MICROFLUIDICS

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MICROFLUIDICS
Division of Technology Transfer
Licensing and Research Collaboration
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Microfluidic Technologies Available for Licensing
Sample Loading And Injection
Micro-scale Handling System
Microfluidic Device
Electro-Osmotic Pump
Small Volume Transport
Subatmospheric Pressure Chamber
Electro-Pneumatic Distributor
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Microscale Fluid Handling System

• A solution for conducting microscale reactions
  (digestion, separation etc.) and for efficiently
  transporting microliter to picoliter samples from
  a chip to an analytical device and/or a
  collection device.
• Advantages
• Efficient Sample Transport
• Reduces manipulations (e.g.. flushing)
• Reduces/eliminates problems of sample carryover
• Savings
• Less Sample, Reagent(s), Time

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Microscale Fluid Handling System

• The System
• Multiple sample introduction methods
• Pressure, electrokinetic Injection
• Single or multiple channel(s) channel designs
• Parallel, circular/ cylindrical, trapezoidal
• Multiple sample transfer methods
• Droplet, spray, or stream
• Multiple analytical or collection devices
• ESI, MALDI, NMR, Fraction Collector, Chip,
  Multi-well Plate
• Sample either liquid or gas
• License non-exclusively - Currently 5 licensees

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Sample Loading and Injection Device

• A solution for a universal interface device for
  transferring samples in series or parallel from
  sample container (e.g. multi-well plates) into
  channels of a multi-channel microfluidic device
  and/or into an analytical device that can be
  integrated into or separated from a microchip.
• Advantages
• Uses standardized sample plates
• Variable sample volumes
• Reusable or disposable device

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Sample Loading and Injection Device

• The System
• Sample introduction
• Pressure, Electrokinetic, Vacuum, etc.
• Sample trapped/digested inside loading channels
• High hydrodynamic resistance
• Sample Elution
• Micro, analytical, and/or collection Device
• Sample separation (optional)
• Electrical potential, etc
• License exclusively or non-exclusively

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Microchip Integrated Open-Channel Electro-osmotic
Pumping System

• A solution to control fluid dynamics in
  microfluidic device by using pump(s) to generate
  electro-osmotic flow or pressurized flow in the
  device and/or to perform sample transfer,
  gradient generation or fraction
  collection/deposition.
• Advantages
• Easily integrated into existing microchips
• Its fabrication ensures high manufacturing and
  operating reproducibility
• Simple design

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Microchip Integrated Open-Channel Electro-osmotic
Pumping System

• The System
• Single or multiplexed pumps
• The voltage drop for operation of the
  electro-osmotic micro pump may vary from a few
  tens to thousands of volts depending on the
  length of the pumping channels and desired flow
  rate and pressure.
• License Exclusively or Non-exclusively

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Electro-pneumatic Distributor for Multiplexed
Myu-Tas Devices

• The purpose of the distributor is to supply
  simultaneous electric current and pressurized gas
  to control individual channels of a microchip
  system in an assembly to use with electrospray
  mass spectrometry.
• Advantages
• Maximizes sample throughput for analyzing samples
• Decreases time between sample analysis
• Eliminates need for flushing of sample
• Eliminates need for washing sample probe
• Fast switching times
• Eliminates/ reduces cross contamination
• Decreases the number of runs
• Well plate samples can be used for further studies

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Electro-pneumatic Distributor for Multiplexed
Myu-Tas Devices

• The System
• The distributor contains a gas channel and an
  electric conductor, which supplies an electric
  current and pressurized gas to the system.
• The electrical current forces the sample to flow
  in a uniform direction, which controls sample
  flow dynamics.
• The pressure created in the system controls fluid
  dynamics in electric field free regions.
• Each sample container/well is connected by an
  independent microchannel distributor to separate
  electrospray tip.
• License exclusively or non-exclusively

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Small Volume Transport

• A solution for moving small volumes of sample
  through the capillary channels or tubing of a
  microfluidic device, especially long distances.
• Advantages
• Minimal loss or dilution of sample.
• Minimal cross contamination between samples
• Minimal loss of sample to channel walls
• Washes inserted between samples
• Faster sample changes
• Multiple sample plugs injected at closely spaced
  intervals
• Samples can be transported long distances with
  high speed to devices, such as an NMR.

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Small Volume Transport

• The System
• A sample/wash plug is formed between immiscible
  liquid plugs and immiscible liquid lining the
  transport channel walls.
• System Characteristics
• Immiscible carrier e.g. fluorocarbon
• Distances yards
• Channel walls - fluorine rich surface
• Teflon (PTFE, ETFE, FEP, NGFP)
• License exclusively or non-exclusively

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Subatmospheric,Variable Pressure Delivery Chamber

• A solution for more efficient sample transfer
  from electrophoresis capillary or microchip to a
  mass spectrometer through an electrospray chamber
  by controlling pressure to allow fine control of
  sample flow rate from electrospray needle.
• Advantages
• Minimal sample loss
• Lower evaporation of droplets
• Efficient desolvation
• Minimal power supply source needed

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Subatmospheric,Variable Pressure Delivery Chamber

• The System
• Ports for introducing gas into and withdrawing
  gas from the chamber.
• Capillary tube(s) or microchip with a groove or
  channel extending into chamber to deliver
  samples.
• Sample moves from the sample delivery device to
  an electrospray tip in the chamber.
• Subatmospheric pressure directs the sample flow
  from the electrospray tip into an
  analytical/collective device
• License exclusively or non-exclusively

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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• Director Barry Karger
• Bioanalytical instrumentation capabilities
• State of the art facilities and advanced
  methodologies for proteomics research and
  biomarker identification
• http//www.barnett.neu.edu/

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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• II. Separation InstrumentationThis includes
  free-standing devices, listed in the following
  other units are integrated both into mass
  spectrometers and NMR equipment.
• Beckman Proteome Lab 2D LC System Eksigent
  nanoLC System 1 Advion Nanomate 100 1 Bio-Rad
  2D gel electrophoresis system 2 Agilent 1100
  HPLC systems 2 Agilent 1100 Cap HPLC systems
  1 Agilent G 1602 CE system 1 Amersham
  Biosciences MDLC system 1 Amersham Biosciences
  AKTA FPLC
• 5 Beckman CE systems 1 Bischoff HPLC system
  3 Dionex Ultimate nanoLC systems 2 Thermo
  Electron Surveyor LC sys
• 4 Agilent  1090 HPLC's 3 Agilent  1100 LC
  systems 1 Shimadzu HPLC system 2 Thermo
  Electron Surveyor LC sys
• III. NMR and LC-NMRThe James and Faith Waters
  500 MHz NMR Facility
• 500 MHz NMR System (Varian Unity-Inova)
  Conventional 5 mm NMR LC NMR High-Throughput
  Flow NMR Microcoil NMR

• Mass Spectrometry
• The Institute operates 16 interfaced mass
• spectrometers these include
• 1 Thermo Electron LTQ-FT   Hybrid Linear Ion
  Trap-Fourier Transform MS 1 Lab-built, High
  Throughput LC MALDI-TOF MS (2 kHz Laser). 1
  Applied Biosystems AB 4700 MALDI TOF-TOF MS 1
  Micromass QTOF1 QP TOF MS 2 Agilent 5973
  GC-MS 1 Applied Biosystems Mariner ESI
  orthogonal extraction TOF-MS 1 Applied
  Biosystems Voyager DESTR TOF-MS 2 Thermo
  Electron LTQ Linear Ion Trap 1 Thermo Electron
  LCQ Deca XP 3D ion trap MS 3 Thermo Electron
  LCQ Classic 3D ion trap MS 1 Thermo Electron
  TSQ 700 triple QP MS 1 Thermo Electron TSQ 7000
  triple QP MS 1 SCIEX API III PLUS triple QP MS
• 1 9-node computer cluster (18 CPU's)
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  reported as of 4/05.

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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems
• Academic Partners are NU-lead, BU, RPI, and UPRM.
  
• Strategic affiliates include MGH, Lawrence
  Livermore and Idaho Natl Labs, Woods Hole, and
  Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr.
• Industrial partners include Raytheon, ADI,
  Textron, Lockheed Martin, Cardiomag Imaging,
  Mercury, Transtech, GSSI, and Siemens.
• Director - Michael Silevitch

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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• Advanced optical instrumentation for microscopic
  characterization
• Software algorithms for microfluidic analysis
  systems
• http//www.censsis.neu.edu/
• 20 million from The Gordon Foundation

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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• LEAP Laboratory for electrochemical advanced
  power
• Fuel Cell Concept Laboratories
• Director Sanjeev Mukerjee
• Advanced electrocatalyst capabilities for proton
  exchange membrane systems
• Micro fuel cell concept characterization and
  evaluation
• http//www.chem.neu.edu/web/faculty/mukerjee.html

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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing
• Academic Partners
• Northeastern University Lead, U. Mass-Lowell, U
  New Hampshire, Michigan State U., Museum of
  Science
• Director Ahmed Busnaina
• http//www.nano.neu.edu

/index.html
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Opportunities Facilities for Microfluidics
Research

• Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing
• Kostas Facility for Micro- Nano-Fabrication of
  Microfluidic Devices
• A core facility for the NSF Center for High Rate
  Nanomanufacturing
• Five thousand feet of Class 10, 1000 and 10000
  cleanroom facilities
• Capabilities for lithography, nanolithography,
  thin film deposition, wet chemical processes,
  etching, milling and characterization
• Area for undergraduate and graduate student teams
  working on projects with corporate partners

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DIVISION of TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER STAFF
Volunteers, Coop MBA Students, Consultants (617)
373-8810