nucleic acid probes that hybridize to the target nucleic acid may be used to determine the sequence of the target nucleic acid. In certain instances, the microfluidic droplets are provided with reagents that modify the nucleic acid probe. In some cases, a droplet, such as those described above, is deformed such that the components of the droplets individually pass a target area. | 11-03-2011 |
20110275063 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DROPLET-BASED SELECTION - The present invention generally relates to fluidic droplets, and techniques for screening or sorting such fluidic droplets. In some embodiments, the fluidic droplets may contain cells (e.g., hybridoma cells) that can secrete various species, such as antibodies, for example. In one aspect, a plurality of fluidic droplets containing cells is screened to determine proteins, antibodies, polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, or the like. For example, cells able to secrete species such as antibodies may be se according to certain embodiments of the invention. Examples of such cells include, for instance, immortal cells such as hybridomas, or non-immortal cells such as B-cells. For instance, blood cells may be encapsulated within a plurality of fluidic droplets, and the cells able to produce antibodies may be determined. In some cases, expression or secretion levels may be determined using signaling entities, for example, determinable microparticles present within the fluidic droplet. Other aspects of the invention relate to kits involving such fluidic droplets, methods of promoting the making or use of such fluidic droplets, and the like. | 11-10-2011 |
20120015382 | DROPLET-BASED SELECTION - The present invention generally relates to fluidic droplets, and techniques for screening or sorting such fluidic droplets. In some embodiments, the fluidic droplets may contain cells (e.g., hybridoma cells) that can secrete various species, such as antibodies, for example. In one aspect, a plurality of fluidic droplets containing cells is screened to determine proteins, antibodies, polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, or the like. For example, cells able to secrete species such as antibodies may be selected according to certain embodiments of the invention. Examples of such cells include, for instance, immortal cells such as hybridomas, or non-immortal cells such as B-cells. For instance, blood cells may be encapsulated within a plurality of fluidic droplets, and the cells able to produce antibodies may be determined. In some cases, expression or secretion levels may be determined using signaling entities, for example, determinable microparticles present within the fluidic droplet. Other aspects of the invention relate to kits involving such fluidic droplets, methods of promoting the making or use of such fluidic droplets, and the like. | 01-19-2012 |
20120015822 | PARTICLE-ASSISTED NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCING - This invention generally relates to particle-assisted nucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, sequencing may be performed in a microfluidic device, which can offer desirable properties, for example, minimal use of reagents, facile scale-up, and/or high throughput. In one embodiment, a target nucleic acid may be exposed to particles having nucleic acid probes. By determining the binding of the particles to the target nucleic acid, the sequence of the target nucleic acid (or at least a portion of the target nucleic acid) can be determined. The target nucleic acid may be encapsulated within a fluidic droplet with the particles having nucleic acid probes, in certain instances. In some cases, the sequence of the target nucleic acid may be determined, based on binding of the particles, using sequencing by hybridization (SBH) algorithms or other known techniques. | 01-19-2012 |
20120107601 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF TEMPLATING USING PARTICLES SUCH AS COLLOIDAL PARTICLES - The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for using particle templating, e.g., to produce composites, discrete particles, or the like. In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the production of particles using the interstitial spaces between templating elements in a template structure. For example, a plurality of templating elements, which can include colloidal particles, may be arranged to form a template structure. The interstices of the templating elements can provide regions in which a fluid may be introduced. The fluid may be hardened (e.g., solidified) in some cases, e.g., to form a composite comprising the templating elements and the interstitial segments. In certain embodiments, the template structure may then be broken down to release the hardened fluid, e.g., as a plurality of discrete particles. | 05-03-2012 |
20120121481 | SCALE-UP OF FLOW-FOCUSING MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES - Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices. | 05-17-2012 |
20120132288 | FLUID INJECTION - The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc. of a first fluid being urged into and/or out of a second fluid can be controlled by controlling various properties of the fluid and/or a fluidic droplet, for example curvature of the fluidic droplet, and/or controlling the applied electric field. | 05-31-2012 |
20120141589 | PARTICLES FOR DRUG DELIVERY AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - The present invention generally relates to particles for drug delivery and other applications. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a technique for reacting precursor compounds in the presence of a pharmaceutically-active agent to form product (e.g., in the form of particles) in which the agent is substantially contained within the product, and the product is soluble within typical gastric fluid of a mammal. In another aspect, the present invention is generally directed to particles comprising an inorganic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as CaCO | 06-07-2012 |
20120167410 | SPRAY DRYING TECHNIQUES - The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. In some aspects, an article containing one or more channels or microfluidic channels is used to mix one or more fluids prior to spray drying. The mixing may occur immediately before the fluids are expelled through a nozzle or other opening into a drying region of the spray dryer. In one set of embodiments, for example, a first fluid is exposed to a second fluid, then the fluids are exposed to air or other gases before being expelled through a nozzle. In certain instances, the first fluid may contain a dissolved species that may precipitate upon exposure to the second fluid; such precipitation may occur immediately before expulsion through a nozzle or other opening, thereby resulting in controlled precipitation as part of the spray drying process. | 07-05-2012 |
20120199226 | MULTIPLE EMULSIONS CREATED USING JUNCTIONS - The present invention generally relates to emulsions, and more particularly, to multiple emulsions. In one aspect, multiple emulsions are formed using a plurality of channels, such as microfluidic channels, that meet at a common intersection. The multiple emulsions may be created at a single common intersection in some embodiments, unlike other prior art systems where multiple channel intersections are required to create multiple emulsions. For instance, in one set of embodiments, three, four, or more microfluidic channels may intersect at a common intersection, with two or three serving as inlets and one serving as the outlet. In some embodiments, a first fluidic channel may be relatively hydrophobic, while a second fluidic channel is relatively hydrophilic. The third channel, if present, may be relatively hydrophilic or hydrophobic, depending on the application. The outlet channel may be hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or may comprise at least one portion that is relatively hydrophilic and at least one portion that is relatively hydrophilic. By controlling the flow of fluids through the hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions of the channels, multiple emulsions may be created proximate the common intersection, due to interactions between the fluids entering the common intersection. In other embodiments, different patterns of hydrophilic or hydrophobic channels may be used. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making and using such systems, kits involving such systems, emulsions created using such systems, or the like. | 08-09-2012 |
20120211084 | MULTIPLE EMULSIONS CREATED USING JETTING AND OTHER TECHNIQUES - The present invention generally relates to emulsions, and more particularly, to multiple emulsions. In one aspect, multiple emulsions are formed by urging a fluid into a channel, e.g., by causing the fluid to enter the channel as a “jet.” Side channels can be used to encapsulate the fluid with a surrounding fluid. In some cases, multiple fluids may flow through a channel collinearly before multiple emulsion droplets are formed. The fluidic channels may also, in certain embodiments, include varying degrees of hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity. As examples, the fluidic channel may be relatively hydrophilic upstream of an intersection (or other region within the channel) and relatively hydrophobic downstream of the intersection, or vice versa. In some cases, the average cross-sectional dimension may change, e.g., at an intersection. For instance, the average cross-sectional dimension may increase at the intersection. Surprisingly, a relatively small increase in dimension, in combination with a change in hydrophilicity of the fluidic channel, may delay droplet formation of a stream of collinearly-flowing multiple fluids under certain flow conditions; accordingly, the point at which multiple emulsion droplets are formed can be readily controlled within the fluidic channel. In some cases, the multiple droplet may be formed from the collinear flow of fluids at (or near) a single location within the fluidic channel. In addition, unexpectedly, systems such as those described herein may be used to encapsulate fluids in single or multiple emulsions that are difficult or impossible to encapsulate using other techniques, such as fluids with low surface tension, viscous fluids, or viscoelastic fluids. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making and using such systems, kits involving such systems, emulsions created using such systems, or the like. | 08-23-2012 |
20120222748 | DROPLET CREATION TECHNIQUES - The present invention is generally related to systems and methods for producing droplets. The droplets may contain varying species, e.g., for use as a library. In some cases, at least one droplet is used to create a plurality of droplets, using techniques such as flow-focusing techniques. In one set of embodiments, a plurality of droplets, containing varying species, can be divided to form a collection of droplets containing the various species therein. A collection of droplets, according to certain embodiments, may contain various subpopulations of droplets that all contain the same species therein. Such a collection of droplets may be used as a library in some cases, or may be used for other purposes. | 09-06-2012 |
20120267549 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FLUORESCENCE SENSING EMPLOYING FRESNEL ZONE PLATES - Methods and apparatus for high-throughput fluorescence detection using integrated microfabricated optical element arrays are described. In one example, the optical element arrays may comprise one or more microfabricated Fresnel zone plates, which may be configured to collect light from samples flowing in microfluidic channels. Multiple samples may be inspected in parallel at significantly high rates (e.g., about 200,000 samples per second or higher). A relay lens combined with high numerical aperture integrated microfabricated optical elements provides significant signal enhancement (e.g., on the order of at least 200 times that of conventional fluorescence detection methods). | 10-25-2012 |
20130046030 | CONTROL OF EMULSIONS, INCLUDING MULTIPLE EMULSIONS - The present invention generally relates to emulsions, and more particularly, to double and other multiple emulsions. Certain aspects of the present invention are generally directed to the creation of double emulsions and other multiple emulsions at a common junction of microfluidic channels. In some cases, the microfluidic channels at the common junction may have substantially the same hydrophobicity. In one set of embodiments, a device may include a common junction of six or more channels, where a first fluid flows through one channel, a second fluid flows through two channels, and a third or carrying fluid flows through two more channels, such that a double emulsion of a first droplet of the first fluid, contained in a second droplet of the second fluid, contained by the carrying fluid, flows away from the common junction through a sixth channel. | 02-21-2013 |
20130064862 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHELL ENCAPSULATION - Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to particles comprising a shell and an interior at least partially contained by the shell. In some embodiments, the particles may be treated to enhance the containment of the interior, for example to reduce transport of an agent into or out of the interior. Such particles may exhibit increased ability to encapsulate agents and/or increased storage life (e.g., due to reduced leakage). For instance, in certain embodiments, any defects, such as cracks, pores, etc. within the shell may be sealed or otherwise treated to reduce transport therethrough. In some embodiments, for instance, a first reactant in the interior of a particle may come into contact with a second reactant outside of the particle to form a solid, or other suitable product. The shell may also be treated to cause release of an agent contained within the interior, in certain aspects. | 03-14-2013 |
20130202657 | FOAMS OR PARTICLES FOR APPLICATIONS SUCH AS DRUG DELIVERY - The present invention generally relates to foams and, in particular, to foams for applications such as drug delivery, and particles that are made from such foams. One aspect relates to foams or particles containing pharmaceutically active agents. The foam may comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric carrier. In some cases, the foam or particle has an unexpectedly high specific surface area. A high specific surface area may, in some cases, facilitate delivery or release of the pharmaceutically active agent when the foam or particles made from the foam (e.g., by milling) are administered to a subject. The foam may also exhibit a relatively high loading of the pharmaceutically active agent. In some cases, the foam may be a microcellular foam. In one set of embodiments, the foam is created using a supercritical fluid, such as supercritical C02. For example, a precursor to the foam, containing a pharmaceutically active agent, may be mixed with a foaming agent, then the pressure decreased to cause the foaming agent to expand, thereby causing a foam to form. The foam may then be subsequently ground or milled, or otherwise processed to form particles. | 08-08-2013 |
20130209520 | FOAMS, INCLUDING MICROCELLULAR FOAMS, CONTAINING COLLOIDAL PARTICULATES - The present invention generally relates to foams and particles made from such foams, for applications such as drug delivery. The foams or particles may comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric carrier. In some cases, the foams may include colloidal particulates. A first aspect of the present invention is generally related to polymer-based foams or particles containing pharmaceutically active agents. In some cases, the foam or particle may contain smaller colloidal particulates therein. Such colloidal particulates may be used, for example, to limit the amount of material within certain regions of the foam, or exclude pharmaceutically active agents from being located within certain portions of the foam, which may useful for enhancing release of pharmaceutically active agents from the foam. In some cases, the colloidal particulates may cause the foam or particle to have an unexpectedly high specific surface area. The foam, in certain embodiments, can exhibit a relatively high loading of the pharmaceutically active agent. The foam may be microcellular in certain instances. The foam may also be created using a supercritical fluid, for example, supercritical C0 | 08-15-2013 |
20130213488 | ACOUSTIC WAVES IN MICROFLUIDICS - Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting. | 08-22-2013 |
20140026968 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPLITTING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to fluidics and microfluidics and, in particular, to creating droplets in a fluidic system. In some aspects, the present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for splitting a parent droplet into two or more droplets, e.g., by urging the parent droplet towards an obstacle to split the parent droplet. In some cases, the parent droplet is split into at least first and second droplets which each are directed to separate channels. In some cases, the channels may be constructed and arranged such that the droplet velocities of the first and second droplets are substantially the same as the velocity of the parent droplet. In some cases, such droplets may be repeatedly split, e.g., a parent droplet is divided into 2 daughter droplets, then each droplet split again, etc., for example, such that one parent droplet may eventually be split into 2 | 01-30-2014 |
20140037514 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLUID DISPERSION - A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques. | 02-06-2014 |
20140065234 | POLYMERSOMES, LIPOSOMES, AND OTHER SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH FLUIDIC DROPLETS - The present invention relates generally to vesicles such as liposomes, colloidosomes, and polymersomes, as well as techniques for making and using such vesicles. In some cases, the vesicles may be at least partially biocompatible and/or biodegradable. The vesicles may be formed, according to one aspect, by forming a multiple emulsion comprising a first droplet surrounded by a second droplet, which in turn is surrounded by a third fluid, where the second droplet comprises lipids and/or polymers, and removing fluid from the second droplet, e.g., through evaporation or diffusion, until a vesicle is formed. In certain aspects, the size of the vesicle may be controlled, e.g., through osmolarity, and in certain embodiments, the vesicle may be ruptured through a change in osmolarity. In some cases, the vesicle may contain other species, such as fluorescent molecules, microparticles, pharmaceutical agents, etc., which may be released upon rupture. Yet other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making such vesicles, kits involving such vesicles, or the like. | 03-06-2014 |
20140150916 | SURFACES, INCLUDING MICROFLUIDIC CHANNELS, WITH CONTROLLED WETTING PROPERTIES - The present invention generally relates to coating materials, including photoactive coating materials. In some aspects of the invention, a sol-gel is provided that can be formed as a coating on a microfluidic channel. One or more portions of the sol-gel can be reacted to alter its hydrophobicity, in some cases. For instance, in one set of embodiments, a portion of the sol-gel may be exposed to light, such as ultraviolet light, which can be used to induce a chemical reaction in the sol-gel that alters its hydrophobicity. In one set of embodiments, the sol-gel can include a photoinitiator, that upon exposure to light, produces radicals. Optionally, the photoinitiator may be conjugated to a silane or other material within the sol-gel. The radicals so produced may be used to cause a polymerization reaction to occur on the surface of the sol-gel, thus altering the hydrophobicity of the surface. In some cases, various portions may be reacted or left unreacted, e.g., by controlling exposure to light (for instance, using a mask). Such treated surfaces within a microfluidic channel may be useful in a wide variety of applications, for instance, in the creation of emulsions such as multiple emulsions. | 06-05-2014 |
20140199730 | ASSAYS AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199731 | ASSAY AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 07-17-2014 |
20140220350 | MULTIPLE EMULSIONS AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE FORMATION OF MULTIPLE EMULSIONS - Multiple emulsions and techniques for the formation of multiple emulsions are generally described. A multiple emulsion, as used herein, describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. In some embodiments, the larger droplet or droplets may be suspended in a carrying fluid containing the larger droplets that, in turn, contain the smaller droplets. As described below, multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored in some embodiments to include a relatively thin layer of fluid separating two other fluids. | 08-07-2014 |
20140246098 | MANIPULATION OF FLUIDS, FLUID COMPONENTS AND REACTIONS IN MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS - Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply. | 09-04-2014 |
20140284001 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPRAY DRYING IN MICROFLUIDIC AND OTHER SYSTEMS - The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. By at least partially drying fluids within a microfluidic channel, instead of or in addition to conventional spray drying techniques, better control of the drying process can be achieved in certain aspects of the invention. In addition, various embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for drying fluids contained within a channel such as a microfluidic channel. For example, a fluid may be partially or completely dried within a microfluidic channel, prior to being sprayed into a collection region. In some embodiments, gases such as air may be directed into a channel containing a fluid, which may facilitate drying of the fluid. In some cases, the fluid may be accelerated due to the introduction of gases into the channel, and in certain embodiments, droplets of fluid may be disrupted to form smaller droplets as a result. In certain cases, the fluids may also be dried to form supersaturated droplets. | 09-25-2014 |
20140303039 | PARTICLE-ASSISTED NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCING - This invention generally relates to particle-assisted nucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, sequencing may be performed in a microfluidic device, which can offer desirable properties, for example, minimal use of reagents, facile scale-up, and/or high throughput. In one embodiment, a target nucleic acid may be exposed to particles having nucleic acid probes. By determining the binding of the particles to the target nucleic acid, the sequence of the target nucleic acid (or at least a portion of the target nucleic acid) can be determined. The target nucleic acid may be encapsulated within a fluidic droplet with the particles having nucleic acid probes, in certain instances. In some cases, the sequence of the target nucleic acid may be determined, based on binding of the particles, using sequencing by hybridization (SBH) algorithms or other known techniques. | 10-09-2014 |
20140305799 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF FLUIDIC SPECIES - Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for making droplets of fluid surrounded by a liquid, using, for example, electric fields, mechanical alterations, the addition of an intervening fluid, etc. | 10-16-2014 |
20140336072 | Deformable Platforms for Biological Assays - A platform for biological assays includes a base substrate providing structural support to the platform, at least one surface of the base substrate coated with position markers, a first deformable layer positioned on top of the base substrate, and a second deformable layer positioned on top of the first deformable layer, the second deformable layer embedded with deformation markers. | 11-13-2014 |
20140338753 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DROPLET PRODUCTION AND/OR FLUIDIC MANIPULATION - The present invention generally relates to systems and techniques for manipulating fluids and/or making droplets. In certain aspects, the present invention generally relates to droplet production. The droplets may be formed from fluids from different sources. In one set of embodiments, the present invention is directed to a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of droplet-making units, and/or other fluidic units, which may be substantially identical in some cases. Substantially each of the fluidic units may be in fluidic communication with a different source of a first fluid and a common source of a second fluid, in certain embodiments. In one aspect, substantially the same pressure may be applied to substantially all of the different sources of fluid, which may be used to cause fluid to move from the different sources into the microfluidic device. In some cases, the fluids may interact within the fluidic units, e.g., by reacting, or for the production of droplets within the microfluidic device. In some cases, the droplets may be used, for example, to form a library of droplets. | 11-20-2014 |
20150034163 | DROPLET FORMATION USING FLUID BREAKUP - The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for creating droplets. In one aspect, a plurality of droplets ( | 02-05-2015 |
20150057163 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EPIGENETIC SEQUENCING - The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation. | 02-26-2015 |