AUTOMATED BLOTTING USING SLIDING DEVICES

摘要

Devices, systems, methods, and kits are provided for performing separation, immobilization, blotting, and/or detection of analytes from biological samples. In some embodiments, the devices are constructed from two solid substrates with surfaces in contact. The devices include a plurality of channels formed from indentations in these surfaces. The indentations can be aligned with each other across the interface between the substrates, and realigned by shifting or sliding one substrate relative to the other. In some embodiments, the devices are constructed from three layers of a solid substrate. A separation channel in the middle layer of the device is first used for analyte separation. The middle layer can then be slid relative the top and/or bottom layer, thereby aligning the separation channel with a blotting membrane. Analytes can then be transferred to the membrane using electrodes in the top and bottom layers.

主权项

1. A device for separating and detecting analytes of a biological sample, the device comprising:
a first solid substrate comprising a first surface, a plurality of α first half-spaces, and a plurality of β first half-spaces, the α and β first half-spaces disposed in the first surface in a repeating array, such that each α first half-space is adjacent to a β first half-space; a first capture agent disposed on the first surface within the α first half-spaces; a second solid substrate comprising a second surface, a plurality of α second half-spaces and a plurality of β second half-spaces, the α and β second half-spaces disposed in the second surface in a repeating array, such that each α second half-space is adjacent to a β second half-space; a second capture agent disposed on the second surface within the α second half-spaces; and a plurality of access ports; wherein: the first surface and second surface contact each other at an interface; the half-spaces are configured to contain fluids or separation media; the first half-spaces are complementary in shape to the second half-spaces, such that, when one first half-space is aligned with one second half-space, the one first half-space and the one second half-space together form a channel; the first solid substrate is configured to alternatively occupy two positions relative to the second solid substrate, the two positions being:
an α-α position, such that the α first half-spaces are aligned with α second half-spaces to form separation channels; andan α-β position, such that the α first half-spaces are aligned with β second half-spaces to form α-β channels, and the β first half-spaces are aligned with α second half-spaces to form β-α channels, the α-β and β-α channels being detection channels; the first solid substrate is configured to slide past the second solid substrate along the interface; and the access ports are configured to provide access to the separation channels and the detection channels from space outside the device.