CELL SEPARATION USING MICROCHANNEL HAVING PATTERNED POSTS

摘要

A micro flow device (11, 71) for separating or isolating cells from a bodily fluid or other liquid sample uses a flow path where straight-line flow is interrupted by a pattern of transverse posts (23, 81). The posts are spaced across the width of an expanded collection chamber region (17,75) in the flow path, extending between the upper and lower surfaces thereof; they have rectilinear surfaces, being curved in cross-sections, e.g. circular or tear-drop shaped, and are randomly arranged so as to disrupt streamlined flow. The device is oriented so that its lower surface is aligned at about 45° to the horizontal. Sequestering agents, such as Abs, which are attached to surfaces of the collection region via a hydrophilic coating, preferably a permeable hydrogel containing isocyanate moieties, are highly effective in capturing cells or other targeted biomolecules while the remainder of the liquid sample exits horizontally.

主权项

1. A method for separating biomolecules, such as cells, from a sample of bodily fluid or other liquid, which method comprises:
causing such a sample containing target biomolecules to flow downstream along a flow path in a microflow device from an inlet to an outlet, which flow path comprises a microchannel arrangement that includes a collection region of expanded cross section, while orienting the device so that said flow path collection region is aligned at an angle of about 30° to about 60° to the horizontal, separating target biomolecules from the flowing sample by
(a) interrupting straight-line flow of the liquid through said collection region, as a result of blocking such flow with a plurality of separator posts located in said region, which posts are integral with an upper or lower surface of said microchannel and extend therefrom to the opposite surface thereof, said posts extending transverse to said flow path and being located in an irregular pattern that extends laterally across said collection region and prevents straight-line flow and streamlined flow therethrough, and all surfaces of said collection region including said posts having sequestering agents carried thereupon, and(b) capturing target biomolecules found in the flowing liquid sample on surfaces in the collection region by binding the target molecules to the sequestering agents as a result of flow disruption by said irregular posts and force vectors that result from gravity, which vectors are aligned at an acute angle to said lower surface of said collection region, and discharging the remainder of the liquid sample through the outlet.