Microdroplet manipulation method
US11504715B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2020 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01L2300/0896
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of manipulating microdroplets having an average volume in the range 0.5 femtolitres to 10 nanolitres comprised of at least one biological component and a first aqueous medium having a water activity of aw1 of less than 1 is provided. It is characterised by the step of maintaining the microdroplets in a water-immiscible carrier fluid which further includes secondary droplets having an average volume less than 25% of the average volume of the microdroplets up to and including a maximum of 4 femtolitres and wherein the volume ratio of carrier fluid to total volume of microdroplets per unit volume of the total is greater than 2:1. The method may be employed for example with microdroplets containing biological cells or with microdroplets containing single nucleoside phosphate such as are prepared in a droplet-based nucleic acid sequencer. The method is suitable for controlling for example cellular, chemical or enzymatic processes and/or microdroplet size in microdroplets or single nucleotide nucleic acid sequencing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.