CN108472649B - Microfluidic devices with optimized electrowetting surfaces and related systems and methods - Google Patents

Abstract

Microfluidic devices having electrowetting configurations and optimized droplet actuation surfaces are provided. The device includes an electrically conductive substrate having a dielectric layer, a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the dielectric layer, and a first electrode electrically coupled to the dielectric layer and configured to be connected to a voltage source. The microfluidic device further comprises a second electrode, optionally comprised in the lid, configured to be connected to a voltage source. The hydrophobic layer is characterized by self-associating molecules covalently bound to the surface of the dielectric layer in a manner that results in a densely packed monolayer that is resistant to insertion and/or penetration by polar molecules or substances. Also provided is: a microfluidic device having an electrowetting configuration further comprising a section or module having a dielectrophoretic configuration; a system comprising any microfluidic device combining aqueous droplets and a fluid medium immiscible with the medium of the aqueous droplets; a related kit; and methods of manipulating droplets within a microfluidic device, the droplets optionally containing microorganisms, such as biological cells.

Description

Microfluidic devices with optimized electrowetting surfaces and related systems and methods

Cross Reference to Related Applications

Priority for the present application claims priority for U.S. provisional application No. 62/246,605 filed on day 27 of year 2015, U.S. provisional application No. 62/247,725 filed on day 28 of year 2015, U.S. provisional application No. 62/342,131 filed on day 26 of year 2016, and U.S. provisional application No. 62/410,238 filed on day 19 of year 2016, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This application is a continuation-in-part application of united states patent application No. 15/135,707 filed on 22/4/2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Background

Micro-objects, such as biological cells, can be processed in a microfluidic device. For example, droplets containing micro-objects or reagents may be moved and merged within a microfluidic device. Embodiments of the present invention relate to improvements to microfluidic devices that facilitate robust manipulation of droplets, allowing complex chemical and biological reactions to be performed accurately and reproducibly on a small scale. By changing the effective wetting properties of the electrowetting surfaces in the microfluidic device, droplets can be moved and coalesced within the microfluidic device. Such movement may facilitate a workflow of processing the cells to optionally evaluate various cell properties after culturing the cells within the microfluidic device. Current solutions for electrowetting are extremely limited in nature and do not extend or fulfill additional functions. Thus, there is a need for improved electrowetting surfaces, stable substrates for microfluidic applications, and integration of additional functions (e.g., cell growth and characterization before downstream processing is made possible by electrowetting), all of which will facilitate other medical research applications.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the invention provides a microfluidic device comprising an electrowetting configuration that includes a substrate having a droplet actuation surface that includes (consists of or consists essentially of) a hydrophobic layer (i.e., an outer hydrophobic layer) covalently bonded to a surface of an underlying dielectric layer (i.e., an inner dielectric layer). When the microfluidic device is operatively connected to a voltage source, aqueous droplets placed on or otherwise contacting the hydrophobic layer may be reliably and robustly wetted and thereby moved by electrowetting forces.

The microfluidic device may include a base including a substrate, and the substrate may further have at least one electrode (e.g., a first electrode) configured to be connected to a voltage source (e.g., an AC voltage source), the at least one electrode being electrically coupled to the inner dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the microfluidic device further comprises a cover and at least one spacer element. The substrate and the lid may be substantially parallel to each other and joined together by a spacing element to define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid medium. In such embodiments, the lid may include at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source (e.g., an AC voltage source). In some embodiments, the microfluidic device may comprise a single-sided electrowetting configuration. In such embodiments, the microfluidic device need not include a lid. For example, the base may include a substrate and a first electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source (e.g., an AC voltage source), and the substrate may include a second electrode (e.g., a mesh electrode) configured to be connected to the voltage source.

In some embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the inner dielectric layer to form a densely packed hydrophobic monolayer. In some embodiments, the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer each comprise siloxane groups. In other embodiments, the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer each comprise a phosphonic acid group. The siloxane or phosphonic acid groups may be co-substitutedValence bonds to the surface of the inner dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer each include a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group that directly or indirectly links the surface-modifying ligand to the surface of the inner dielectric layer. The surface modifying ligand may be any surface modifying ligand disclosed herein. For example, the surface-modifying ligand may include an aliphatic group, such as an alkane group. Thus, for example, the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer may be alkyl-terminated siloxane or alkyl-terminated phosphonic acid molecules. The alkyl group can include a chain (e.g., unbranched) of at least 10 carbons (e.g., at least 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or more carbons). In other embodiments, the surface modifying ligand may comprise a fluorine substituted aliphatic group, such as a fluoroalkyl group. Thus, for example, the self-associating molecule can be a fluoroalkyl terminated siloxane or fluoroalkyl terminated phosphonic acid molecule. The fluoroalkyl group can include a chain (e.g., unbranched) of at least 10 carbons (e.g., at least 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or more carbons). In certain embodiments, a fluoroalkyl group includes one or more (e.g., at least 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or more) perfluorocarbons. For example, the fluoroalkyl group can have the formula CF ₃-(CF₂)m-(CH₂) n-, wherein m is at least 2, n is at least 2, and m + n is at least 9. In some embodiments, the surface modifying ligand comprises an ether linkage between the first aliphatic group and the second aliphatic group. For example, the first aliphatic group can be an alkyl group and the second aliphatic group can be a fluoroalkyl group (e.g., perfluoroalkyl group). In some embodiments, the alkyl or fluoroalkyl of the surface-modifying ligand is unbranched. In some embodiments, the alkyl or fluoroalkyl group of the surface-modifying ligand does not contain any cyclic structure.

In some embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers (e.g., about 1.5 to 3.0 nanometers). In some embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate may be patterned such that the selected areas are relatively hydrophilic compared to the remainder of the outer hydrophobic layer.

In some embodiments, the inner dielectric layer of the substrate may comprise a first layer of dielectric material. For example, the inner dielectric layer may be composed of a single layer of dielectric material. The first layer of dielectric material may include an oxide, such as a metal oxide layer (e.g., aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, etc.). In certain embodiments, the first oxide layer is formed by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). Alternatively, the inner dielectric layer may be a dielectric stack comprising two or more layers of dielectric material. Thus, in some embodiments, the inner dielectric layer may include a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material. The first layer of dielectric material may include an oxide, such as a metal oxide (e.g., aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, etc.); and the second layer of dielectric material may comprise an oxide such as silicon oxide or a nitride such as silicon nitride. In such embodiments, the first layer of dielectric material may have a first surface that contacts the second layer of dielectric material and an opposing surface that is covalently bonded to the hydrophobic layer. In some embodiments, the second layer of dielectric material may have a thickness of about 30nm to about 100nm, depending on the type of dielectric material used. For example, the second layer of dielectric material may comprise silicon oxide and may have a thickness of about 30nm to about 50nm or about 30nm to about 40 nm. Alternatively, the second layer of dielectric material may comprise silicon nitride and may have a thickness of about 50nm to about 100nm, or about 80nm to about 100 nm. In certain embodiments, the second layer of dielectric material is formed by ALD. In other embodiments, the second layer of dielectric material is formed by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique. In certain embodiments, the first layer of dielectric material can have a thickness of about 10nm to about 50nm (e.g., about 10nm to about 20nm, about 15nm to about 25nm, about 20nm to about 30nm, about 25nm to about 35nm, about 30nm to about 40nm, about 35nm to about 45nm, about 40nm to about 50nm, or any range bounded by two of the foregoing endpoints), and can be formed by ALD.

In other embodiments, the inner dielectric may include a third layer of dielectric material having a first surface contacting the first layer of dielectric material and an opposing surface covalently bonded to the hydrophobic layer. In such embodiments, the first layer of dielectric material may comprise an oxide, as described above (or elsewhere herein); the second layer of dielectric material may comprise an oxide or nitride, as described above (or elsewhere herein). In some embodiments, the third layer dielectric material may include an oxide, such as silicon dioxide or other dielectric material that bonds well to siloxane groups. In certain embodiments, the third layer of dielectric material is deposited by ALD. In certain embodiments, the third layer of dielectric material has a thickness of about 2nm to about 10nm or about 4nm to about 6 nm.

Regardless of the number of layers making up the inter-dielectric layer, the inter-dielectric layer may have a total thickness of about 40nm to about 120nm (e.g., about 40nm to about 60nm, about 50nm to about 70nm, about 60nm to about 80nm, about 70nm to about 90nm, about 80nm to about 100nm, about 90nm to about 110nm, about 100nm to about 120nm, or a range defined by any two of the foregoing endpoints). Similarly, the dielectric layer may have a thickness of about 50kOhm to about 150kOhm (e.g., about 50kOhm to about 75kOhm, about 75kOhm to about 100kOhm, about 100kOhm to about 125kOhm, about 125kOhm to about 150kOhm, or a range defined by any two of the foregoing endpoints).

In some embodiments, the substrate may further comprise a photo-responsive layer. The photo-responsive layer may have a first side contacting the inner dielectric layer and a second side contacting the at least one electrode. In some embodiments, the photo-responsive layer may comprise hydrogenated amorphous silicon. In such an embodiment, illuminating any of the plurality of regions of the photo-responsive layer with the light beam may reduce the impedance of the photo-responsive layer at the illuminated region. In other embodiments, the photo-responsive layer comprises a plurality of conductors, each conductor being controllably connected to at least one electrode of the substrate via a phototransistor switch.

For embodiments in which the microfluidic device includes a cover, the surface of the cover facing inward toward the enclosure may include an inner layer and a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the inner layer (i.e., an outer hydrophobic layer). Similar to the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate, the outer hydrophobic layer of the cover may comprise self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the inner layer, thereby forming a densely packed hydrophobic monolayer. Thus, the outer hydrophobic layer may comprise any of the self-associating molecules described above (or elsewhere herein) for the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate. In some embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer of the cover comprises the same self-associating molecules as the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate. In other embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate has different types (or types) of self-associating molecules as the outer hydrophobic layer of the substrate.

In some embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer of the inward-facing surface of the cover has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers (e.g., about 1.5 to 3.0 nanometers). In some embodiments, the outer hydrophobic layer of the inward-facing surface of the cover may be patterned such that the selected areas are relatively hydrophilic compared to the remainder of the outer hydrophobic layer.

In some embodiments, a microfluidic device may include an enclosure having at least one microfluidic channel. In addition, the enclosure may include at least one microfluidic chamber (or isolation pen) fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel. At least a portion of the substrate defining the microchannel and/or chamber may have an electrowetting configuration. The electrowetting configuration can be connected to a bias potential and, when so connected, alter the effective wetting characteristics of any of a plurality of corresponding regions of the substrate surface (i.e., the droplet actuation surface). The wetting characteristics of the substrate surface may be sufficiently altered to move liquid droplets on the substrate surface and between the microfluidic channel and the chamber.

In some embodiments, the chamber (or isolation pen) can include a holding region (e.g., isolation region) configured to hold a droplet and one (or more) connection regions that fluidically connect the holding region to the microfluidic channel. The first connection region may be configured to allow liquid droplets to move between the microfluidic channel and the chamber. When present, the second connection region may be configured to allow fluid flow and pressure relief as the liquid droplet moves between the microfluidic channel and the holding region. In some embodiments, the enclosure may further comprise a second microfluidic channel. In such embodiments, the chamber may be connected to both the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel.

In some embodiments, the microfluidic channel may have a height of about 30 to about 200 microns, or about 50 to about 150 microns, wherein the height is measured in a direction normal to the direction of fluid flow through the channel. In some embodiments, the microfluidic channel has a width of about 50 to about 1000 microns, or about 100 to about 500 microns, wherein the width is measured in a direction normal to the direction of fluid flow through the channel.

In some embodiments, the chamber (or isolation pen) has a height that is substantially the same as the height of the microfluidic channel. For example, the chamber height may be about 30 to about 200 microns or about 50 to about 150 microns. In some embodiments, the chamber (or holding pen) has a cross-sectional area of about 100,000 to about 2,500,000 square microns or about 200,000 to about 2,000,000 square microns. In some embodiments, the connection region (first, second, etc.) has a height that is substantially the same as the height of the corresponding chamber and/or microfluidic channel from which the connection region opens. In some embodiments, the connecting region has a width of about 50 to about 500 microns, or about 100 to about 300 microns.

In some embodiments, the microfluidic device may further comprise a droplet generator. The droplet generator may be configured to selectively provide droplets of one or more liquid media (e.g., aqueous liquid media) into the enclosure or into the microfluidic channel within the enclosure. The droplets may contain, for example, micro-objects, such as biological micro-objects (e.g., cells) or beads. Alternatively or additionally, the droplets may comprise reagents, such as lysis buffers, affinity reagents, detectable labels, enzyme mixtures, and the like.

In some embodiments, the microfluidic device comprises a culture chamber (e.g., an isolation pen) adapted to culture a biological microorganism. The culture chamber may be located within the enclosure and may be connected to the microfluidic channel. When the culture chamber is located within the enclosure, the enclosure may include a perfusion microfluidic channel configured to flow fresh medium through the culture chamber such that nutrients in the fresh medium and waste in the culture chamber may be exchanged (e.g., by diffusion of nutrients into the culture chamber and diffusion of waste into the culture medium). The perfusion channel may be separate from the microfluidic channel connected to the droplet generator.

In some embodiments, the electrowetting device is integrated with an electronic positioning device. For example, in some embodiments, a microfluidic device may include a substrate having an electrowetting configuration, and a portion of the substrate may further include a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration. Thus, the substrate may be monolithic (monolithic). Alternatively, the microfluidic device or apparatus may comprise: a first module or section having a first substrate having a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration; and a second module or portion having a second substrate comprising an electrowetting configuration. Such a device may be considered to have a dual-body (dual-sheet) (duolitic) substrate, and there may be a bridge between a first module or portion and a second module or portion to provide integration of the associated functions with each substrate and its particular configuration. The bridge may comprise a pipe or the like connecting two separate devices. Alternatively, the bridge may include an adhesive that brings the substrates into close apposition (e.g., within 2mm, 1.5mm, 1.0mm, 0.5mm, or less). In still other alternatives, the bridge may be a non-functional region on the monolithic substrate, where the non-functional region is where the substrate configuration switches from one configuration (e.g., electrowetting configuration) to another configuration (e.g., DEP configuration). Regardless of whether the microfluidic device has a monolithic substrate or a dual-body substrate (or even a multi-body substrate), each of the electrowetting configuration and the DEP configuration can be any such configuration known in the art or disclosed herein. For example, the electrowetting configuration may be an electro-optical wetting (OEW) configuration, an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) configuration, a single-sided electrowetting configuration, or the like. Similarly, the DEP configuration may be an optoelectronic tweezers (OET) configuration, such as provided by a photoconductive substrate comprising an amorphous silicon layer and/or an array of phototransistors, an array of electrodes controlled by phototransistors, an array of electrically actuated electrodes, or the like. In certain alternative embodiments, the substrate may include an electrowetting configuration but lack any additional configuration (e.g., lack a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration).

Thus, in some embodiments, a single unitary apparatus may combine the functions of both apparatuses.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a microfluidic device of the invention. The method can comprise the following steps: bonding a spacer element (e.g., made of a microfluidic circuit material) to an inner surface of a lid having at least one electrode configured to connect to a voltage source; bonding the spacing element and cover to an inner dielectric surface of a substrate having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source; and forming a hydrophobic layer on at least a portion of the inner surface of the cover and at least a portion of the inner dielectric surface of the substrate by vapor deposition. In certain embodiments, the spacer element is sandwiched between the inner surface of the cover and the inner dielectric surface of the substrate such that the cover and the substrate are oriented substantially parallel to each other. The substrate, the spacer element and the cover may together define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid medium. In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic layer is deposited on substantially all exposed areas of the inner surface of the cover and substantially all exposed areas of the inner dielectric surface of the substrate (i.e., on substantially all surfaces facing inwardly toward the enclosure). In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic layer is further deposited on a surface of the spacing element facing inwards towards the envelope.

In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic layer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the inner surface of the lid and the inner dielectric surface of the substrate, wherein the self-associating molecules form a densely packed monolayer. In some embodiments, the self-associating molecules deposited by vapor deposition each include a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group that directly or indirectly links the surface-modifying ligand to the surface of the inner dielectric layer. Thus, the self-associating molecule may be any of the self-associating molecules described above or elsewhere herein.

In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for processing materials, such as chemicals and/or biological materials, in a microfluidic device. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: filling an enclosure or a portion thereof of a microfluidic device comprising a substrate having an electrowetting configuration, a lid and a spacer element, which together define an enclosure with a first liquid medium; applying an AC voltage potential between the at least one electrode of the substrate and the at least one electrode of the lid; introducing a first droplet of a liquid medium into the enclosure, the liquid medium of the droplet being immiscible in the first liquid medium; and moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure by applying an electrowetting force to the first droplet. The first liquid medium can comprise any of the first liquid media described herein, such as a silicone oil, a fluorinated oil, or a combination thereof, and the first droplets can comprise an aqueous medium.

In some embodiments, the method may include drawing the first droplet from a first portion of the enclosure (such as a microfluidic channel) into a second portion of the enclosure (e.g., a chamber), or vice versa. The aforementioned dragging may comprise changing the effective electrowetting properties of an area of the substrate surface in contact with and/or adjacent to the first droplet. Thus, filling the enclosure with the first liquid medium may comprise filling the microfluidic channel and the chamber with the first liquid medium.

In some embodiments, the microfluidic device comprises a droplet generator. The method may include generating first droplets using a droplet generator. Additionally, the drop generator may introduce a first drop into the enclosure. The droplets produced may have a volume of about 100 picoliters to 100 nanoliters or about 1 to 50 nanoliters. In some embodiments, the first droplet may include micro-objects, such as beads or biological micro-objects (e.g., cells, vesicles, etc.), cell secretions, or reagents. The beads may have molecules with affinity for the material of interest such as cellular secretions (e.g., antibodies) or other biomolecules (e.g., nucleic acids such as DNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, RNA, mRNA, miRNA, or any combination thereof). The droplet may comprise a single micro-object or a plurality of micro-objects, for example a single biological cell. For example, a droplet may include two to twenty or more micro-objects, such as beads. In some embodiments, the droplets may include reagents, such as cell lysis buffers, labels (e.g., fluorescently labeled reagents), luminescent reagents, enzyme mixtures, and the like.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises introducing a second, third, fourth, etc. droplet into the enclosure and moving the second, third, fourth, etc. droplet to a desired location within the enclosure by applying electrowetting forces to the droplet. The second droplet is moveable to a position proximate to the first droplet and then merges with the first droplet to form a first combined droplet; the third droplet is moveable to a position proximate to the first combined droplet and then merges with the first combined droplet to form a second combined droplet; the fourth droplet can be moved to a position proximate to the second combined droplet and then coalesce with the second combined droplet to form a third combined droplet; and so on. Each additional droplet may comprise a fluid medium that is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid medium of the first droplet.

In some embodiments, the first droplet comprises a biological cell and the second droplet comprises a reagent. The reagent may be a cell lysis buffer that lyses the biological cells when the first and second droplets are combined. Alternatively, the reagent may be a fluorescent label (e.g., a fluorescently labeled antibody or other affinity reagent) or a reagent for a luminescence assay. The third droplet may comprise reagents, such as one or more (e.g., two to twenty) capture beads having an affinity for the material of interest. For example, the material of interest may be an antibody or a nucleic acid, such as DNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, RNA, mRNA, miRNA, or any combination thereof. Such capture beads may optionally be output from the device for subsequent analysis. Like the second and third droplets, the fourth droplet may contain reagents, for example an enzyme mixture suitable for performing a reaction such as a reverse transcriptase reaction or a whole genome amplification reaction.

In some embodiments, the movement and merging of the droplets involves using electrowetting forces, including changing effective electrowetting properties of an area of the substrate surface proximate to the droplets, to move or merge the droplets. In some embodiments, altering the effective electrowetting properties of the substrate surface may include activating the electrowetting electrode at a region of the substrate surface proximate to the droplet. In certain embodiments, activating the electrowetting electrode at a region of the substrate surface proximate to the droplet involves directing a light pattern onto the region of the substrate surface.

Other aspects and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

Drawings

Fig. 1A illustrates a generic microfluidic device and a system with associated control devices for controlling and monitoring the microfluidic device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a vertical cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device having a substrate, a cover, and a spacing element that together form an enclosure configured to hold a liquid medium and liquid droplets immiscible in the liquid medium. The substrate has an electrowetting configuration that allows manipulation of droplets within the enclosure.

Fig. 1C and 1D illustrate microfluidic devices according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 2A and 2B illustrate an isolation fence according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 2C illustrates a detailed isolation fence according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 2D-2F illustrate an isolation fence according to some other embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 2G shows a microfluidic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2H shows a coated surface of a microfluidic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3A illustrates a specific example of a system for use with a microfluidic device and associated control device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates an imaging device according to some embodiments of the inventions.

Figure 4 shows an example of a microfluidic device with an EW configuration and a DEP configuration having a two-body substrate.

Figure 5 shows an example of a microfluidic device with an EW configuration and a DEP configuration having a monolithic substrate.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device that may include an electrowetting configuration as shown in fig. 1B, and that includes a plurality of microfluidic channels, a chamber that opens from at least one microfluidic channel, and a droplet generator. In this embodiment, one microfluidic channel contains an aqueous medium (lighter color) and the microfluidic channel connected to the droplet generator contains a non-aqueous medium (darker color). These chambers also contain an aqueous medium or a non-aqueous medium.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device that may include an electrowetting configuration as shown in fig. 1B, and that includes a plurality of microfluidic channels, a chamber that opens from at least one microfluidic channel, and a drop generator. In this embodiment, one microfluidic channel and first set of chambers contain an aqueous medium (lighter color), while the microfluidic channel and second set of chambers connected to the drop generator contain a hydrophobic medium (darker color). Figure 6 shows a variation of the embodiment shown in figure 5 in which each chamber containing aqueous medium is located directly over a channel having hydrophobic medium from the corresponding chamber containing hydrophobic medium.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of a method of processing biological micro-objects within a microfluidic device.

Fig. 9 is a method applicable to the fabrication of a substrate for a microfluidic device having a first portion with a electrowetting configuration and a second portion with a dielectrophoresis configuration.

Fig. 10-18 provide vertical cross-sectional views of a substrate processed according to the method depicted in fig. 9.

FIG. 19A is a diagram of an electrical addressing operational representation for one functional aspect according to the embodiment shown in connection with FIG. 17.

FIG. 19B is a diagram of an electrical addressing operational representation for one functional aspect according to the embodiment shown in connection with FIG. 17.

Fig. 20A-20C are photographic representations of the movement of aqueous droplets on a modified microfluidic surface according to embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

This specification describes exemplary embodiments and applications of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments and applications or to the manner in which the exemplary embodiments and applications operate or are described herein. Further, the figures may show simplified or partial views, and the sizes of elements in the figures may be exaggerated or otherwise not in proportion. In addition, as the terms "on," "attached," "connected," "coupled," or the like are used herein, an element (e.g., a material, a layer, a substrate, etc.) can be "on," "attached to," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, regardless of whether the element is directly on, attached to, connected to, or coupled to the other element or one or more intervening elements may be present between the element and the other element. Further, unless the context indicates otherwise, directions (e.g., above, below, top, bottom, side, upper, lower, upper side, upper, lower, horizontal, vertical, "x," "y," "z," etc.), if any, are relative and provided by way of example only and for ease of illustration and discussion and not limitation. Further, when referring to a list of elements (e.g., elements a, b, c), such reference is intended to include any one of the listed elements listed individually, any combination of fewer than all of the listed elements, and/or combinations of all of the listed elements. The division of the sections in the specification is for ease of viewing only and does not limit any combination of elements discussed.

As used herein, "substantially" means sufficient for the intended purpose. Thus, the term "substantially" allows for minor, insignificant variations in absolute or perfect state, dimensions, measurements, results, etc., such as would be expected by one of ordinary skill in the art, but without significantly affecting overall performance. "substantially" when used in reference to a numerical value or parameter or a characteristic that may be represented as a numerical value means within ten percent.

The term "plurality" means more than one.

As used herein, the term "plurality" may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more.

As used herein, the term "disposed" encompasses its meaning "located".

As used herein, a "microfluidic device" or "microfluidic apparatus" is a device comprising one or more discrete microfluidic circuits configured to contain a fluid, each microfluidic circuit comprising fluidically interconnected circuit elements (including, but not limited to, regions, flow regions, channels, chambers, and/or pens) and (for microfluidic devices comprising a lid) at least two ports configured to allow fluid (and optionally, micro-objects suspended in the fluid) to flow into and/or out of the microfluidic device. Typically, the microfluidic circuit of a microfluidic device will comprise at least one microfluidic channel and at least one chamber, and will accommodate a volume of fluid of less than about 1mL, for example less than about 750, 500, 250, 200, 150, 100, 75, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 μ L. In certain embodiments, the microfluidic circuit contains about 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-8, 2-10, 2-12, 2-15, 2-20, 5-30, 5-40, 5-50, 10-75, 10-100, 20-150, 20-200, 50-250, or 50-300 μ L.

As used herein, a "nanofluidic device" or "nanofluidic apparatus" is a type of microfluidic device having a microfluidic circuit comprising at least one circuit element configured to accommodate a volume of fluid of less than about 1 μ L, for example less than about 750, 500, 250, 200, 150, 100, 75, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1nL or less. The nanofluidic device can include a plurality of circuit elements (e.g., at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10,000, or more). In certain embodiments, one or more (e.g., all) of the at least one loop element is configured to accommodate a volume of fluid of about 100pL to 1nL, 100pL to 2nL, 100pL to 5nL, 250pL to 2nL, 250pL to 5nL, 250pL to 10nL, 500pL to 5nL, 500pL to 10nL, 500pL to 15nL, 750pL to 10nL, 750pL to 15nL, 750pL to 20nL, 1 to 10nL, 1 to 15nL, 1 to 20nL, 1 to 25nL, or 1 to 50 nL. In other embodiments, one or more (e.g., all) of the at least one circuit element is configured to hold a volume of fluid of about 20nL to 200nL, 100 to 300nL, 100 to 400nL, 100 to 500nL, 200 to 300nL, 200 to 400nL, 200 to 500nL, 200 to 600nL, 200 to 700nL, 250 to 400nL, 250 to 500nL, 250 to 600nL, or 250 to 750 nL.

As used herein, "microfluidic channel" or "flow channel" refers to a flow region of a microfluidic device having a length significantly longer than the horizontal and vertical dimensions. For example, the flow channel can be at least 5 times the length of the horizontal or vertical dimension, such as at least 10 times the length, at least 25 times the length, at least 100 times the length, at least 200 times the length, at least 500 times the length, at least 1,000 times the length, at least 5,000 times the length, or longer. In some embodiments, the length of the flow channel is in the range from about 50,000 micrometers to about 500,000 micrometers, including any range therebetween. In some embodiments, the horizontal dimension is in a range from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns (e.g., about 150 to about 500 microns) and the vertical dimension is in a range from about 25 microns to about 200 microns, e.g., from about 40 to about 150 microns. It is noted that the flow channels may have various different spatial configurations in the microfluidic device and are therefore not limited to perfectly linear elements. For example, the flow channel may comprise one or more portions having any one of the following configurations: curved, spiral, inclined, descending, diverging (e.g., a plurality of different flow paths), and any combination thereof. In addition, the flow channel may have different cross-sectional areas along its path, widening and contracting to provide a desired fluid flow therein.

As used herein, the term "obstruction" generally refers to a protrusion or similar type of structure that is large enough to partially (but not completely) impede movement of a target micro-object between two different regions or circuit elements in a microfluidic device. The two different region/circuit elements can be, for example, a microfluidic isolation pen and a microfluidic channel, or a connection region and an isolation region of a microfluidic isolation pen.

As used herein, the term "constriction" generally refers to a narrowing of the width of a circuit element (or an interface between two circuit elements) in a microfluidic device. The constriction can be located, for example, at an interface between the microfluidic isolation fence and the microfluidic channel, or at an interface between an isolation region and a connection region of the microfluidic isolation fence.

As used herein, the term "transparent" refers to a material that allows the passage of visible light without substantially changing the light as it passes through.

As used herein, the term "micro-object" generally refers to any micro-object that can be separated and collected according to the present invention. Non-limiting examples of micro-objects include: inanimate micro-objects such as microparticles, microbeads (e.g. polystyrene beads, Luminex) ^TMBeads, etc.), magnetic beads, micro rods, micro wires, quantum dots, etc.; biological micro-objects, such as cells (e.g., embryos, oocytes, ova, sperm cells, cells isolated from tissue, eukaryotic cells, protozoa, animal cells, mammalian cells, human cells, sperm cells, or the like,Immune cells, hybridomas, cultured cells, cells from a cell line, cancer cells, infected cells, transfected and/or transformed cells, reporter cells, prokaryotic cells, and the like); a biological organelle; a vesicle or complex; synthesizing vesicles; liposomes (e.g., synthetic or derived from membrane preparation); lipid nanorods (e.g., Ritchie et al (2009) "Regulation of Membrane Proteins in Phospholipid Bilayer Nanodiscs", Methods enzymol., 464: 211-231), etc.); or a combination of inanimate and biological micro-objects (e.g., microbeads attached to cells, liposome-coated microbeads, liposome-coated magnetic beads, etc.). The beads may further have other moieties/molecules, such as fluorescent labels, proteins, small molecule signal moieties, antigens or chemical/biological substances that can be used for the assay, covalently or non-covalently attached.

As used herein, the term "maintaining the cell(s)" refers to providing an environment comprising fluid and gas components and optionally surfaces that provide the conditions required to keep the cells viable and/or expanded.

A "component" of a fluid medium is any chemical or biochemical molecule present in the medium, including solvent molecules, ions, small molecules, antibiotics, nucleotides and nucleosides, nucleic acids, amino acids, peptides, proteins, sugars, carbohydrates, lipids, fatty acids, cholesterol, metabolites, and the like.

As used herein with respect to a fluid medium, "diffusion" and "diffusion" refer to the thermodynamic movement of components of the fluid medium along a concentration gradient.

The term "flow of the medium" refers to the bulk movement of the fluid medium primarily due to any mechanism other than diffusion. For example, the flow of the medium may involve the fluid medium moving from one point to another due to a pressure difference between the points. Such flow may include continuous, pulsed, periodic, random, intermittent, or reciprocating flow of liquid, or any combination thereof. When one fluid medium flows into another fluid medium, turbulence and mixing of the media may result.

The phrase "substantially non-flowing" means that the flow rate of the fluid medium averaged over time is less than the rate at which a component of the material (e.g., an analyte of interest) diffuses into or within the fluid medium. The diffusion rate of the components of such materials may depend on, for example, the temperature, the size of the components, and the strength of the interaction between the components and the fluid medium.

As used herein with respect to different regions within a microfluidic device, the phrase "fluidically connected" refers to the fluidic connection in each region to form one single fluid when the different regions are substantially filled with a fluid (such as a fluidic medium). This does not mean that the fluids (or fluid media) in the different regions are necessarily identical in composition. Rather, the fluids in different fluid connection regions of a microfluidic device may have different compositions (e.g., different concentrations of solutes, such as proteins, carbohydrates, ions, or other molecules) that move down their respective concentration gradients as solutes in the flow and/or fluid flow through the device.

A microfluidic (or nanofluidic) device may include "swept" regions and "unswept" regions. As used herein, a "swept" region includes one or more fluidically interconnected circuit elements of a microfluidic circuit, each circuit element experiencing a flow of medium as fluid flows through the microfluidic circuit. The loop elements of the swept area may include, for example, areas, channels, and all or part of the chamber. As used herein, an "unswept" region includes one or more fluidically interconnected circuit elements of a microfluidic circuit, each circuit element experiencing substantially no fluid flux as fluid flows through the microfluidic circuit. The unswept region may be fluidically connected to the swept region, provided that the fluidic connection is configured to diffuse but substantially no media flows between the swept region and the unswept region. The microfluidic device may thus be configured to substantially isolate the unswept region from the flow of the medium in the swept region, while allowing substantially only diffusive fluid communication between the swept region and the unswept region. For example, the flow channel of a microfluidic device is an example of an area that is swept, while the isolation region of the microfluidic device (described in further detail below) is an example of an area that is not swept.

As used herein, "flow region" refers to one or more fluidly connected circuit elements (e.g., one or more channels, one or more regions, one or more chambers, etc.) that define a media flow and are subject to a media flow trajectory. The flow area is thus an example of the swept area of the microfluidic device. Other circuit elements (e.g., unswept areas) may be fluidly connected to the circuit element including the flow area, while being subjected to the flow of the medium in the flow area.

As used herein, "alkyl" refers to a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain radial structure consisting only of carbon and hydrogen atoms, which is free of unsaturation, having 1-6 carbon atoms (e.g., C1-C6 alkyl). Whenever appearing herein, numerical ranges such as "1 to 6" refer to each integer in the given range; for example, "1 to 6 carbon atoms" means that the alkyl group can consist of 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, and the like, up to and including 6 carbon atoms, although the present definition also encompasses instances where the term "alkyl" does not specify a numerical range. In some embodiments, it is a C1-C3 alkyl group. Typical alkyl groups include, but are in no way limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, and the like. Alkyl groups are attached to the rest of the molecule by single bonds, for example, methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), n-propyl, 1-methylethyl (isopropyl), n-butyl, n-pentyl, 1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), hexyl, and the like.

Unless stated otherwise in the specification, an alkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents which are independently: aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilyl, -OR ', -SR ', -OC (O) -R ', -N (R ') 2, -C (O) R ', -C (O) OR ', -OC (O) N (R ') 2, -C (O) N (R ') 2, -N (R ') C (O) OR ', -N (R ') C (O) R ', -N (R ') C (O) (-N (R ') C (O) N (R ') 2, N (R ') C (NR ') N (R ') 2, -N (R ') S (O)) tOR ' (wherein t is 1 OR 2), -S (O) tN (R ') 2 (wherein t is 1 OR 2), OR PO3(R ') 2, wherein each R ' is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, OR fluoro, OR a salt thereof, Aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl.

As referred to herein, a fluorinated alkyl moiety is an alkyl moiety in which one or more hydrogens of the alkyl moiety are replaced with a fluorine substituent. The perfluorinated alkyl moiety has all of the hydrogens attached to the alkyl moiety replaced with fluorine substituents.

As referred to herein, a "halo" moiety is a bromo, chloro, or fluoro moiety.

As referred to herein, an "olefinic" compound is an organic molecule that contains an "olefin" moiety. An alkene moiety refers to a group consisting of at least two carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond. The non-olefinic portion of the molecule can be any class of organic molecule, and in some embodiments, can include alkyl or fluorinated (including but not limited to perfluorinated) alkyl moieties, any of which can be further substituted.

As used herein, "densely packed hydrophobic monolayer" refers to a monolayer of hydrophobic molecules that are packed together in sufficient proximity to resist insertion and/or invasion by polar molecules (e.g., water, ions, and other charged species).

As used herein: "μm" (or "um") refers to microns; mu m³"means cubic microns; "pL" means picoliter, "nL" means nanoliter; and "μ L" (or "uL") means μ L.

And (4) loading method. Loading micro-objects (e.g., biological micro-objects and/or beads) into different regions of a microfluidic device can involve the use of fluid flow, gravity, Dielectrophoresis (DEP) forces, electrowetting forces, magnetic forces, or any combination thereof, as described herein. DEP forces can be generated optically, such as by an optoelectronic tweezers (OET) configuration, and/or electrically, such as by activating electrodes/electrode regions in a temporal/spatial pattern. Similarly, electrowetting forces may be generated optically, such as by an electro-optical wetting (OEW) configuration, and/or electrically, such as by activating electrodes/electrode regions in a temporal/spatial pattern.

Microfluidic devices and systems for operating and viewing these devices. Fig. 1A shows a general example of a microfluidic device 100 and system 150 that may be used to control the movement of the microfluidic device 100 and micro-objects and/or droplets therein. A perspective view of the microfluidic device 100 is shown with a partial cut-out of its cover 110 to provide a partial view of the microfluidic device 100. The microfluidic device 100 generally includes a microfluidic circuit 120, the microfluidic circuit 120 including a fluid region 106, a fluidic medium 180 being flowable through the fluid region 106, optionally carrying one or more micro-objects (not shown) into the microfluidic circuit 120 and/or through the microfluidic circuit 120. Although a single microfluidic circuit 120 is shown in fig. 1A, suitable microfluidic devices may include a plurality (e.g., 2 or 3) of such microfluidic circuits. Regardless, the microfluidic device 100 may be configured as a nanofluidic device. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1A, microfluidic circuit 120 includes a plurality of microfluidic isolation pens 124, 126, 128, and 130, each having a single opening in fluid communication with flow region 106. As discussed further below, microfluidic isolation pens include various features and structures that have been optimized for retaining micro-objects in a microfluidic device, such as microfluidic device 100, even when medium 180 flows through flow region 106. Before turning to the foregoing, however, a brief description of the microfluidic device 100 and system 150 is provided.

As shown generally in fig. 1A, the microfluidic circuit 120 is defined by an enclosure 102. While the enclosure 102 may be physically configured in different configurations, in the example shown in fig. 1A, the enclosure 102 is depicted as including a support structure 104 (e.g., a base), a microfluidic circuit structure 108, and a lid 110. However, in certain embodiments, the enclosure 102 may lack the cover 110, and the microfluidic circuit 120 may be defined by the support structure 104 and the microfluidic circuit structure 108. The support structure 104, the microfluidic circuit structure 108, and (optionally) the cover 110 may be attached to one another. For example, the microfluidic circuit structure 108 may be disposed on an inner surface 109 of the support structure 104, and the cover 110 may be disposed over the microfluidic circuit structure 108. Together with the support structure 104 and (optionally) the cover 110, the microfluidic circuit structure 108 may define elements of a microfluidic circuit 120.

As shown in fig. 1A, the support structure 104 may be located at the bottom of the microfluidic circuit 120 and the lid 110 may be located at the top of the microfluidic circuit 120. Alternatively, the support structure 104 and the cover 110 may be configured in other orientations. For example, the support structure 104 may be located at the top of the microfluidic circuit 120 and the lid 110 may be located at the bottom of the microfluidic circuit 120. In any event, there may be one or more ports 107, each of which includes a passage into or out of the enclosure 102. Examples of passages include valves, gates, through-holes, and the like. As shown, the port 107 is a through hole formed by a gap in the microfluidic circuit structure 108. However, the port 107 may be located in other components of the enclosure 102, such as the lid 110. Only one port 107 is shown in fig. 1A, but the microfluidic circuit 120 may have two or more ports 107. For example, there may be a first port 107 that serves as an inlet for fluid into the microfluidic circuit 120, and there may be a second port 107 that serves as an outlet for fluid out of the microfluidic circuit 120. Whether the port 107 acts as an inlet or an outlet may depend on the direction of fluid flow through the flow region 106.

The support structure 104 may include one or more electrodes (not shown) and a substrate or a plurality of interconnected substrates. The substrate may be any suitable substrate known in the art. For example, the support structure 104 may include one or more semiconductor substrates, each semiconductor substrate being electrically connected to at least one of the one or more electrodes (e.g., all or a portion of the semiconductor substrate may be electrically connected to a single electrode). Alternatively, the support structure 104 may comprise a printed circuit board assembly ("PCBA") including one or more electrodes. In other embodiments, the support structure 104 may comprise a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor substrate) mounted on the PCBA.

The microfluidic circuit structure 108 may define circuit elements of the microfluidic circuit 120. Such circuit elements can include spaces or regions that can be fluidically interconnected when the microfluidic circuit 120 is filled with a fluid, such as flow regions (which can include or can be one or more flow channels), chambers, pens, traps, and the like. In the microfluidic circuit 120 shown in fig. 1A, the microfluidic circuit structure 108 includes a frame 114 and a microfluidic circuit material 116. The frame 114 may partially or completely enclose the microfluidic circuit material 116. The frame 114 may be, for example, a relatively rigid structure that substantially surrounds the microfluidic circuit material 116. For example, the frame 114 may comprise a metallic material. Alternatively, the microfluidic circuit structure 108 may lack a frame. For example, the microfluidic circuit structure 108 may consist of the microfluidic circuit material 116 or consist essentially of the microfluidic circuit material 116.

The microfluidic circuit material 116 may be patterned with cavities or the like to define circuit elements and interconnects of the microfluidic circuit 120. The microfluidic circuit material 116 may include a flexible material, such as a flexible polymer (e.g., rubber, plastic, elastomer, silicone, polydimethylsiloxane ("PDMS"), etc.), which may be gas permeable. Other examples of materials from which microfluidic circuit material 116 may be constructed include molded glass, etchable materials such as silicone (e.g., photo-patternable silicone or "PPS"), photoresist (e.g., SU8), and the like. In some embodiments, such materials (and thus the microfluidic circuit material 116) may be rigid and/or substantially gas impermeable. Regardless, the microfluidic circuit material 116 may be disposed on the support structure 104 and (optionally) inside the frame 114.

The cover 110 may be an integral part of the microfluidic circuit material 116 and/or the frame 114. Alternatively, the cover 110 may be a structurally different element, as shown in FIG. 1A. The cover 110 may comprise the same or different material as the frame 114 and/or the microfluidic circuit material 116. Similarly, as shown, the support structure 104 may be a separate structure from the microfluidic circuit material 116 or the frame 114, or an integral part of the microfluidic circuit material 116 or the frame 114. Similarly, the microfluidic circuit material 116 and the frame 114 (if present) may be separate structures as shown in fig. 1A or integral portions of the same structure.

In some embodiments, the cover 110 may comprise a rigid material. The rigid material may be glass or a material with similar properties. In some embodiments, the cover 110 may comprise a deformable material. The deformable material may be a polymer, such as PDMS. In some embodiments, the cover 110 may comprise a rigid and deformable material. For example, one or more portions of the cover 110 (e.g., one or more portions located above the isolation pens 124, 126, 128, 130) can include a deformable material that interfaces with the rigid material of the cover 110. In some embodiments, the cover 110 may further include one or more electrodes. The one or more electrodes may comprise a conductive oxide, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), which may be coated on glass or similar insulating material. Alternatively, the one or more electrodes may be flexible electrodes, such as single-walled nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes, nanowires, clusters of conductive nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, embedded in a deformable material, such as a polymer (e.g., PDMS). Flexible electrodes useful in microfluidic devices are described, for example, in US2012/0325665(Chiou et al), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the cover 110 may be modified (e.g., by coating or conditioning all or part of the surface facing inward toward the microfluidic circuit 120) to support droplet movement and/or cell adhesion, cell viability, and/or cell growth. The modification may include a coating of a synthetic or natural polymer or a conditioned surface with covalently bound molecules (e.g., self-associating molecules). In some embodiments, the cover 110 and/or the support structure 104 may be transparent to light. The cap 110 may also include at least one gas permeable material (e.g., PDMS or PPS).

Fig. 1A also shows a system 150 for operating and controlling a microfluidic device, such as the microfluidic device 100. The system 150 includes a power source 192, an imaging device 194 (not shown, but may be part of the imaging module 164), and a tilt device 190 (not shown, but may be part of the tilt module 166).

The power supply 192 may provide power to the microfluidic device 100 and/or the tilt device 190 to provide a bias voltage or current as desired. For example, the power supply 192 may include one or more Alternating Current (AC) and/or Direct Current (DC) voltage or current sources. The imaging device 194 may include a device for capturing images within the microfluidic circuit 120, such as a digital camera. In some cases, the imaging device 194 also includes a detector with a fast frame rate and/or high sensitivity (e.g., for low-light applications). The imaging device 194 may also include a mechanism for directing stimulation radiation and/or beams into the microfluidic circuit 120 and collecting radiation and/or beams reflected or emitted from the microfluidic circuit 120 (or micro-objects contained therein). The emitted light beam may be in the visible spectrum and may, for example, comprise fluorescent emissions. The reflected beam may comprise reflected emissions from an LED or a broad spectrum lamp, such as a mercury lamp (e.g. a high pressure mercury lamp) or a xenon arc lamp. As discussed with respect to fig. 3B, the imaging device 194 may further include a microscope (or optical train) which may or may not include an eyepiece.

The system 150 further includes a tilting device 190, the tilting device 190 configured to rotate the microfluidic device 100 about one or more axes of rotation. In some embodiments, the tilt device 190 is configured to support and/or hold the enclosure 102 including the microfluidic circuit 120 about at least one axis such that the microfluidic device 100 (and thus the microfluidic circuit 120) may be held in a horizontal orientation (i.e., 0 ° with respect to the x-axis and y-axis), a vertical orientation (i.e., 90 ° with respect to the x-axis and/or y-axis), or any orientation therebetween. The orientation of the microfluidic device 100 (and the microfluidic circuit 120) relative to the axis is referred to herein as the "tilt" of the microfluidic device 100 (and the microfluidic circuit 120). For example, the tilting device 190 may tilt the microfluidic device 100 by 0.1 °, 0.2 °, 0.3 °, 0.4 °, 0.5 °, 0.6 °, 0.7 °, 0.8 °, 0.9 °, 1 °, 2 °, 3 °, 4 °, 5 °, 10 °, 15 °, 20 °, 25 °, 30 °, 35 °, 40 °, 45 °, 50 °, 55 °, 60 °, 65 °, 70 °, 75 °, 80 °, 90 °, or any angle therebetween, relative to the x-axis or y-axis. The horizontal orientation (as well as the x-axis and y-axis) is defined as being perpendicular to the vertical axis defined by gravity. Tilting the device may also tilt the microfluidic device 100 (and the microfluidic circuit 120) by any angle greater than 90 ° with respect to the x-axis and/or the y-axis, or tilt the microfluidic device 100 (and the microfluidic circuit 120) by 180 ° with respect to the x-axis or the y-axis, to completely invert the microfluidic device 100 (and the microfluidic circuit 120). Similarly, in some embodiments, the tilting device 190 tilts the microfluidic device 100 (and the microfluidic circuit 120) about an axis of rotation defined by the flow region 106/channel 122 or some other portion of the microfluidic circuit 120.

In some cases, microfluidic device 100 is tilted into a vertical orientation such that flow region 106/channel 122 is located above or below one or more isolation pens. The term "above" as used herein means that the flow region 106/channel 122 is positioned higher than the one or more isolation pens on the vertical axis defined by gravity (i.e., objects in the isolation pens located above the flow region 106/channel 122 will have a higher gravitational potential energy than objects in the flow region/channel). The term "below" as used herein means that the flow region 106/channel 122 is positioned below one or more isolation pens on a vertical axis defined by gravity (i.e., objects in an isolation pen located below the flow region 106/channel 122 will have a lower gravitational potential energy than objects in the flow region/channel).

In some cases, the tilting device 190 tilts the microfluidic device 100 about an axis parallel to the flow region 106/channel 122. Furthermore, the microfluidic device 100 can be tilted to an angle of less than 90 ° such that the flow region 106/channel 122 is located above or below one or more isolation pens, but not directly above or below the isolation pens. In other cases, the tilting device 190 tilts the microfluidic device 100 about an axis perpendicular to the flow region 106/channel 122. In still other cases, the tilting device 190 tilts the microfluidic device 100 about an axis that is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the flow region 106/channel 122.

The system 150 may also include a media source 178. The media source 178 (e.g., container, reservoir, etc.) may include multiple portions or containers, each portion or container for holding a different fluid medium 180. Thus, as shown in fig. 1A, the media source 178 can be a device that is external to the microfluidic device 100 and separate from the microfluidic device 100. Alternatively, the media source 178 may be located wholly or partially within the enclosure 102 of the microfluidic device 100. For example, the media source 178 can include a reservoir that is part of the microfluidic device 100.

Fig. 1A also shows a simplified block diagram depiction of an example of a control and monitoring device 152 that forms part of the system 150 and that may be used in conjunction with the microfluidic device 100. As shown, examples of such control and monitoring devices 152 include a master controller 154, a media module 160 for controlling a media source 178, a power module 162 for controlling movement and/or selection of micro-objects and/or media (e.g., droplets of media) in the microfluidic circuit 120, an imaging module 164 for controlling an imaging device 194 (e.g., a camera, a microscope, a light source, or any combination thereof) for capturing images (e.g., digital images), and a tilt module 166 for controlling a tilt device 190. The control device 152 may also include other modules 168 for controlling, monitoring, or performing other functions with respect to the microfluidic device 100. As shown, the device 152 may be operatively coupled with (or further include) a display device 170 and an input/output device 172.

The main controller 154 may include a control module 156 and digital memory 158. The control module 156 may include, for example, a digital processor configured to operate in accordance with machine-executable instructions (e.g., software, firmware, source code, etc.) stored as non-transitory data or signals in the memory 158. Alternatively or additionally, the control module 156 may include hard-wired digital circuitry and/or analog circuitry. Media module 160, power module 162, imaging module 164, tilt module 166, and/or other modules 168 may be similarly configured. Thus, the functions, process actions, or process steps discussed herein as being performed with respect to the microfluidic device 100 or any other microfluidic device may be performed by any one or more of the master controller 154, the media module 160, the power module 162, the imaging module 164, the tilt module 166, and/or the other modules 168 configured as described above. Similarly, the master controller 154, the media module 160, the power module 162, the imaging module 164, the tilt module 166, and/or the other modules 168 may be communicatively coupled to send and receive data used in any of the functions, processes, actions, or steps discussed herein.

The media module 160 controls the media source 178. For example, the media module 160 may control the media source 178 to input a selected fluidic medium 180 into the enclosure 102 (e.g., through the inlet port 107). The media module 160 may also control the removal of media from the enclosure 102 (e.g., through an output port (not shown)). One or more media may thus be selectively input into the microfluidic circuit 120 or removed from the microfluidic circuit 120. The media module 160 may also control the flow of fluidic media 180 in the flow region 106/channel 122 within the microfluidic circuit 120. For example, in some embodiments, the media module 160 stops the flow of the media 180 in the flow region 106/channel 122 and through the enclosure 102 before loading the micro-objects or beads into the isolation pens (using gravity, Electrowetting (EW) forces, Dielectrophoresis (DEP) forces, or a combination thereof).

The power module 162 may be configured to control the selection, trapping, and movement of micro-objects and/or media droplets in the microfluidic circuit 120. As discussed in detail herein, the capsule 102 can include an electro-wetting (EW) configuration, such as an electro-optical wetting (OEW) configuration, an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) configuration, a single-sided electrowetting configuration, and the like. In certain embodiments, the capsule 102 may further comprise a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration, such as an optoelectronic tweezers (OET) configuration, an electrically driven DEP configuration, or the like. The power module 162 can control the activation of electrodes and/or transistors (e.g., phototransistors) included by such EW and/or DEP configurations to select and move micro-objects and/or droplets of media in the flow region 106/channel 122 and/or the isolation pens 124, 126, 128, 130.

The imaging module 164 may control an imaging device 194 (not shown). For example, the imaging module 164 may receive and process image data from the imaging device 194. The image data from the imaging device 194 may include any type of information captured by the imaging device 194 (e.g., the presence or absence of micro-objects, droplets of media, accumulation of labels (such as fluorescent labels, etc.)). Using the information captured by the imaging device 194, the imaging module 164 may further calculate the location of objects (e.g., micro-objects, media drops, etc.) and/or the rate of movement of these objects within the microfluidic device 100.

The tilt module 166 may control the tilting motion of the tilt device 190 (not shown). In addition, tilt module 166 can control tilt rate and timing, for example, to optimize transfer of micro-objects to one or more isolation pens by gravity. Tilt module 166 is communicatively coupled with imaging module 164 to receive data describing the movement of micro-objects and/or media drops in microfluidic circuit 120. Using this data, the tilt module 166 can adjust the tilt of the microfluidic circuit 120 in order to adjust the rate at which micro-objects and/or media droplets move in the microfluidic circuit 120. Tilt module 166 can also use this data to iteratively adjust the position of micro-objects and/or media drops in microfluidic circuit 120.

In the example shown in fig. 1A, microfluidic circuit 120 is illustrated as including a single flow region 106 consisting essentially of microfluidic channel 122. Each of isolation pens 124, 126, 128, and 130 includes a single opening to flow region 106/channel 122, but is otherwise enclosed such that the pens can substantially isolate micro-objects within the pens from micro-objects and/or fluid medium 180 in flow region 106/channel 122 or in other pens. The walls of the isolation fence may extend from the inner surface 109 of the base to the inner surface of the cover 110 to facilitate such isolation. The pen-to-flow region 106/channel 122 openings can be oriented at an angle relative to the flow of fluid medium 180 in the flow region 106/channel 122 such that the flow of fluid medium 180 is not directed into the pen. The flow may be, for example, tangential or orthogonal to the plane of the opening of the pen. In some cases, pens 124, 126, 128, and/or 130 are configured to physically enclose one or more micro-objects within microfluidic circuit 120. Insulation pens according to the present disclosure can include various shapes, surfaces, and features optimized for use with EW, OEW, DEP, and/or OET forces, fluid flow, and/or gravity, as will be discussed in detail below.

Microfluidic circuit 120 may include any number of microfluidic isolation pens. Although five isolation pens are shown, microfluidic circuit 120 can have fewer or more isolation pens. As shown, microfluidic isolation pens 124, 126, 128, and 130 of microfluidic circuit 120 each include different features and shapes that can provide microfluidic device 100 with one or more benefits useful for manipulation of droplets of micro-objects and/or fluidic media. Thus, in some embodiments, microfluidic circuit 120 may include a plurality of microfluidic isolation pens, wherein two or more isolation pens include different structures and/or features that provide different benefits. However, in some embodiments, microfluidic circuit 120 includes a plurality of identical microfluidic isolation pens. Microfluidic devices useful for manipulating micro-objects and/or droplets of media can include any of the isolation pens 124, 126, 128, and 130 or variations thereof, including those configured as shown in fig. 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F, as described below.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, a single flow region 106 is shown. However, other embodiments of the microfluidic device 100 may include multiple flow regions 106, each flow region 106 configured to provide a separate path for fluid flow through the microfluidic device 100. Microfluidic circuit 120 includes an inlet valve or port 107 in fluid communication with flow region 106, whereby fluidic medium 180 may enter flow region 106/channel 122 via inlet port 107. In some cases, the flow region 106 includes a single flow path. In other cases, the flow region 106 includes multiple flow paths (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more), each of which can include a microchannel (e.g., like the channel 122). Two or more (e.g., all) of the plurality of flow paths may be substantially parallel to each other. For example, flow region 106 may be divided into a plurality of parallel channels (e.g., like channel 122). In certain embodiments, the flow regions 106 (and one or more channels comprised by the flow regions) are arranged in a zigzag pattern, whereby the flow regions 106 pass through the microfluidic device 100 two or more times in alternating directions. In some cases, the fluid medium within each flow region 106 flows in at least one of a forward or reverse direction. In some cases, a plurality of isolation pens are configured (e.g., relative to the flow region 106/channel 122) such that the isolation pens can be loaded in parallel with the target micro-object.

In some embodiments, microfluidic circuit 120 further includes one or more micro-object traps 132. Traps 132 are typically formed in the walls that border flow region 106/channel 122 and can be positioned opposite the openings of one or more microfluidic isolation pens 124, 126, 128, and 130. In some embodiments, the trap 132 is configured to receive or capture a single micro-object from the flow region 106/channel 122. In some embodiments, the traps 132 are configured to receive or capture a plurality of micro-objects from the flow region 106/channel 122. In some cases, the trap 132 includes a volume approximately equal to the volume of a single target micro-object.

Trap 132 may further include an opening configured to assist the flow of the target micro-object into trap 132. In some cases, the trap 132 includes an opening having a height and width sized according to the size of a single target micro-object, thereby preventing other micro-objects (or larger sized micro-objects) from entering the micro-object trap. The trap 132 may further include other features configured to help retain the target micro-object within the trap 132. In some cases, trap 132 is aligned with and positioned on the opposite side of channel 122 relative to the opening of the microfluidic sequestration pen such that upon tilting microfluidic device 100 about an axis parallel to channel 122, the trapped micro-objects exit trap 132 in a trajectory that causes the micro-objects to fall into the opening of the sequestration pen. In some cases, trap 132 includes side channels 134 that are smaller than the target micro-objects to facilitate flow through trap 132, thereby increasing the likelihood of micro-objects being captured in trap 132.

As discussed in more detail below, in some embodiments, Electrowetting (EW) forces are applied via one or more electrodes (not shown) at one or more locations (e.g., locations within a flow region and/or an isolation pen) on a surface of the support structure 104 (and/or the lid 110) of the microfluidic device 100 to manipulate, transport, separate, and sort droplets located in the microfluidic circuit 120. For example, in some embodiments, EW forces are applied at one or more locations on the surface of the support structure 104 (and/or the lid 110) to transfer droplets from the flow region 106 into the desired microfluidic isolation pens. In some embodiments, EW forces are used to prevent droplets within an isolation fence (e.g., isolation fence 124, 126, 128, or 130) from dislodging therefrom. Further, in some embodiments, EW forces are used to selectively remove previously collected droplets from an isolation fence in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the EW force comprises an electro-optical wetting (OEW) force,

in some embodiments, Dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces are exerted on the fluidic medium 180 (e.g., in the flow region and/or the isolation pen) by one or more electrodes (not shown) to manipulate, transport, separate, and sort micro-objects located therein. For example, in some embodiments, DEP forces are applied within one or more portions of the microfluidic circuit 120 to transfer individual micro-objects from the flow region 106 into desired microfluidic isolation pens. In some embodiments, DEP forces are used to prevent micro-objects within an isolation fence (e.g., isolation fence 124, 126, 128, or 130) from being dislodged therefrom. Further, in some embodiments, DEP forces are used to selectively remove previously collected micro-objects from the isolation pens in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In some embodiments, the DEP force comprises an optoelectronic tweezers (OET) force.

In some embodiments, DEP and/or EW forces are combined with other forces, such as flow and/or gravity, to manipulate, transport, separate, and sort micro-objects and/or droplets within microfluidic circuit 120. For example, the enclosure 102 can be tilted (e.g., by tilting the device 190) to position the flow region 106/channel 122 and micro-objects located therein over the microfluidic sequestration pen, and gravity can transport the micro-objects and/or droplets into the pen. In some embodiments, DEP and/or EW forces may be applied before other forces. In other embodiments, DEP and/or EW forces may be applied after other forces. In other cases, the DEP and/or EW forces can be applied simultaneously with or alternating with other forces.

A microfluidic device is dynamically configured. As mentioned above, the control and monitoring device of the system may comprise a power module for selecting and moving objects, such as micro-objects or droplets, in the microfluidic circuit of the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device of the present invention may have a variety of dynamic configurations depending on the type of object being moved and other considerations. In particular, the support structure 104 and/or the cover 110 of the microfluidic device 100 can include an Electrowetting (EW) configuration for selectively inducing EW forces on droplets in the fluidic medium 180 in the microfluidic circuit 120 to select, capture, and/or move individual droplets or groups of droplets. In certain embodiments, a microfluidic device of the present invention can comprise a first portion having an EW configuration and a second portion having a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration. Accordingly, at least a portion of the support structure 104 and/or the cover 110 of the microfluidic device 100 may comprise a DEP configuration for selectively inducing DEP forces on micro-objects in the fluidic medium 180 in the microfluidic circuit 120 to select, capture and/or move individual or groups of micro-objects.

An electrowetting configuration. In certain embodiments, a microfluidic device of the present invention may include an electrowetting configuration including a substrate having a dielectric layer and a droplet actuation surface, the droplet actuation surface including a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may be located below the hydrophobic layer such that a droplet located on the substrate directly contacts the hydrophobic layer. Fig. 2A shows an example of a part of such a microfluidic device.

As shown, the apparatus 400 can include a base 104, the base 104 including a substrate and at least one electrode (e.g., a first electrode) 418. The substrate may include various layers including an outer hydrophobic layer 412, an inner dielectric layer 414, a conductive layer 416, an electrode 418, and an optional support 420. The hydrophobic layer 412 and the inner dielectric layer 414 may provide an inward-facing surface of the substrate 102 that partially defines an enclosure.

The apparatus 400 further comprises a cover 110, the cover 110 comprising an outer hydrophobic layer 422, an inner layer 428 which may comprise at least one electrode, and optionally a support 430. The cover 110 and the base 104 are substantially parallel to each other and joined together by a spacing element 108 (e.g., a microfluidic circuit material) to define an enclosure 435 configured to contain a liquid medium. The liquid medium may be, for example, a hydrophobic liquid, such as an oil. Additionally, the enclosure 435 may contain droplets of a liquid 440, such as an aqueous medium. Typically, the liquid medium and the liquid of the droplets are selected to be immiscible liquids.

The spacing element 108 may comprise a polymer. The polymer may be, for example, a silicon-based organic polymer such as Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or Photopatterned Polysiloxane (PPS), both available from dow corning. Alternatively, the spacing element 108 may comprise an epoxy-based adhesive. The epoxy-based adhesive may be, for example, SU-8 or an equivalent type of material. The spacing element 108 may have a thickness (i.e., the gap between the inner surface of the substrate 104 and the cover 110) of at least 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, or more microns. Thus, for example, the thickness of the spacing elements 108 may be 30-60 microns, 40-80 microns, 50-100 microns, 60-120 microns, 70-140 microns, 75-150 microns, 80-160 microns, 90-180 microns, or 100-200 microns.

The spacer element 108 may define one or more microfluidic channels within the enclosure. Additionally, the spacer elements 108 may further define a plurality of chambers (or isolation pens) within the enclosure, wherein each chamber is fluidly connected to and open from at least one microfluidic channel. Thus, for example, the spacer element 108 may define a single microfluidic channel and a plurality of chambers fluidly connected thereto, or a plurality of microfluidic channels, each channel fluidly connected to a plurality of chambers. Furthermore, each chamber may be fluidically connected to more than one microfluidic channel, as shown in fig. 6 and 7.

When the at least one electrode 418 of the substrate 104 and the at least one electrode 428 of the cover 110 are connected to opposite terminals of an AC voltage source (not shown), the substrate 104 is capable of applying electrowetting forces to aqueous droplets that are in contact with the outer hydrophobic surface 412 (i.e., droplet actuation surface) of the substrate 104. In certain embodiments, the AC voltage used to effect electrowetting-based movement of droplets in the microfluidic device is at least 20 volts peak-to-peak voltage (ppV) (e.g., about 20 to 80ppV, about 20 to 60ppV, about 25 to 50ppV, about 25 to 40ppV, or about 25 to 35 ppV). In certain embodiments, the AC voltage used to effect electrowetting-based movement of droplets in the microfluidic device has a frequency of about 1 to 100kHz (e.g., about 5 to 90kHz, about 10 to 80kHz, about 15 to 70kHz, about 20 to 60kHz, about 25 to 50kHz, or about 30 to 40 kHz).

The outer hydrophobic layer 412 of the substrate 104 and the outer hydrophobic layer 422 of the cover 110 may each comprise a tightly packed monolayer of self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the inner dielectric layer 414 of the substrate 104 or the inner layer 428 of the cover 110, respectively. Self-association of monolayersThe molecules comprise a sufficient two-dimensional packing density to create a hydrophobic barrier between the surface to which the monolayer is bound and the hydrophilic liquid (i.e., to prevent intercalation and/or penetration of polar molecules or other chemicals into the monolayer). The packing density of the densely packed monolayer will depend on the self-associating molecules used. A densely packed monolayer comprising alkyl-terminated siloxane will typically comprise at least 1x10 ¹⁴Molecule/cm²(e.g., at least 1.5x10¹⁴、2.0x10¹⁴、2.5x10¹⁴Or more molecules/cm²)。

As described in more detail below, the self-associating molecules may each include a linking group, such as a siloxane group or a phosphonic acid group. The siloxane groups may be covalently bonded to molecules of inner dielectric layer 414 or inner layer 428. Similarly, the phosphonic acid group can be covalently bonded to a molecule of the inner dielectric layer 414 or the inner layer 428. The self-associating molecules may comprise long chain hydrocarbons, which may be unbranched. Thus, the self-associating molecule may comprise an alkyl-terminated siloxane or an alkyl-terminated phosphonic acid. The long chain hydrocarbons may comprise chains of at least 10 carbons (e.g., at least 16, 18, 20, 22, or more carbons). The self-associating molecule may comprise a fluorinated carbon chain. Thus, for example, the self-associating molecule may comprise a fluoroalkyl terminated siloxane or a fluoroalkyl terminated phosphonic acid. The fluorinated carbon chain may have the formula CF₃-(CF₂)m-(CH₂) n-, wherein m is at least 2, n is 0, 1, 2 or greater, and m + n is at least 9.

The monolayer of self-associating molecules can have a thickness of less than about 5 nanometers (e.g., about 1.0 to about 4.0 nanometers, about 1.5 to about 3.0 nanometers, or about 2.0 to about 2.5 nanometers).

The outer hydrophobic layer 412 of the substrate 104 may be patterned such that selected areas are relatively hydrophobic compared to the rest of the outer hydrophobic layer. This may be accomplished, for example, by increasing the voltage drop across the underlying inner dielectric layer 122 to 50ppV or more (e.g., 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, or more ppV) for a period of time. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the relatively hydrophilic region comprises water molecules embedded in the monolayer.

In some embodiments, the inner dielectric layer of the substrate may include one or more oxide layers. For example, the inner dielectric layer may comprise or consist of a single oxide layer (e.g., a metal oxide layer). Alternatively, the inner dielectric layer may include or consist of two layers. In some embodiments, one layer may be silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, while the other layer may be a metal oxide, such as aluminum oxide. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the metal oxide layer may be in the range of about 15nm to about 45nm, or about 30nm to about 40nm, or about 33nm to about 36 nm. The metal oxide layer may be deposited by an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique, and the layer comprising silicon dioxide or silicon nitride may be deposited by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique.

In yet another embodiment, the inner dielectric layer may comprise three layers of dielectric material. In some embodiments, the first layer may comprise a metal oxide, such as aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, and the like, which may be sandwiched between a silicon dioxide layer and a silicon nitride layer. In certain embodiments, the metal oxide layer may have a thickness in the range of about 5nm to about 20nm, and the layer may be deposited by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) techniques. The silicon oxide layer may also be deposited by ALD and may have a thickness of about 2nm to about 10 nm. The silicon nitride layer may be deposited by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique and may have a thickness of about 80nm to about 100nm or about 90nm thick.

Regardless of the number of layers constituting the inter dielectric layer, the inter dielectric layer may have a thickness of about 50 to 105 nm and/or an impedance of about 50 to 150k ohms, with a preferred embodiment being about 100 k ohms.

The substrate 104 may comprise a photo-responsive layer 146 having a first side contacting the inner dielectric layer 414. The second side of the photo-responsive layer 416 may contact at least one electrode 418. The photo-responsive layer 416 may comprise hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H). For example, a-Si: h may comprise about 8% to 40% hydrogen (i.e., calculated as 100 number of hydrogen atoms/total number of hydrogen atoms and silicon atoms). a-Si: the H layer may have a thickness of at least about 500 nanometers (e.g., at least about 600 to 1400, about 700 to 1300, about 800 to 1200, about 900 to 1100, or about 1000 nanometers). However, a-Si: the thickness of the H layer may vary depending on the thickness of the inter-dielectric layer 414 to achieve the impedance of the inter-dielectric layer 414 and the a-Si: the appropriate difference between the impedances of the H layers. For example, the impedance of the inner dielectric layer 414 may be tuned to about 50kOhm to about 150kOhm, and a-Si: the impedance of the H layer may be adjusted to at least about 0.5MOhm in the off state and less than or equal to about 1kOhm in the on state. These are merely examples, but they show how the impedance can be tuned to achieve a photo-responsive (in this case, photoconductive) layer 416 that exhibits robust on/off performance. The substrate 104 has a structure formed of a-Si: in embodiments of the H-layer formed photo-responsive layer 416, the substrate 104 may optionally include a floating electrode pad between the photo-responsive layer 416 and the inner dielectric layer 414. Such floating electrode pads have been described, for example, in U.S. patent No. 6,958,132, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, the photo-responsive layer 416 may comprise a plurality of conductors, each conductor being controllably connected to at least one electrode of the substrate 102 via a phototransistor switch. Conductors controlled by phototransistor switches are well known in the art and have been described, for example, in U.S. patent application No. 2014/0124370, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The substrate 104 may include a single electrode 418 configured to be connected to an AC voltage source. The single electrode 418 may include an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) layer, which may be formed on a glass support 420, for example. Alternatively, the single electrode 418 may include a conductive silicon layer. In other embodiments, the substrate 104 may include a plurality of electrodes that are individually addressable, as is known in the art for EWOD devices. The individually addressable electrodes may be connected to one or more AC voltage sources through respective transistor switches.

The cover 110 may further include, in the form of a substrate, a dielectric layer (not shown) juxtaposed with the hydrophobic layer 422 and a conductive layer (not shown) juxtaposed between the dielectric layer and the electrode 428. Thus, the microfluidic device 400 may have both the substrate 104 and the cover 110 configured to provide electrowetting forces to the aqueous droplet 440 located within the enclosure 435. In such embodiments, the dielectric layer of the cover 110 may be configured in any manner disclosed herein for the inner dielectric layer 414 of the substrate 104, and the conductive layer of the cover 104 may be configured in any manner disclosed herein for the conductive layer 126 of the substrate 102.

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration. As discussed herein, the microfluidic devices of the present invention can include a portion having a DEP configuration. One example of this portion is the microfluidic device 200 shown in fig. 1C and 1D. Although fig. 1C and 1D show a vertical cross-sectional view and a horizontal cross-sectional view, respectively, of a portion of the enclosure 102 of the microfluidic device 200 with an open region/chamber 202 for simplicity, it should be understood that the region/chamber 202 may be part of a fluidic circuit element having a more detailed structure, such as a growth chamber, an isolation pen, a flow region, or a flow channel. In addition, the microfluidic device 200 may include other fluidic circuit elements. For example, the microfluidic device 200 may include a plurality of growth chambers or isolation pens and/or one or more flow regions or flow channels, such as those described herein with respect to the microfluidic device 100. The DEP configuration can be incorporated into any such fluidic circuit element of the microfluidic device 200 or a selected portion thereof. It should be further understood that any of the microfluidic device components and system components described above or below may be incorporated into the microfluidic device 200 and/or used in conjunction with the microfluidic device 200. For example, the system 150 including the control and monitoring device 152 described above may be used with a microfluidic device 200 (including one or more of the media module 160, the power module 162, the imaging module 164, the tilt module 166, and the other modules 168).

As shown in fig. 1C, the microfluidic device 200 includes a support structure 104 having a bottom electrode 204 and an electrode activation substrate 206 covering the bottom electrode 204, and a lid 110 having a top electrode 210, wherein the top electrode 210 is spaced apart from the bottom electrode 204. The top electrode 210 and the electrode activation substrate 206 define opposing surfaces of the region/chamber 202. The dielectric 180 contained in the region/chamber 202 thus provides a resistive connection between the top electrode 210 and the electrode activation substrate 206. Also shown is a power supply 212 configured to connect to the bottom electrode 204 and the top electrode 210 and generate a bias voltage between the electrodes, as required to generate DEP forces in the region/chamber 202. The power source 212 may be, for example, an Alternating Current (AC) power source.

In certain embodiments, the microfluidic device 200 shown in fig. 1C and 1D can have an optically actuated DEP configuration. Accordingly, the changing pattern of light 218 from the light source 216, which may be controlled by the power module 162, may selectively activate and deactivate the changing pattern of DEP electrodes at the regions 214 of the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206. (hereinafter, the region 214 of the microfluidic device having the DEP configuration is referred to as the "DEP electrode region") as shown in fig. 1D, a light pattern 218 directed onto the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 may illuminate a selected DEP electrode region 214a (shown in white) in a pattern such as a square. The DEP electrode regions 214 that are not illuminated (cross-hatched) are referred to hereinafter as "dark" DEP electrode regions 214. The relative impedance through the DEP electrode activation substrate 206 (i.e., from the bottom electrode 204 up to the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 that interfaces with the medium 180 in the flow region 106) is greater than the relative impedance through the medium 180 in the region/chamber 202 at each dark DEP electrode region 214 (i.e., from the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 to the top electrode 210 of the lid 110). However, the illuminated DEP electrode regions 214a exhibit a reduced relative impedance through the electrode activation substrate 206 that is less than the relative impedance through the medium 180 in the region/chamber 202 at each illuminated DEP electrode region 214 a.

Upon activation of the power supply 212, the above-described DEP configuration creates an electric field gradient in the fluidic medium 180 between the illuminated DEP electrode region 214a and the adjacent dark DEP electrode region 214, which in turn creates a local DEP force that attracts or repels nearby micro-objects (not shown) in the fluidic medium 180. Thus, DEP electrodes that attract or repel micro-objects in the fluidic medium 180 can be selectively activated and deactivated at many different such DEP electrode regions 214 of the inner surface 208 of the region/chamber 202 by varying the light pattern 218 projected from the light source 216 into the microfluidic device 200. Whether the DEP force attracts or repels nearby micro-objects may depend on parameters such as the frequency of the power source 212 and the dielectric properties of the medium 180 and/or micro-objects (not shown).

The square pattern 220 of the illuminated DEP electrode region 214a shown in fig. 1C is merely an example. Any pattern of DEP electrode regions 214 may be illuminated (and thus activated) by a light pattern 218 projected into the device 200, and the pattern of illuminated/activated DEP electrode regions 214 may be repeatedly changed by changing or moving the light pattern 218.

In some embodiments, the electrode activation substrate 206 may include or consist of a photoconductive material. In such embodiments, the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 may be featureless. For example, the electrode activation substrate 206 may include or consist of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H) layer. a-Si: h may comprise, for example, about 8% to 40% hydrogen (calculated as 100 hydrogen atoms/total number of hydrogen atoms and silicon atoms). a-Si: the H layer may have a thickness of about 500nm to about 2.0 μm. In such embodiments, DEP electrode regions 214 may be formed in any pattern anywhere on the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206, according to the light pattern 218. Thus, the number and pattern of DEP electrode regions 214 need not be fixed, but may correspond to the light pattern 218. Examples of microfluidic devices having DEP configurations including photoconductive layers as described above have been described, for example, in U.S. patent RE 44,711 (Wu et al), originally published as U.S. patent No. 7,612,355, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In other embodiments, the electrode activation substrate 206 may comprise a substrate comprising a plurality of doped layers, electrically insulating layers (or regions), and conductive layers forming a semiconductor integrated circuit, such as is known in the semiconductor arts. For example, the electrode activation substrate 206 may include a plurality of phototransistors, including, for example, lateral bipolar phototransistors, each corresponding to a DEP electrode region 214. Alternatively, the electrode activation substrate 206 can include electrodes (e.g., conductive metal electrodes) controlled by the phototransistor switches, each such electrode corresponding to a DEP electrode region 214. The electrode activation substrate 206 may include a pattern of such phototransistors or phototransistor control electrodes. For example, the pattern may be an array of substantially square phototransistor or phototransistor control electrodes arranged in rows and columns, as shown in figure 2B. Alternatively, the pattern may be an array of substantially hexagonal phototransistors or phototransistor control electrodes forming a hexagonal lattice. Regardless of the pattern, the circuit elements can form electrical connections between the DEP electrode region 214 and the bottom electrode 210 at the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206, and those electrical connections (i.e., phototransistors or electrodes) can be selectively activated and deactivated by the light pattern 218. When not activated, each electrical connection may have a high impedance such that the relative impedance through the electrode activation substrate 206 (i.e., from the bottom electrode 204 to the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 interfacing with the medium 180 in the region/chamber 202) is greater than the relative impedance through the medium 180 at the respective DEP electrode region 214 (i.e., from the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 to the top electrode 210 of the lid 110). However, when activated by light in the light pattern 218, the relative impedance through the electrode activation substrate 206 is less than the relative impedance through the medium 180 at each illuminated DEP electrode region 214, thereby activating the DEP electrodes at the respective DEP electrode regions, as described above. Thus, DEP electrodes that attract or repel micro-objects (not shown) in the medium 180 can be selectively activated and deactivated at a number of different DEP electrode regions 214 at the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 in the region/chamber 202, in a manner determined by the light pattern 218.

Examples of microfluidic devices having electrode-activated substrates including phototransistors have been described, for example, in U.S. patent No. 7,956,339 (Ohta et al) (see, e.g., device 300 and its description shown in fig. 21 and 22), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Examples of microfluidic devices having electrode-activated substrates with electrodes controlled by phototransistor switches have been described, for example, in U.S. patent publication No. 2014/0124370 (Short et al) (see, e.g., devices 200, 400, 500, 600, and 900 and their description shown throughout the figures), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments of DEP configured microfluidic devices, the top electrode 210 is part of a first wall (or lid 110) of the enclosure 102, and the electrode activation substrate 206 and the bottom electrode 204 are part of a second wall (or support structure 104). The region/chamber 202 may be located between the first wall and the second wall. In other embodiments, the electrode 210 is part of the second wall (or support structure 104) and one or both of the electrode activation substrate 206 and/or the electrode 210 is part of the first wall (or cover 110). Furthermore, the light source 216 may alternatively be used to illuminate the capsule 102 from below.

With the microfluidic device 200 of fig. 1C-1D having a DEP configuration, the power module 162 can select a micro-object (not shown) in the medium 180 in the region/chamber 202 by projecting a light pattern 218 into the device 200 to activate a first set of one or more DEP electrodes at the DEP electrode region 214a of the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206 in a pattern (e.g., a square pattern 220) that surrounds and captures the micro-object. The power module 162 may then move the captured micro-objects by moving the light pattern 218 relative to the device 200 to activate the second set of one or more DEP electrodes at the DEP electrode region 214. Alternatively, the device 200 may be moved relative to the light pattern 218.

In other embodiments, the microfluidic device 200 can have a DEP configuration that does not rely on photo-activation of DEP electrodes at the inner surface 208 of the electrode activation substrate 206. For example, the electrode activation substrate 206 can include selectively addressable and energizable electrodes positioned opposite a surface (e.g., the cover 110) that includes at least one electrode. A switch (e.g., a transistor switch in a semiconductor substrate) can be selectively opened and closed to activate or passivate the DEP electrode at the DEP electrode region 214, thereby creating a net DEP force on micro-objects (not shown) within the region/chamber 202 near the activated DEP electrode. Depending on such characteristics as the frequency of the power source 212 and the dielectric properties of the medium (not shown) and/or micro-objects in the region/chamber 202, DEP forces may attract or repel nearby micro-objects. By selectively activating and deactivating sets of DEP electrodes (e.g., at sets of DEP electrode regions 214 forming square patterns 220), one or more micro-objects in the region/chamber 202 can be trapped and moved within the region/chamber 202. The power module 162 in fig. 1A may control such switches and thus activate and deactivate individual ones of the DEP electrodes to select, trap, and move particular micro-objects (not shown) around the region/chamber 202. Microfluidic devices having DEP configurations comprising selectively addressable and energizable electrodes are known in the art and have been described in U.S. patent nos. 6,294,063 (Becker et al) and 6,942,776 (Medoro), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A microfluidic device having electrowetting and Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configurations. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device or apparatus 450 integrating multiple microfluidic applications, according to various embodiments. The device 450 includes two distinct sections (although there may be more) each having a single microfluidic configuration. Portion 460 comprises an electrowetting configuration that includes a base 104 that includes a substrate. The substrate includes various layers including an outer hydrophobic layer 412, an inner dielectric layer 414, a conductive layer 416, and an electrode 418. The hydrophobic layer 412 and the inner dielectric layer 414 may provide an inward facing surface of the substrate that partially defines the enclosure 435. The portion 460 further includes a cover 110 including the electrode 428 and the outer hydrophobic layer 422, and a microfluidic circuit material 108 connecting the base 104 with the cover 110, the microfluidic circuit material 108 also helping to define a microfluidic circuit of the electrowetting section, including an enclosure 435 configured to contain an immiscible fluid.

Section 470 of microfluidic device 450 includes a dielectrophoretic DEP configuration that includes base 104, first electrode 479, electrode activation substrate 474, and an inward-facing surface that partially defines enclosure 475. The portion 470 further includes a lid 110 containing an electrode 468, and a microfluidic circuit material 108 connecting the base 104 with the lid 110 and also helping to define the microfluidic circuit of the DEP section.

As shown in fig. 4, the electrowetting section 460 and the DEP section 470 may share the same base 104 and cover 110, while their substrates and electrodes are not shared. The electrowetting section 460 and the DEP section 470 of the device 450 may be joined by a bridge 465, which bridge 465 may be a tube, an adhesive material, etc., or any combination thereof.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device or apparatus 500 integrating multiple microfluidic applications, according to various embodiments. Like device 400, device 500 includes two distinct portions (although there may be more), each having a single microfluidic configuration. Specifically, portion 460 comprises an electrowetting configuration and portion 470 comprises a DEP configuration. The various components of the device 500 have portions that correspond to components in the device 400, as indicated by the corresponding reference numerals. However, device 500 has a monolithic substrate with conductive layer 416, first electrode 418, and second electrode 428, all shared by portions 460 and 470.

FIGS. 19A and 19B provide views of an electrical addressing operational representation for one functional aspect according to the embodiment described in connection with FIG. 5. As previously described in connection with fig. 5, the system integrates two microfluidic operations, as depicted by DEP and EW modules sharing a monolithic substrate 416. In this embodiment, the DEP (which may be an OET) module has a lower impedance relative to the EW module. During operation, the impedance of the EW module overcomes the impedance of the DEP module and substantially shorts the DEP module.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 19A, the OEP module operates by applying a voltage in the range of 1-10 volts at a frequency in the range of 100kHz to 10 mHz. In the same embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19B, the OEW module operates by applying a voltage in the range of 10-100 volts at a frequency in the range of 1kHz to 300 kHz. In a preferred embodiment, the OEP module operates by applying 5 volts at a frequency of 1MHz and the OEW module operates by applying 30 volts at a frequency of 30 kHz.

Isolating the fence. Non-limiting examples of universal isolation pens 224, 226, and 228 are shown within microfluidic device 230 shown in fig. 2A-2C. Each isolation pen 224, 226, and 228 can include an isolation structure 232 defining an isolation region 240 and a connecting region 236 fluidly connecting the isolation region 240 to the channel 122. The connection zone 236 may include a proximal opening 234 to the passage 122 and a distal opening 238 to an isolation zone 240. The connecting region 236 can be configured such that a maximum penetration depth of a flow of a fluid medium (not shown) flowing from the channel 122 into the isolation pens 224, 226, 228 does not extend into the isolation region 240. Thus, due to the connecting region 236, micro-objects (not shown) or other materials (not shown) disposed in the isolation regions 240 of the isolation pens 224, 226, 228 may thus be separated from and substantially unaffected by the flow of the medium 180 in the channel 122.

Isolation pens 224, 226, and 228 of fig. 2A-2C each have a single opening directly into channel 122. The opening of the isolation fence opens laterally from the channel 122. Electrode activation substrate 206 is located beneath both channel 122 and isolation rails 224, 226, and 228. The upper surfaces of the electrode activation substrates 206 within the enclosure of the isolation pen forming the bottom surface of the isolation pen are disposed at the same height or substantially the same height of the upper surfaces of the electrode activation substrates 206 within the channel 122 (or flow region if a channel is not present) forming the bottom surface of the flow channel (or flow region) of the microfluidic device. The electrode activation substrate 206 may be featureless or may have an irregular or patterned surface with depressions that vary from its highest height to its lowest height by less than about 3 microns, 2.5 microns, 2 microns, 1.5 microns, 1 micron, 0.9 microns, 0.5 microns, 0.4 microns, 0.2 microns, 0.1 microns, or less. The variation in height in the upper surface of the substrate through the channel 122 (or flow region) and the isolation pen can be less than about 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.9%, 0.8%, 0.5%, 0.3%, or 0.1% of the height of the isolation pen wall or wall of the microfluidic device. Although the microfluidic device 200 is described in detail, this also applies to any of the microfluidic devices 100, 230, 250, 280, 290, 600, 700 described herein.

The channel 122 can thus be an example of an area being swept, and the isolation zones 240 of the isolation pens 224, 226, 228 can be an example of an area not being swept. As described above, channel 122 and isolation pens 224, 226, 228 can be configured to contain one or more fluidic media 180. In the example shown in fig. 2A-2B, port 222 is connected to channel 122 and allows fluid medium 180 to be introduced into microfluidic device 230 or removed from microfluidic device 230. Prior to introducing fluid medium 180, the microfluidic device may be filled with a gas, such as carbon dioxide gas. Once the microfluidic device 230 contains fluidic medium 180, the flow 242 of fluidic medium 180 in the channel 122 may be selectively created and stopped. For example, as shown, the ports 222 may be disposed at different locations (e.g., opposite ends) of the channel 122, and a flow 242 of media may be created from one port 222 serving as an inlet to another port 222 serving as an outlet.

Fig. 2C shows a detailed view of an example of an isolation fence 224 according to the present invention. An example of a micro-object 246 is also shown.

As is known, a flow 242 of fluidic medium 180 in microfluidic channel 122 through proximal opening 234 of isolation pen 224 can cause a secondary flow 244 of medium 180 into and/or out of isolation pen 224. To isolate micro-objects 246 in the isolation region 240 of the isolation fence 224 from the secondary flow 244, the length L of the connection region 236 of the isolation fence 224 _con(i.e., from the proximal opening 234 to the distal opening 238) should be greater than the penetration depth D of the secondary flow 244 into the connecting zone 236_p. Penetration depth D of secondary flow 244_pDepending on the velocity of the fluidic medium 180 flowing in the channel 122 and various parameters related to the configuration of the channel 122 and the attachment zone 236 to the proximal opening 234 of the channel 122. For a given microfluidic device, the configuration of the channel 122 and the opening 234 will be fixed, while the rate of flow 242 of the fluidic medium 180 in the channel 122 will be variable. Thus, for each isolation fence 224, the maximum velocity V of flow 242 of fluid medium 180 in channel 122 can be identified_maxWhich ensures the penetration depth D of the secondary flow 244_pNot exceeding the length L of the attachment zone 236_con. As long as the velocity of the flow 242 of fluid medium 180 in the passage 122 does not exceed the maximum velocity V_maxThe resulting secondary flow 244 may be confined to the channel 122 and the connecting region 236 and remain outside of the isolation region 240. Thus, the flow 242 of the medium 180 in the channel 122 does not pull the micro-object 246 out of the isolation region 240. In contrast, micro-objects 246 located in the isolation region 240 will reside in the isolation region 240 independent of the flow 242 of the fluid medium 180 in the channel 122.

Also, as long as the velocity of the flow 242 of the medium 180 in the channel 122 does not exceed V_maxThe flow 242 of the fluidic medium 180 in the channel 122 will not move the intermixed particles (e.g., microparticles and/or nanoparticles) from the channel 122 into the isolation region 240 of the isolation pen 224. Thus, the length L of the attachment zone 236_conGreater than the maximum penetration depth D of the secondary flow 244_pContamination of one isolation fence 224 with contaminating particles from the passageway 122 or another isolation fence (e.g., isolation fences 226, 228 in fig. 2D) can be prevented.

Because the connected region 236 of the channel 122 and the isolation pens 224, 226, 228 may be affected by the flow 242 of the medium 180 in the channel 122, the channel 122 and the connected region 236 may be considered a swept (or flow) region of the microfluidic device 230. On the other hand, the isolation zones 240 of the isolation pens 224, 226, 228 can be considered as unswept (or no-flow) areas. For example, a component (not shown) in first fluid medium 180 in channel 122 may mix with second fluid medium 248 in isolation regions 240 substantially only by diffusion of the component of first medium 180 from channel 122 through connecting region 236 and into second fluid medium 248 in isolation regions 240. Similarly, the composition (not shown) of the second dielectric 248 in the isolation regions 240 may mix with the first dielectric 180 in the channels 122 substantially only by diffusion of the composition of the second dielectric 248 from the isolation regions 240 through the connection region 236 and into the first dielectric 180 in the channels 122. In some embodiments, the degree of fluid medium exchange by diffusion between the isolation region and the flow region of the isolation pen is greater than about 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or greater than about 99% of the fluid exchange. The first media 180 may be the same media as the second media 248 or a different media. Further, the first dielectric 180 and the second dielectric 248 may be initially the same and then become different (e.g., by modulation of the second dielectric 248 by one or more cells in the isolation region 240, or by changing the dielectric 180 flowing through the channel 122).

As described above, the maximum penetration depth D of the secondary flow 244 caused by the flow 242 of the fluid medium 180 in the channel 122_pMay depend on a number of parameters. Examples of such parameters include: the shape of the channel 122 (e.g., the channel may direct media into the joining zone 236, transfer media out of the joining zone 236, or direct media into the channel 122 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the proximal opening 234 of the joining zone 236 of the channel 122); width W of channel 122 at proximal opening 234_ch(or cross-sectional area); and open at the proximal sideWidth W of connection region 236 at aperture 234_con(or cross-sectional area); the velocity V of the flow 242 of fluid medium 180 in the passage 122; viscosity of the first medium 180 and/or the second medium 248, and the like.

In some embodiments, the dimensions of the channel 122 and isolation pens 224, 226, 228 may be oriented relative to the vector of the flow 242 of fluid medium 180 in the channel 122 as follows: width W of channel_ch(or cross-sectional area of the channel 122) may be substantially perpendicular to the flow 242 of the medium 180; width W of connecting region 236 at opening 234_con(or cross-sectional area) may be substantially parallel to the flow 242 of the medium 180 in the channel 122; and/or length L of the attachment zone_conMay be substantially perpendicular to the flow 242 of the medium 180 in the channel 122. The above are examples only, and the relative positions of channel 122 and isolation pens 224, 226, 228 may be at other orientations relative to one another.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the width W of the attachment zone 236_conMay be uniform from the proximal opening 234 to the distal opening 238. Thus, the width W of the attachment zone 236 at the distal opening 238_conMay be the width W of the attachment zone 236 at the proximal opening 234 herein_conAny range identified. Alternatively, width W of attachment zone 236 at distal opening 238_conMay be greater than the width W of the attachment zone 236 at the proximal opening 234_con。

As shown in fig. 2C, the width of the isolation region 240 at the distal opening 238 may be the same as the width W of the connection region 236 at the proximal opening 234_conAre substantially the same. Thus, the width of the isolation region 240 at the distal opening 238 may be the width W of the connection region 236 at the proximal opening 234, herein_conAny range identified. Alternatively, the width of the isolation region 240 at the distal opening 238 may be greater or less than the width W of the connection region 236 at the proximal opening 234_con. Moreover, distal opening 238 may be smaller than proximal opening 234, and connecting region 236 may have a width W_conMay narrow between the proximal opening 234 and the distal opening 238. For example, the connection zone 236 may narrow between the proximal opening and the distal opening using a variety of different geometries (e.g., a chamfered connection zone). In addition, connect Any portion or sub-portion of zone 236 (e.g., a portion of the connecting zone adjacent to proximal opening 234) may be narrowed.

Fig. 2D-2F depict another exemplary embodiment of a microfluidic device 250 containing a microfluidic circuit 262 and a flow channel 264, which are variations of the respective microfluidic device 100, circuit 132, and channel 134 of fig. 1. Microfluidic device 250 also has a plurality of isolation pens 266, which isolation pens 266 are additional variations of isolation pens 124, 126, 128, 130, 224, 226, or 228 described above. In particular, it should be understood that the isolation fence 266 of the apparatus 250 shown in fig. 2D-2F may replace any of the above-described isolation fences 124, 126, 128, 130, 224, 226, or 228 in apparatuses 100, 200, 230, 280, 290, or 320. Similarly, the microfluidic device 250 is another variation of the microfluidic device 100, and may also have the same or different DEP configuration as the microfluidic devices 100, 200, 230, 280, 290, 320 described above, as well as any other microfluidic system components described herein.

The microfluidic device 250 of fig. 2D-2F includes a support structure (not visible in fig. 2D-2F, but may be the same as or substantially similar to the support structure 104 of the device 100 depicted in fig. 1A), a microfluidic circuit structure 256, and a lid (not visible in fig. 2D-2F, but may be the same as or substantially similar to the lid 122 of the device 100 depicted in fig. 1A). The microfluidic circuit structure 256 includes a frame 252 and a microfluidic circuit material 260, which may be the same as or substantially similar to the frame 114 and the microfluidic circuit material 116 of the device 100 shown in fig. 1A. As shown in fig. 2D, microfluidic circuit 262 defined by microfluidic circuit material 260 can include a plurality of channels 264 (two shown, but there can be more) to which a plurality of isolation pens 266 are fluidly connected.

Each isolation fence 266 can include an isolation structure 272, an isolation region 270 within isolation structure 272, and a connection region 268. The connection zone 268 fluidly connects the passageway 264 to the isolation zone 270 from a proximal opening 274 at the passageway 264 to a distal opening 276 at the isolation structure 272. Generally, as discussed above with respect to fig. 2B and 2C, the flow 278 of the first fluidic medium 254 in the channel 264 can generate a secondary flow 282 of the first medium 254 from the channel 264 into and/or out of the respective connection regions 268 of the isolation pens 266.

As shown in fig. 2E, the connection region 268 of each isolation fence 266 generally includes a region extending between a proximal opening 274 leading to the channel 264 and a distal opening 276 leading to the isolation structure 272. Length L of attachment region 268_conMay be greater than the maximum penetration depth D of the secondary flow 282_pIn this case, the secondary flow 282 will extend into the connection region 268 without being redirected to the isolation region 270 (as shown in FIG. 2D). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2F, the connecting region 268 may have a depth of penetration D less than the maximum depth of penetration D_pIn which case the secondary flow 282 will extend through the connection region 268 and be redirected toward the isolation region 270. In the latter case, the length L of the attachment region 268 _c1And L_c2The sum being greater than the maximum penetration depth D_pSo that secondary flow 282 does not extend into isolation region 270. Regardless of the length L of the joining zone 268_conIs greater than the penetration depth D_pAlso length L of attachment region 268_c1And L_c2The sum of which is greater than the penetration depth D_pNot exceeding the maximum speed V_maxWill all be produced with a penetration depth D_pAnd micro-objects (not shown, but can be the same as or substantially similar to micro-objects 246 shown in figure 2C) in isolation region 270 of isolation fence 266 will not be pulled out of isolation region 270 by flow 278 of first medium 254 in channel 264. Flow 278 in channel 264 also does not carry debris (not shown) from channel 264 into isolation zone 270 of isolation fence 266. As such, diffusion is the only mechanism by which a component in first dielectric 254 in channel 264 can move from channel 264 into second dielectric 258 in isolation regions 270 of isolation fence 266. Similarly, diffusion is the only mechanism by which the constituents in second dielectric 258 in isolation region 270 of isolation fence 266 can move from isolation region 270 to first dielectric 254 in channel 264. First media 254 may be the same media as second media 258 or first media 254 may be a different media than second media 258. Alternatively, first dielectric 254 and second dielectric 258 may be initially the same and then become different, such as by conditioning the second dielectric through one or more cells in isolation region 270 Or by changing the media flowing through the channel 264.

As shown in FIG. 2E, the width W of the channels 264_ch(i.e., a direction taken transverse to the direction of fluid medium flow through the channel indicated by arrow 278 in FIG. 2D) may be substantially perpendicular to the width W of the proximal opening 274_con1And thus substantially parallel to the width W of the distal opening 276_con2. However, width W of proximal opening 274_con1And width W of distal opening 276_con2Not necessarily substantially perpendicular to each other. For example, width W of proximal opening 274_con1The oriented axis (not shown) and the width W of the distal opening 276_con2The angle between the other axes being oriented may not be perpendicular and therefore not be 90 deg.. Examples of selectable azimuth angles include angles in any of the following ranges: about 30 ° to about 90 °, about 45 ° to about 90 °, about 60 ° to about 90 °, and so forth.

In various embodiments of an isolation fence (e.g., 124, 126, 128, 130, 224, 226, 228, or 266), an isolation zone (e.g., 240 or 270) is configured to contain a plurality of micro-objects. In other embodiments, the isolation region may be configured to contain only one, two, three, four, five, or a similar relatively small number of micro-objects. Thus, the volume of the isolation region may be, for example, at least 1x10 ⁶、2x10⁶、4x10⁶、6x10⁶Cubic microns or more.

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the width W of the channel (e.g., 122) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234)_chMay be in any of the following ranges: about 50-1000 microns, 50-500 microns, 50-400 microns, 50-300 microns, 50-250 microns, 50-200 microns, 50-150 microns, 50-100 microns, 70-500 microns, 70-400 microns, 70-300 microns, 70-250 microns, 70-200 microns, 70-150 microns, 90-400 microns, 90-300 microns, 90-250 microns, 90-200 microns, 90-150 microns, 100-300 microns, 100-250 microns, 100-200 microns, 100-150 microns, and 100-120 microns. In some other embodiments, the width W of the channel (e.g., 122) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234)_chCan be about 200-800 microns, 200-700 microns or 200-600 micronsIn the range of rice. The above are examples only, and the width W of the channel 122_chMay be in other ranges (e.g., ranges defined by any of the endpoints listed above). Further, W of channel 122 is in the region of the channel other than the proximal opening of the isolation fence_chMay be selected to be in any of these ranges.

In some embodiments, the isolation pens have a height of about 30 to about 200 microns, or about 50 to about 150 microns. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the isolation fence is about 1x10 ⁴–3x10⁶Square micron, 2x10⁴–2x10⁶Square micron, 4x10⁴–1x10⁶Square micron, 2x10⁴–5x10⁵Square micron, 2x10⁴–1x10⁵Square micron or about 2x10⁵–2x10⁶Square micron. In some embodiments, the connecting region has a cross-sectional width of about 100 to about 500 microns, 200 to about 400 microns, or about 200 to about 300 microns.

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the height H of the channel (e.g., 122) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234)_chMay be in any of the following ranges: 20-100 microns, 20-90 microns, 20-80 microns, 20-70 microns, 20-60 microns, 20-50 microns, 30-100 microns, 30-90 microns, 30-80 microns, 30-70 microns, 30-60 microns, 30-50 microns, 40-100 microns, 40-90 microns, 40-80 microns, 40-70 microns, 40-60 microns, or 40-50 microns. The above are examples only, and the height H of the channel (e.g., 122)_chMay be in other ranges (e.g., ranges defined by any of the endpoints listed above). The height H of the channel 122 in the region of the channel other than at the proximal opening of the isolation fence_chMay be selected to be within any of these ranges.

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the cross-sectional area of the channel (e.g., 122) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234) can be in any one of the following ranges: 500-50,000 square micron, 500-40,000 square micron, 500-30,000 square micron, 500-25,000 square micron, 500-20,000 square micron, 500-15,000 square micron, 500-10,000 square micron, 500-7,500 square micron, 500-5,000 square micron, 1,000-25,000 square micron, 1,000-20,000 square micron, 1,000-15,000 square micron, 1,000-10,000 square micron, 1,000-7,500 square micron, 1,000-5,000 square micron, 2,000-20,000 square micron, 2,000-15,000 square micron, 2,000-10,000 square micron, 2,000-7,500 square micron, 2,000-6,000 square micron, 3,000-20,000 micron, 3,000 square micron, 10,000 square micron, 3,000-3,000 square micron, 3,000 square micron. The foregoing are merely examples, and the cross-section of the channel (e.g., 122) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234) can be within other ranges (e.g., ranges defined by any of the endpoints listed above).

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the length L of the connection region (e.g., 236)_conMay be in any of the following ranges: about 1-600 microns, 5-550 microns, 10-500 microns, 15-400 microns, 20-300 microns, 20-500 microns, 40-400 microns, 60-300 microns, 80-200 microns, or about 100-150 microns. The above are examples only, and the length L of the attachment zone (e.g., 236)_conMay be in a different range than the preceding examples (e.g., a range defined by any of the endpoints listed above).

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the width W of the connection zone (e.g., 236) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234)_conMay be in any of the following ranges: 20-500 microns, 20-400 microns, 20-300 microns, 20-200 microns, 20-150 microns, 20-100 microns, 20-80 microns, 20-60 microns, 30-400 microns, 30-300 microns, 30-200 microns, 30-150 microns, 30-100 microns, 30-80 microns, 30-60 microns, 40-300 microns, 40-200 microns, 40-150 microns, 40-100 microns, 40-80 microns, 40-60 microns, 50-250 microns, 50-200 microns, 50-150 microns, 50-100 microns, 50-80 microns, 60-200 microns, 60-150 microns, 60-100 microns, 60-80 microns, 70-150 microns, 70-100 microns, and 80-100 microns. The foregoing are merely examples, and the width W of the attachment zone (e.g., 236) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234) is _conMay differ from the foregoing examples (e.g., ranges defined by any of the endpoints listed above).

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the width W of the connection region (e.g., 236) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234)_conMay be at least as large as the largest dimension of the micro-object (e.g., biological cells which may be T cells, B cells, or ova or embryos) for which the isolation pen is intended. For example, the width W of the connection zone 236 at the proximal opening 234 of the isolation fence into which a droplet will be placed_conMay be in any of the following ranges: about 100 microns, about 110 microns, about 120 microns, about 130 microns, about 140 microns, about 150 microns, about 160 microns, about 170 microns, about 180 microns, about 190 microns, about 200 microns, about 225 microns, about 250 microns, about 300 microns, or about 100-400 microns, about 120-350 microns, about 140-200 microns, 300 microns, or about 140-200 microns. The foregoing are merely examples, and the width W of the attachment zone (e.g., 236) at the proximal opening (e.g., 234) is_conMay differ from the foregoing examples (e.g., ranges defined by any of the endpoints listed above).

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the width W of the proximal opening of the connection region _prCan be at least as large as the largest dimension of the micro-object (e.g., a biological micro-object such as a cell) for which the isolation pen is intended. For example, width W_prMay be about 50 microns, about 60 microns, about 100 microns, about 200 microns, about 300 microns or may be between about 50 microns and about 300 microns, about 50 microns to about 200 microns, about 50 microns to about 100 microns, about 75 microns to about 150 microns, about 75 microns to about 100 microns or about 200 microns to about 300 microns.

In various embodiments of the isolation fence, the length L of the connection region (e.g., 236)_conWidth W of the connection zone (e.g., 236) at the proximal opening 234_conThe ratio of (a) may be greater than or equal to any of the following ratios: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, or more. The foregoing are examples only, and the length L of the attachment zone 236_conWidth W of connection zone 236 at proximal opening 234_conThe ratio of (c) may be different from the previous examples.

Various implementations in microfluidic devices 100, 200, 230, 250, 280, 290, 320, 600, 700In example, V_maxCan be set to about 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, or 1.5 μ l/sec.

In various embodiments of microfluidic devices with isolation pens, the volume of the isolation region (e.g., 240) of the isolation pen can be, for example, at least 5x10 ⁵、8x10⁵、1x10⁶、2x10⁶、4x10⁶、6x10⁶、8x10⁶、1x10⁷、5x10⁷、1x10⁸、5x10⁸Or 8x10⁸Cubic microns or larger. In various embodiments of microfluidic devices with isolation pens, the volume of the isolation pen can be about 5x10⁵、6x10⁵、8x10⁵、1x10⁶、2x10⁶、4x10⁶、8x10⁶、1x10⁷、3x10⁷、5x10⁷Or about 8x10⁷Cubic microns or larger. In some other embodiments, the volume of the isolation pen can be about 1 nanoliter to about 50 nanoliters, 2 nanoliters to about 25 nanoliters, 2 nanoliters to about 20 nanoliters, about 2 nanoliters to about 15 nanoliters, or about 2 nanoliters to about 10 nanoliters.

In various embodiments, the microfluidic device has an isolation pen configured as in any of the embodiments discussed herein, wherein the microfluidic device has from about 5 to about 10 isolation pens, from about 10 to about 50 isolation pens, from about 100 to about 500 isolation pens; about 200 to about 1000 insulation pens, about 500 to about 1500 insulation pens, about 1000 to about 2000 insulation pens, or about 1000 to about 3500 insulation pens. The isolation pens need not all be the same size and can include multiple configurations (e.g., different widths, different features within the isolation pens).

In some other embodiments, the microfluidic device has an isolation pen configured as in any of the embodiments discussed herein, wherein the microfluidic device has from about 1500 to about 3000 isolation pens, from about 2000 to about 3500 isolation pens, from about 2500 to about 4000 isolation pens, from about 3000 to about 4500 isolation pens, from about 3500 to about 5000 isolation pens, from about 4000 to about 5500 isolation pens, from about 4500 to about 6000 isolation pens, from about 5000 to about 6500 isolation pens, from about 5500 to about 7000 isolation pens, from about 6000 to about 7500 isolation pens, from about 6500 to about 8000 isolation pens, from about 7000 to about 8500 isolation pens, from about 7500 to about 9000 isolation pens, from about 8000 to about 9500 isolation pens, from about 8500 to about 10,000 isolation pens, from about 9000 to about 10,500 isolation pens, from about 9500 to about 11000 isolation pens, from about 10,000 to about 11,500 isolation pens, from about 10,500 to about 12,000 isolation pens, from about 11,500 isolation pens, from about 11,000 to about 12,000 isolation pens, from about 11,500 isolation pens, from about 12,000 to about 12,500 isolation pens, from about 9500, About 11,500 to about 13,000 insulation pens, about 12,000 to about 13,500 insulation pens, about 12,500 to about 14,000 insulation pens, about 13,000 to about 14,500 insulation pens, about 13,500 to about 15,000 insulation pens, about 14,000 to about 15,500 insulation pens, about 14,500 to about 16,000 insulation pens, about 15,000 to about 16,500 insulation pens, about 15,500 to about 17,000 insulation pens, about 16,000 to about 17,500 insulation pens, about 16,500 to about 18,000 insulation pens, about 17,000 to about 18,500 insulation pens, about 17,500 to about 19,000 insulation pens, about 18,000 to about 19,500 insulation pens, about 18,500 to about 20,000 insulation pens, about 19,000 to about 20,500 insulation pens, about 19,500 insulation pens, about 21,000 to about 21,000 insulation pens, or about 21,500 insulation pens.

Fig. 2G shows a microfluidic device 280 according to an embodiment. The microfluidic device 280 is shown in stylized view of the microfluidic device 100 in fig. 2G. In practice, the microfluidic device 280 and its constituent circuit elements (e.g., channel 122 and isolation pens 128) will have the dimensions discussed herein. The microfluidic circuit 120 shown in fig. 2G has two ports 107 and a flow region 106 with four different channels 122. The microfluidic device 280 further includes a plurality of isolation pens opening from each channel 122. In the microfluidic device shown in fig. 2G, the isolation pens have a similar geometry to the pens shown in fig. 2C, and thus have both connecting regions and isolation regions. Thus, the microfluidic circuit 120 includes a swept area (e.g., the maximum penetration depth D of the channel 122 and the connecting region 236 at the secondary flow 244_pInner portion) and unswept areas (e.g., isolation region 240 and connecting region 236 are not at the maximum penetration depth D of the secondary flow 244_pInside ofPortion).

Fig. 3A-3B illustrate various embodiments of a system 150 that may be used to operate and view a microfluidic device (e.g., 100, 200, 230, 280, 250, 290, 320) according to the present invention. As shown in fig. 3A, the system 150 may include a structure ("nest") 300 configured to house the microfluidic device 100 (not shown) or any other microfluidic device described herein. Nest 300 can include a receptacle 302 that can interface with a microfluidic device 320 (e.g., photo-electrokinetic device 100) and provide an electrical connection from power source 192 to microfluidic device 320. Nest 300 may further include an integrated electrical signal generation subsystem 304. The electrical signal generation subsystem 304 may be configured to provide a bias voltage to the receptacle 302 such that the bias voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes in the microfluidic device 320 when the microfluidic device 320 is held by the receptacle 302. Thus, the electrical signal generation subsystem 304 may be part of the power supply 192. The ability to apply a bias voltage to the microfluidic device 320 does not mean that the bias voltage will always be applied when the microfluidic device 320 is held by the socket 302. Rather, in most cases, the bias voltage will be applied intermittently (e.g., only when needed) to facilitate the generation of electrokinetic forces (e.g., dielectrophoresis or electrowetting) in the microfluidic device 320.

As shown in fig. 3A, nest 300 may include a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) 322. The electrical signal generation subsystem 304 may be mounted on and electrically integrated into the PCBA 322. The example support also includes a socket 302 mounted on the PCBA 322.

Typically, electrical signal generation subsystem 304 will include a waveform generator (not shown). The electrical signal generation subsystem 304 can also include an oscilloscope (not shown) and/or a waveform amplification circuit (not shown) configured to amplify waveforms received from the waveform generator. The oscilloscope (if present) may be configured to measure the waveform provided to the microfluidic device 320 held by the receptacle 302. In certain embodiments, the oscilloscope measures the waveform at a location proximal to the microfluidic device 320 (and distal to the waveform generator), thereby ensuring a more accurate measurement of the waveform actually applied to the device. Data obtained from oscilloscope measurements may be provided to the waveform generator, for example, as feedbackAnd the waveform generator may be configured to adjust its output based on such feedback. An example of a suitable combined waveform generator and oscilloscope is Red Pitaya^TM。

In certain embodiments, nest 300 also includes a controller 308, such as a microprocessor for sensing and/or controlling electrical signal generation subsystem 304. Examples of suitable microprocessors include Arduino ^TMMicroprocessors, e.g. Arduino Nano^TM. The controller 308 may be used to perform functions and analyses or may communicate with an external master controller 154 (shown in FIG. 1A) to perform functions and analyses. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the controller 308 communicates with the main controller 154 via an interface 310 (e.g., a plug or connector).

In some embodiments, nest 300 may include an electrical signal generation subsystem 304, which includes Red Pitaya^TMA waveform generator/oscilloscope cell ("Red Pitaya cell") and a waveform amplification circuit that amplifies the waveform generated by the Red Pitaya cell and delivers the amplified voltage to the microfluidic device 100. In some embodiments, the Red Pitaya cell is configured to measure the amplified voltage at the microfluidic device 320 and then adjust its own output voltage as needed so that the measured voltage at the microfluidic device 320 is a desired value. In some embodiments, the waveform amplification circuit may have a +6.5V to-6.5V power supply generated by a pair of DC-DC converters mounted on the PCBA 322, producing up to 13Vpp of signals at the microfluidic device 100.

As shown in fig. 3A, the support structure 300 may further include a thermal control subsystem 306. The thermal control subsystem 306 may be configured to regulate the temperature of the microfluidic device 320 held by the support structure 300. For example, the thermal control subsystem 306 may include a Peltier thermoelectric device (not shown) and a cooling unit (not shown). The peltier thermoelectric device may have a first surface configured to interface with at least one surface of the microfluidic device 320. The cooling unit may be, for example, a cooling block (not shown), such as a liquid cooled aluminum block. A second surface (e.g., a surface opposite the first surface) of the peltier thermoelectric device may be configured to interface with a surface of such a cooling block. The cooling block can To connect to a fluid path 314, the fluid path 314 configured to circulate a cooling fluid through the cooling block. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3A, the support structure 300 includes an inlet 316 and an outlet 318 to receive cooling fluid from an external reservoir (not shown), introduce the cooling fluid into the fluid path 314 and through the cooling block, and then return the cooling fluid to the external reservoir. In some embodiments, the peltier thermoelectric device, the cooling unit, and/or the fluid path 314 may be mounted on the housing 312 of the support structure 300. In some embodiments, thermal control subsystem 306 is configured to adjust the temperature of the peltier thermoelectric device in order to achieve a target temperature for microfluidic device 320. Temperature regulation of Peltier thermoelectric devices may be achieved, for example, by such means as Pololu^TMThermoelectric power supplies (Pololu robotics and electronics). The thermal control subsystem 306 may include feedback circuitry, such as temperature values provided by analog circuitry. Alternatively, the feedback circuit may be provided by a digital circuit.

In some embodiments, nest 300 may include a thermal control subsystem 306 having a feedback circuit that is an analog voltage divider circuit (not shown) that includes a resistor (e.g., with a resistance of 1kOhm +/-0.1%, temperature coefficient +/-0.02ppm/C0) and an NTC thermistor (e.g., with a nominal resistance of 1kOhm +/-0.01%). In some cases, thermal control subsystem 306 measures the voltage from the feedback circuit and then uses the calculated temperature value as an input to an onboard PID control loop algorithm. The output from the PID control loop algorithm may drive, for example, Pololu ^TMDirectional and pulse width modulated signal pins on a motor driver (not shown) to actuate the thermoelectric power supply to control the peltier thermoelectric device.

Nest 300 may include a serial port 324 that allows the microprocessor of controller 308 to communicate with external master controller 154 via interface 310 (not shown). Additionally, the microprocessor of the controller 308 may be in communication with the electrical signal generation subsystem 304 and the thermal control subsystem 306 (e.g., via a Plink tool (not shown)). Thus, the electrical signal generation subsystem 304 and the thermal control subsystem 306 may communicate with the external master controller 154 through a combination of the controller 308, the interface 310, and the serial port 324. In this manner, the main controller 154 may assist the electrical signal generation subsystem 304 by, among other things, performing scaling calculations for output voltage adjustments. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) (not shown) provided via a display device 170 coupled to the external master controller 154 may be configured to plot the temperature and waveform data obtained from the thermal control subsystem 306 and the electrical signal generation subsystem 304, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, the GUI may allow for updating the controller 308, the thermal control subsystem 306, and the electrical signal generation subsystem 304.

As described above, the system 150 may include an imaging device 194. In some embodiments, the imaging device 194 includes a light modulation subsystem 330 (see fig. 3B). The light modulation subsystem 330 may include a Digital Mirror Device (DMD) or a micro shutter array system (MSA), either of which may be configured to receive light from the light source 332 and transmit a subset of the received light into the optical train of the microscope 350. Alternatively, light modulation subsystem 330 may include a device that generates its own light (and thus does not require light source 332), such as an organic light emitting diode display (OLED), a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) device, a ferroelectric liquid crystal silicon device (FLCOS), or a transmissive Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The light modulation subsystem 330 may be, for example, a projector. Thus, the light modulation subsystem 330 is capable of emitting both structured and unstructured light. One example of a suitable light modulation subsystem 330 is from Andor technology^TMMosaic of^TMProvided is a system. In certain embodiments, the imaging module 164 and/or the power module 162 of the system 150 may control the light modulation subsystem 330.

In certain embodiments, the imaging device 194 further comprises a microscope 350. In such an embodiment, the nest 300 and the light modulation subsystem 330 may be separately configured to be mounted on the microscope 350. The microscope 350 may be, for example, a standard research grade optical microscope or a fluorescent microscope. Thus, the nest 300 can be configured to mount on the stage 344 of the microscope 350 and/or the light modulation subsystem 330 can be configured to mount on a port of the microscope 350. In other embodiments, the nest 300 and the light modulation subsystem 330 described herein may be integral components of the microscope 350.

In certain embodiments, the microscope 350 may further include one or more detectors 348. In some embodiments, detector 348 is controlled by imaging module 164. Detector 348 may include an eyepiece, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), a camera (e.g., a digital camera), or any combination thereof. If there are at least two detectors 348, one detector may be, for example, a fast frame rate camera and the other detector may be a high sensitivity camera. Further, the microscope 350 may include an optical train configured to receive reflected and/or emitted light from the microfluidic device 320 and focus at least a portion of the reflected and/or emitted light on the one or more detectors 348. The optical train of the microscope may also include different tube lenses (not shown) for different detectors so that the final magnification on each detector may be different.

In certain embodiments, the imaging device 194 is configured to use at least two light sources. For example, a first light source 332 may be used to produce structured light (e.g., via the light modulation subsystem 330), and a second light source 334 may be used to provide unstructured light. The first light source 332 may produce structured light for photo-induced electrical and/or fluorescent excitation, and the second light source 334 may be used to provide bright field illumination. In these embodiments, the power module 164 may be used to control the first light source 332 and the imaging module 164 may be used to control the second light source 334. The optical train of the microscope 350 can be configured to (1) receive structured light from the light modulation subsystem 330 and focus the structured light on at least a first area in a microfluidic device (e.g., a photo-electrokinetic device) when the device is held by the nest 300, and (2) receive reflected and/or emitted light from the microfluidic device and focus at least a portion of such reflected and/or emitted light onto the detector 348. The optical train can also be configured to receive unstructured light from the second light source and focus the unstructured light on at least a second area of the microfluidic device when the device is held by the nest 300. In certain embodiments, the first region and the second region of the microfluidic device may be overlapping regions. For example, the first region may be a subset of the second region.

In fig. 3B, a first light source 332 is shown providing light to a light modulation subsystem 330, the light modulation subsystem 330 providing structured light to an optical train of a microscope 350 of a system 355 (not shown). The second light source 334 is shown providing unstructured light to the optical train via a beam splitter 336. The structured light from the light modulation subsystem 330 and the unstructured light from the second light source 334 travel together through the optical train from the beam splitter 336 to the second beam splitter (or dichroic filter 338, depending on the light provided by the light modulation subsystem 330), where the light is reflected down through the objective 336 to the sample plane 342. The reflected and/or emitted light from the sample plane 342 then passes back up through the objective lens 340, through the beam splitter and/or dichroic filter 338, and to the dichroic filter 346. Only a portion of the light that reaches the dichroic filter 346 passes through and reaches the detector 348.

In some embodiments, the second light source 334 emits blue light. With an appropriate dichroic filter 346, blue light reflected from the sample plane 342 can pass through the dichroic filter 346 and reach a detector 348. In contrast, the structured light from the light modulation subsystem 330 reflects from the sample plane 342, but does not pass through the dichroic filter 346. In this example, the dichroic filter 346 filters out visible light with a wavelength greater than 495 nm. This filtering of light from the light modulation subsystem 330 is only done if the light emitted from the light modulation subsystem does not include any wavelengths shorter than 495nm (as shown). In practice, if the light from the light modulation subsystem 330 includes wavelengths shorter than 495nm (e.g., blue wavelengths), some of the light from the light modulation subsystem will pass through the filter 346 to the detector 348. In such embodiments, the filter 346 is used to change the balance between the amount of light reaching the detector 348 from the first light source 332 and the second light source 334. This may be beneficial if the first light source 332 is significantly stronger than the second light source 334. In other embodiments, the second light source 334 may emit red light, and the dichroic filter 346 may filter out visible light other than red light (e.g., visible light having a wavelength shorter than 650 nm).

And (4) surface modification. The surface of a material, apparatus and/or device used to manipulate and store the biological material may have natural characteristics that are not optimized for short and/or long term contact with the material, such material may include, but is not limited to, micro-objects (including but not limited to biological micro-objects such as biological cells), biomolecules or fragments of biological micro-objects, and any combination thereof. It may be useful to modify one or more surfaces of a material, apparatus, or device to reduce one or more undesirable phenomena associated with a natural surface that contacts one or more biological materials. In other embodiments, it may be useful to enhance the surface properties of materials, devices, and/or apparatus to introduce desired characteristics into the surface, thereby expanding the handling, manipulation, or processing capabilities of the materials, devices, and/or apparatus. For this reason, there is a need for molecules that can modify surfaces to reduce undesirable properties or introduce desirable properties.

A compound for modifying a surface. In various embodiments, the surface modifying compound may include a surface modifying ligand, which may be a non-polymeric moiety, such as an alkyl moiety or a substituted alkyl moiety, such as a fluoroalkyl moiety (including but not limited to a perfluoroalkyl moiety), that covalently modifies the surface to which it is attached. The surface-modifying compound also includes a linking moiety, which is a group that covalently attaches the surface-modifying ligand to the surface, as schematically shown in equation 1. The covalently modified surface has surface-modifying ligands attached by linking groups LG that are the product of the reaction of linking moieties with surface functional groups including hydroxides, oxides, amines or sulfur.

Reaction formula 1.

In some embodiments, the surface-modifying compound can include carbon atoms that form a straight chain (e.g., a straight chain of at least 10 carbons or at least 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or more carbons) and can be an unbranched alkyl moiety. In some embodiments, the alkyl group may include a substituted alkyl group (e.g., some carbons in the alkyl group may be fluorinated or perfluorinated). In some embodiments, the alkyl group can include a first segment that is linked to a second segment, the first segment can include a perfluoroalkyl group, and the second segment can include an unsubstituted alkyl group, wherein the first segment and the second segment can be linked directly or indirectly (e.g., by way of an ether linkage). The first segment of the alkyl group can be distal to the linking group and the second segment of the alkyl group can be proximal to the linking moiety.

In various embodiments, the surface modifying compound may have the structure of formula I:

wherein the linking moiety V is-P (O) (OH) Q-or-Si (T)₂W; w is-T, -SH, or-NH₂And is a portion configured to be connected to a surface; q is-OH and is a moiety configured to attach to a surface; and T is OH, OC_1-3Alkyl or Cl. R is hydrogen or fluorine and M is hydrogen or fluorine. Each instance of h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 0 or 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 25; and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 25. In some other embodiments, (n + [ (h + j) · k ]The sum of + m) may be an integer of 11 to 25. In some embodiments, M is hydrogen. In various embodiments, m is 2. In some embodiments, k is 0. In other embodiments, k is 1. In various embodiments, j is 1. For compounds of formula I, when k is the integer 1, then M may be at least 2 and M is hydrogen. For compounds of formula I, when k is 0 and R is fluoro, then M may be at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

In various embodiments, when the surface modifying compound has the structure of formula I, linking moiety V can be-Si (T)₂W, wherein T and W are as defined above. W may be OC_1-3Alkyl or Cl. W may be methoxy, ethoxy or propoxy. In some embodiments, W may be methoxy. T may be OC_1-3Alkyl or Cl. In various embodiments, linking moiety V is-Si (OMe)₃. In various other embodiments, V may be-p (o) (OH) Q, where Q is OH.

The surface-modified compound of formula 1 may have an advantage of constituting a linear main chain of the compoundThe number of atoms is selected. As defined above, each fragment constituting the compound of formula 1 may have a range of sizes. Thus, the compound of formula 1 may have repeating units as defined above such that (n + [ (h + j) · k) ]+ m) is equal to 25, which will result in a total length of 26 atoms, including the terminal CR attached to the connecting moiety₃-a group. In (n + [ (h + j) · k)]+ m) equals 25, various different compositions may be included. For example, fragment- [ CR₂]_n-may have n-23; - [ (CH)₂)_h-(O)_j]_k-may have k ═ 0; and [ CM₂]_mAnd possibly m-2. Having the same total number of (n + [ (h + j) · k]+ m) another example equal to 25 may have a fragment- [ CR₂]_n-, where n is 6; - [ (CH2) h- (O) j)]k-wherein k is 3 and includes j 1 and h 2; and- [ CM₂]_m-may have m-4.

In some embodiments, the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) can be 11, 13, 15, 17, or 21. In other embodiments, the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) may be 15 or 17. In other embodiments, the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) may be 13 or 15.

In some embodiments, one or more ether linkages may be present in the compounds of formula I. In some embodiments, j may be 1. In some embodiments, where k and j are both 1, m may be at least 2.

In other embodiments, the backbone carbons may be fluorinated. In some embodiments, the backbone carbon may be perfluorinated, where CR is₃-and/or- [ CR₂]_n-and/or- [ CM ₂]_mEach R of (a-b) may be fluorinated. In some embodiments, a portion of the compounds may have fluorinated carbon backbone atoms and other portions of the compounds may have carbon backbone atoms substituted with hydrogen. For example, in some embodiments, CR₃-and- [ CR₂]_nThe fragment may have a fluoro non-backbone substituent (e.g., R is fluoro), and- [ CM ]]_mThe-segment may have a hydrogen non-backbone substituent (e.g., M is hydrogen). In some embodiments, when R is fluorine, then k is 0. In other embodiments, R may be fluoroAnd k is 1, j is 1 and h is 2. In various embodiments, M may be hydrogen.

In other embodiments, the compound of formula 1 may be synthesized by hydrosilation of an olefin as described below, wherein M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen. In some embodiments, M is 2 and M is hydrogen.

Some of the various compounds of formula I can be more readily seen in the subgroups of compounds described in the following formulae, but these formulae in no way limit the scope of formula I.

In some embodiments, the compound of formula I may include a compound of formula 110:

CH₃(CH₂)_mSi(OC_1-3alkyl radical)₃；

Formula 110

Wherein m is an integer from 9 to 23. In some embodiments, m may be 11, 13, 15, 17, or 19. In some other embodiments, m may be 13 or 15.

In other embodiments, the compound of formula I may include a compound of formula 111:

CF₃(CF₂)_n(CH₂)₂Si(OC_1-3alkyl radical)₃；

Formula 111

Where n may be an integer from 9 to 22. Alternatively, n may be an integer from 11 to 17. In some other embodiments, n may be 9, 11, 13, or 15. In some embodiments, n may be 13 or 15.

In other embodiments, the compound of formula I may include a compound of formula 112:

CR₃(CR₂)_n(CH2)_hO(CH₂)_mSi(OC_1-3alkyl radical)₃；

Formula 112

Wherein n is an integer from 3 to 19; h is an integer of 2 or 3; m is an integer from 2 to 18. In some embodiments, R may be fluoro. In some embodiments, n may be an integer from 3 to 11, h may be 2, and m may be an integer from 2 to 15.

Alternatively, the compound of formula I may comprise a compound of formula 113:

CR₃(CR₂)_n(CM₂)_mP(O)(OH)₂；

formula 113

Wherein n is an integer from 3 to 21; m is an integer of 2 to 21. In some embodiments of the compound of formula 113, R can be fluoro. In some embodiments, M may be hydrogen. In various embodiments, n may be 5, 7, 9, or 11. In other embodiments, m may be 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13.

For modified surfaces. The surface capable of being modified by the surface modifying compounds described herein (including compounds of formula I) may be a metal, metal oxide, glass or polymer. Some materials that may have a covalently modified surface incorporated may include, but are not limited to, silicon and its oxides, siloxanes, aluminum or its oxides (Al) ₂O₃) Indium Tantalum Oxide (ITO), titanium dioxide (TiO)₂) Zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hafnium (IV) oxide (HfO)₂) Tantalum (V) oxide (Ta)₂O₅) Or any combination thereof. The surface may be a wafer or sheet of these materials, or may be incorporated within an apparatus or device. In some embodiments, surfaces comprising any of these materials may be incorporated within a microfluidic device as described herein.

The polymer may comprise any suitable polymer. Suitable polymers may include, but are not limited to, for example, rubbers, plastics, elastomers, siloxanes, organosiloxanes, such as polydimethylsiloxane ("PDMS"), and the like, which may be breathable. Other examples may include molded glass, patternable materials, such as silicone polymers (e.g., photopatternable silicone or "PPS"), photoresists (e.g., epoxy-based photoresists such as SU 8), and the like. In other embodiments, the surface of a material, such as natural fiber or wood, can be functionalized with surface modifying compounds described herein (including compounds of formula I) to introduce a covalently modified surface.

The surface to be modified may include nucleophilic moieties including, but not limited to, hydroxides, amino groups, and thiols. Nucleophilic moieties on the surface (e.g., hydroxides (referred to as oxides in some embodiments)) can be reacted with the surface-modifying compounds described herein, including compounds of formula I, to covalently link the surface-modifying ligand to the surface via a siloxy linking group or a phosphonate linking group to provide a functionalized surface. The surface to be modified may include natural nucleophilic moieties, or may be treated with an agent (e.g., piranha solution) or by plasma treatment to introduce nucleophilic moieties (e.g., hydroxides (alternatively referred to as oxides)).

In some embodiments, the surface may be formed from any of the above materials, alone or in any combination. The surface may include a semiconductor substrate. In various embodiments, a surface comprising a semiconductor substrate can further comprise a DEP or EW substrate as described herein. In some embodiments, a surface comprising a semiconductor substrate with a DEP or EW substrate can be part of a microfluidic device as described herein.

In some embodiments, the modified surface can be at least one inward-facing surface of a microfluidic device as described herein. The at least one surface may be part of a flow region of a microfluidic device (which may comprise a channel), or may comprise a surface of an enclosed structure such as a pen (which may comprise an isolation pen as described herein).

A covalently modified surface. The covalently modified surface can include a surface modifying ligand, which can be a non-polymeric moiety, such as an alkyl moiety, a substituted alkyl moiety, such as a fluoroalkyl moiety (including but not limited to perfluoroalkyl moieties), and can be any of the surface modifying ligands described above, which is covalently bound to the surface through a linking group, which is a moiety resulting from the reaction of the linking moiety with the surface. The linking group may be a siloxy linking group or a phosphonate linking group.

In some embodiments, the surface modifying ligand may include carbon atoms that form a straight chain (e.g., a straight chain of at least 10 carbons or at least 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 or more carbons) and may be an unbranched alkyl moiety. In some embodiments, the alkyl group may include a substituted alkyl group (e.g., some carbons in the alkyl group may be fluorinated or perfluorinated). In some embodiments, the alkyl group can include a first segment joined to a second segment, the first segment can include a perfluoroalkyl group, and the second segment can include an unsubstituted alkyl group, wherein the first segment and the second segment can be joined directly or indirectly (e.g., by way of an ether linkage). The first segment of the alkyl group can be distal to the linking group and the second segment of the alkyl group can be proximal to the linking group.

A covalently modified surface of formula II. In some embodiments, the covalently modified surface has the structure of formula II:

wherein is a surface; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W is added. W is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface. Z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or to the surface. Y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface, or a bond to the surface. For the covalently modified surface of formula II, R, M, h, j, k, M and n are as defined above. When k is the integer 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen. When k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen. The covalently modified surface of formula II can be described as a surface-modifying ligand attached through a linking group LG (such as formula IIA), wherein LG is linked to the surface:

The covalently modified surface may comprise any surface of formula II in any combination, as described above with respect to the surface modifying compound of formula I.

In some embodiments, the covalently modified surface of formula II can be a surface of formula 210:

wherein

Is a surface, oxygen attached to a silicon atom is also bound to the surface, and m is an integer of 11 to 23. In some embodiments, m may be 11, 13, 15, 17, or 19. In some other embodiments, m may be 13 or 15.

In some other embodiments, the covalently modified surface of formula II can be a surface of formula 211:

wherein

Is a surface to which oxygen attached to a silicon atom is also bonded, and n may be an integer of 9 to 22. Alternatively, n may be an integer from 11 to 17. In some other embodiments, n may be 7, 9, 11, 13, or 15. In some embodiments, n may be 13 or 15.

In other embodiments, the covalently modified surface of formula II can be a surface of formula 212:

wherein

Is a surface, oxygen attached to a silicon atom is also bound to the surface, and n is an integer of 3 to 21, h is an integer of 2 or 3, and m is an integer of 2 to 21. In some embodiments, R may be fluoro. In some embodiments, n may be an integer from 3 to 11, h may be 2, and m may be an integer from 2 to 15.

Alternatively, the covalently modified surface of formula II can be a surface of formula 213:

wherein

Is a surface, oxygen attached to a phosphorus atom is also bound to the surface, n is an integer of 3 to 21, and m is an integer of 2 to 21. In some embodiments of the compound of formula 113, R can be fluoro. In some embodiments, M may be hydrogen. In various embodiments, n may be 5, 7, 9, or 11. In other embodiments, m may be 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13.

In some embodiments, the microfluidic device comprises a flow region fluidically connected to the first inlet and the first outlet, the flow region configured to accommodate a flow of a first fluidic medium. The microfluidic device may include one or more chambers that open into the flow region. The covalently modified surface may be a covalently modified substrate of the microfluidic device and may be underneath the flow region and/or the at least one chamber. In some embodiments, all or substantially all of the interior surface of the microfluidic device configured to face a fluid has a covalently modified surface of formula II.

Fig. 2H depicts a cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device 290 comprising an exemplary covalently modified surface 298. As shown, the covalently modified surface 298 (shown schematically) may comprise a monolayer of dense molecules covalently bonded to the inner surface 294 of the substrate 286 and the inner surface 292 of the cover 288 of the microfluidic device 290. The covalently modified surface 298 may be disposed on substantially all of the inner surfaces 294, 292 of the enclosure 284 proximate to and inwardly facing the microfluidic device 290, in some embodiments and as described above, including surfaces (not shown) of microfluidic circuit materials for defining circuit elements and/or structures within the microfluidic device 290. In alternative embodiments, the covalently modified surface 298 may be disposed only on one or some of the interior surfaces of the microfluidic device 290.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2H, the covalently modified surface 298 comprises a monolayer of alkyl-terminated siloxane molecules, each molecule being covalently bonded to the inner surfaces 292, 294 of the microfluidic device 290 via a silyl linker 296. For simplicity, additional silicon oxide bonds are shown linking to adjacent silicon atoms, but the invention is not so limited. In some embodiments, the covalently modified surface 298 may comprise a fluoroalkyl group (e.g., a fluorinated alkyl group or a perfluorinated alkyl group) on its end facing the capsule (i.e., the portion of the monolayer of surface modifying ligand 298 that is not bonded to the inner surfaces 292, 294 and is proximate to the capsule 284). Although fig. 2H is discussed as having an alkyl terminated modified surface, any suitable surface modifying compound may be used as described herein.

An intrinsic surface. At least one surface of the microfluidic device to be modified may be glass, metal oxide or polymer. Some materials that can be incorporated within a microfluidic device and that can be modified to have a covalently modified surface of formula II incorporated therein can include, but are not limited to, silicon and its oxides, siloxanes, aluminum or its oxides (Al)₂O₃) Indium Tantalum Oxide (ITO), titanium dioxide (TiO) ₂) Zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hafnium (IV) oxide (HfO)₂) Tantalum (V) oxide (Ta)₂O₅) Or any combination thereof. The polymer may comprise any suitable polymer. Suitable polymers may include, but are not limited to (e.g., rubber, plastic, elastomer, silicone, organo-siloxane, such as polydimethylsiloxane ("PDMS"), etc.), which may be breathable. Other examples may include molded glass, patternable materials such as silicone polymers (e.g., photo-patternable silicone or "PPS"), photoresists (e.g., epoxy-based photoresists such as SU 8), and the like.

The physical and performance characteristics of the covalently modified surface. In some embodiments, the covalently modified surface may have increased hydrophobicity. The increased hydrophobicity of the modified surface can prevent fouling of the biomaterial. As used herein, surface fouling refers to the amount of material that indiscriminately deposits on the surface of a microfluidic device, which may include permanent or semi-permanent deposition of biological materials such as proteins and degradation products, nucleic acids, and respective degradation products. Such fouling can increase the amount of adhesion of biological micro-objects to the surface. In other embodiments, the increased hydrophobic character of the covalently modified surface can reduce the adhesion of biological micro-objects to the surface, independent of adhesion caused by surface fouling.

Modification of the surface may increase the durability, functionality, and/or biocompatibility of the surface. Each of these properties may further contribute to viability (including growth rate and/or cell doubling rate), the nature of colonies formed on covalently modified surfaces (including surfaces having the structure of formula II) as described herein, or the portability (including the feasibility of export) of micro-objects or biomolecules on modified surfaces and within devices and/or apparatus having covalently modified surfaces.

In some embodiments, the covalently modified surface (which can be any surface described herein, including a surface of formula II) can have a thickness of less than 10nm (e.g., less than about 7nm, less than about 5nm, or about 1.5 to 3.0 nm). This may provide an advantageous thin layer on the modified surface, in particular with other hydrophobic materials (e.g. spin-coated perfluorotetrahydrofuran polymers) forming typical thicknesses of about 30 to 50nm

) And (4) comparing. The data shown in table 1 are for silicon/silica surfaces treated to have covalently modified surfaces as shown in the table. Contact angle measurements were obtained using the static drop method. (Drelich, J.colloid Interface Sci.179, 37-50, 1996.) thickness was measured by ellipsometry.

Contact angle hysteresis measurements were performed using a Biolin Scientific contact angle goniometer. The chemically modified OEW surface was placed in a pool of 5cSt silicone oil contained in a transparent container. A drop of Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) was then dispensed onto the surface in the oil. A platinum (Pt) wire electrode was inserted into the droplet and the sessile water contact angle was measured. Next, an AC voltage of 50Vppk was applied at a frequency of 30kHz for 10 seconds between the OEW substrate and the Pt wire inserted into the PBS droplet. Subsequently, the applied voltage was removed, and the contact angle was measured again. The contact angle hysteresis was calculated by subtracting the contact angle at zero bias after applying the 50Vppk AC voltage from the original contact angle at zero bias before applying the voltage.

TABLE 1 physical data of selected surfaces

T and Q are as described above.

The observed contact angle of the modified surface is opposite to the contact angle of less than 10 degrees of water on the plasma cleaned silicon surface. Each of these surfaces is less wettable than the native silicon/silica surface.

Other analytical methods suitable for characterizing a surface may include infrared spectroscopy and/or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Another desirable characteristic of the modified surfaces of the present invention is the lack of autofluorescence, which may depend on the chemical nature of the surface modifying compound.

In some embodiments, the covalently modified surfaces described herein (including surfaces of formula II) can form a monolayer. The uniformity and homogeneity of the monolayer-modified surface can provide advantageous properties, particularly where the monolayer-modified surface has other functional attributes. For example, the covalently modified surfaces described herein (including surfaces of formula II) can also include electrode-activated substrates, and optionally can also include dielectric layers, as can be found in materials, devices, and/or apparatus having dielectrophoretic or electrowetting configurations. The lack of unsaturation in the perfluoroalkyl portion of the modified surface can minimize "charge trapping" as compared to monolayers containing, for example, olefin or aromatic moieties. Furthermore, the densely packed nature of the monolayers formed in the surfaces described herein (including surfaces of formula II) can minimize the likelihood that cations will be driven through the monolayer to the underlying metal, metal oxide, glass, or polymer substrate. Without being limited by theory, damaging the surface of the substrate by adding cations to the substrate composition may destroy the electrical properties of the substrate, thereby reducing its ability to function electrokinetically.

Furthermore, the ability to introduce a modified surface through covalent linkage can increase the dielectric strength of the modified surface and protect the underlying material from breakdown upon application of an electric field. The uniformity and thinness of dielectrophoretic or electrowetting surfaces of materials, devices and/or apparatus having covalently modified surfaces (including surfaces of formula II) described herein may further provide the advantageous benefits of such modified dielectrophoretic and/or electrowetting surfaces where the materials, devices and/or apparatus are optically actuated.

A method for preparing a covalently modified surface. The surface of a material that may be used as a component of a device or apparatus may be modified prior to assembly of the device or apparatus. Alternatively, a partially or fully constructed device or apparatus may be modified such that all surfaces that will contact biological material including biomolecules and/or micro-objects (which may include biological micro-objects) are modified simultaneously. In some embodiments, the entire interior of the device and/or apparatus may be modified even if different materials are present at different surfaces within the device and/or apparatus. In some embodiments, a partially or fully constructed device and/or apparatus may be a microfluidic device as described herein or a component thereof.

The surface to be modified may be washed prior to modification to ensure that the nucleophilic moieties on the surface are free to be available for reaction, e.g., not covered by oil or adhesive. Cleaning may be accomplished by any suitable method, including treatment with solvents including alcohol or acetone, sonication, steam cleaning, and the like. In some embodiments, the surface to be modified is treated with an oxygen plasma treatment that removes contaminants, which can simultaneously introduce additional oxide (e.g., hydroxide) moieties on the surface. This may advantageously provide more sites for modification on the surface, thereby providing a more tightly packed modified surface layer.

The surface to be modified may be washed prior to modification to ensure that the nucleophilic moieties on the surface are free to be available for reaction, e.g., not covered by oil or adhesive. Cleaning may be accomplished by any suitable method, including treatment with solvents including alcohol or acetone, sonication, steam cleaning, and the like. In some embodiments, the surface to be modified is treated with an oxygen plasma treatment that removes contaminants, which can simultaneously introduce additional oxide (e.g., hydroxide) moieties on the surface. This may advantageously provide more sites for modification on the surface, thereby providing a more tightly packed modified surface layer.

In some embodiments, the method of covalently modifying a surface comprises the steps of: contacting a surface with a compound of formula I:

wherein V is-P (O) (OH) Q or-Si (T)₂W is added. W is-T, -SH or-NH₂And is a portion configured to be connected to a surface. Alternatively, when V is-p (o) (OH) Q, Q is-OH and is a moiety configured to be attached to a surface. T is OH, OC_1-3Alkyl or Cl. Each of R, M, h, j, k, M and n is as defined above for the compound of formula I. (n + [ (h + j) · k) ]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25. In various embodiments, when k is the integer 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen. Reacting a compound of formula I with a nucleophilic moiety of a surface; and form a covalently modified surface. Any combination or subcombination of the compounds of formula I may be used, as described above.

In various embodiments of the method, the covalently modified surface so formed may be a monolayer.

In some embodiments of this method, the compound of formula I may be a compound of formula 110:

CH₃(CH₂)_mSi(OC_1-3alkyl radical)₃；

Formula 110

Wherein m is an integer from 9 to 23. In some embodiments, m may be 11, 13, 15, 17, or 19. In some other embodiments, m may be 13 or 15.

In other embodiments of the method, the compound of formula I may be a compound of formula 111:

CF₃(CF₂)_n(CH₂)₂Si(OC_1-3alkyl radical)₃；

Formula 111

Wherein n is an integer from 9 to 22. Alternatively, n may be an integer from 11 to 17. In other embodiments, n may be an integer from 11 to 17. In some other embodiments, n may be 9, 11, 13, or 15. In some embodiments, n may be 13 or 15.

In other embodiments of the method, the compound of formula I may be a compound of formula 112:

CR₃(CR₂)_n(CH2)_hO(CH₂)_mSi(OC_1-3Alkyl radical)₃；

Formula 112

Wherein n is an integer from 3 to 21; h is an integer of 2 or 3; m is an integer of 2 to 21. In some embodiments, R may be fluoro. In some embodiments, n may be an integer from 3 to 11, h may be 2, and m may be an integer from 2 to 15.

Alternatively, the surface may be contacted with a compound of formula I, which may be a compound of formula 113:

CR₃(CR₂)_n(CM₂)_mP(O)(OH)₂；

formula 113

Wherein n is an integer from 3 to 21; m is an integer of 2 to 21. In some embodiments of the compound of formula 113, R can be fluoro. In some embodiments, M may be hydrogen. In various embodiments, n may be 5, 7, 9, or 11. In other embodiments, m may be 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13.

The contacting step may be carried out by contacting the surface with a liquid solution containing the compound of formula I. For example, the surface may be exposed to a solution containing 0.01mM, 0.1mM, 0.5mM, 1mM, 10mM, or 100mM of a compound of formula I. The reaction may be carried out at ambient temperature and may be carried out for a period of time of about 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, or any value therebetween. Examples of solvents include, but are not limited to: toluene, 1, 3-trifluorobenzene or Fluorinert^TM(3M) a fluorinated solvent. If present, an acid such as acetic acid may be added to the solution to The reaction rate is increased by promoting hydrolysis of the trialkoxy groups.

Alternatively, the surface may be contacted with a gas phase comprising a compound of formula I. In some embodiments, when the reacting step is carried out by contacting the surface with a compound of formula I in the gas phase, a controlled amount of water vapor is also present. The controlled amount of water vapor may be provided by placing a preselected amount of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate in the same chamber or enclosure as the object having the surface to be modified. In other embodiments, a controlled amount of water may be introduced into the reaction chamber or enclosure by an external water vapor supply. The reaction may be carried out under reduced pressure relative to atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, the reduced pressure may be 100 torr or less. In other embodiments, the reduced pressure may be less than 10 torr or less than 1 torr.

The reaction may be carried out at a temperature of about 150 ℃ to about 200 ℃. In various embodiments, the reaction can be performed at a temperature of about 150 ℃, 155 ℃, 160 ℃, 165 ℃, 170 ℃, 175 ℃, 180 ℃, 185 ℃, or about 190 ℃. The reaction may be allowed to continue for about 2h, 6h, 8h, 18h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 84h or longer.

In some embodiments, the covalently modified surface can have a structure of formula II:

Wherein R, M, n, h, j, k, M and V are as described above, in any combination. In some embodiments of the method, the covalently modified surface can have formulas 210, 211, 212, or 213 as described above, with any combination of permissible elements for each formula.

In various embodiments of the method, the surface may include nucleophilic moieties selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, amino, and thiol. The surface may be a metal, metal oxide, glass, polymer, or any combination thereof. The metal surface may comprise silicon, silicon oxide, hafnium oxide, indium tantalum oxide, aluminum oxide, or any combination thereof.

In various embodiments of the method, the step in which the covalently modified surface is formed can be performed on a DEP substrate or an EW substrate. The step of forming a covalently modified surface may comprise forming a covalently modified surface on at least one surface of a microfluidic circuit element of a microfluidic device. The microfluidic circuit elements can include walls, flow regions, fences, and electrode activation substrates, including DEP or EW substrates. The surface within the microfluidic circuit that may be covalently modified may be all or substantially all of the surface facing the fluid-carrying portion of the microfluidic device. For example, in the microfluidic devices 200, 230, all of the inner surfaces of the top electrode 210, the upper surface of the electrode activation substrate 206, the surface of the microfluidic circuit material 116 facing the microfluidic channel 122 and the pens 244, 246, 248 (see fig. 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B) can be modified. Similarly, in fig. 2D-2F, the inner surface of microfluidic circuit material 260, the surface of isolation structure 272 defining isolation fence 266, or all surfaces facing microfluidic circuit 262 can be covalently modified by the methods described herein.

Immiscible medium. The movement of the aqueous droplets on the surface of the substrate may be performed within a water-immiscible fluid medium regionally distributed within one or more flow regions (which may include flow channels) and within a chamber (if present) fluidly connected to the flow regions. The water-immiscible fluid medium may have a kinematic viscosity greater than that of pure water droplets. The water-immiscible fluid medium may have a kinematic viscosity in the range of about 1 centistokes (cSt) to about 15cSt, where 1cSt equals 1 millipascal or 1 Centipoise (CPS). In some embodiments, the water-immiscible fluid medium may have a viscosity in a range from about 3cSt to about 10cSt, or from about 3cSt to about 8 cSt. The water-immiscible fluid medium may be non-flammable at a temperature of at least 100 ℃. The water-immiscible fluid medium may be non-toxic to living biological cells during the time period in which the biological cells are processed, cultured, or stored in the aqueous droplets within the water-immiscible fluid medium.

The water-immiscible fluid medium may have a low or very small solubility in water. The water-immiscible fluid medium may dissolve less than about 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or less than 1% of its total water volume when in contact with the water layer (e.g., separated by water). The water-immiscible fluid medium may not dissolve more than about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, or about 30% of the volume of the aqueous droplets present in the water-immiscible fluid medium at a temperature in the range of about 25 ℃ to about 38 ℃. In some embodiments, the water-immiscible fluid medium dissolves less than about 20% of the volume of the aqueous droplets present within the water-immiscible fluid medium.

The water-immiscible fluid medium may comprise at least one organic or organosilicon compound having a backbone structure comprising atoms selected from carbon, silicon and oxygen. In some embodiments, the water-immiscible fluid medium may include more than one organo/organosilicon compound, wherein the more than one compound is a polymeric organo/organosilicon compound having a molecular weight range of polymer compound subunits. For example, the polymeric organo/organosilicon compound can have two different subunits (e.g., copolymers) that make up the polymer, and each of the two different subunits can be present within a repeat range having the general formula AaBb, where a and B are the two different polymeric subunits and a and B are the number of repeats per subunit. The number of repetitions a and b may not be a single integer but may be a range of repeating units.

In other embodiments, the water-immiscible fluid medium comprising more than one organic/organosilicon compound may comprise a mixture of organic compounds, a mixture of organosilicon compounds, or any combination thereof. The water-immiscible fluid medium may comprise any suitable mixture of compounds having different chemical structures and/or molecular weights that will provide suitable properties.

The compounds of the water-immiscible fluid medium may have a molecular weight of less than about 1000Da, about 700Da, about 500Da or about 350 Da. In other embodiments, the compounds of the water-immiscible medium may have a molecular weight higher than about 1000Da and still provide suitable performance.

In various embodiments, the organo/organo silicon compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may have a backbone structure in which the atoms making up the backbone are carbon, silicon or oxygen. Substituents for the backbone carbons may be hydrogen or fluorine. In some embodiments, the water-immiscible fluid medium may include one or more organosilicon compounds, wherein the backbone of the organosilicon compounds may include silicon and oxygen atoms. The silicon atom of the organosilicon compound may have a carbon substituent, which in turn may have a hydrogen or fluorine substituent. In some embodiments, the carbon substituents of the organosilicon compound may all be fluorine (e.g., perfluorinated). In other embodiments, the carbon substituents of the organosilicon compounds may be partially fluorinated. In various embodiments, substituents for carbon atoms of the organosilicon compound can be no more than about 90% fluorine, 80% fluorine, 70% fluorine, 60% fluorine, 50% fluorine, 40% fluorine, 30% fluorine, 20% fluorine, or less.

In other embodiments, the organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may have a backbone structure in which the atoms making up the backbone are carbon or oxygen. In some embodiments, the substituent for the backbone carbon may be hydrogen or fluorine. In other embodiments, substituents of backbone carbons may include oxygen-containing moieties, such as ether, carbonyl, or carbonate components. In some embodiments, the organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may have an all-carbon backbone structure. In some embodiments, the all-carbon backbone structure of the organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may have all fluorine substituents on carbon atoms (e.g., perfluorinated). In other embodiments, the substituents of the organic compound may be partially fluorinated (e.g., not perfluorinated). In various embodiments, substituents comprising carbon atoms of organic compounds of compounds having an all-carbon backbone can be no more than about 90% fluorine, 80% fluorine, 70% fluorine, 60% fluorine, 50% fluorine, 40% fluorine, or less. In some embodiments, suitable organic compounds of the water-immiscible fluid medium may include or may be monofluoro substituted hydrocarbons such as 1-fluorooctane, 1-fluorodecane, 1-fluorododecane, or 1-fluorotetradecane.

In other embodiments, the organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may not have fluorine substituents on carbon, but may have hydrogen substituents. In some embodiments, the organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may have unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, such as olefinic groups within or at terminal positions of the backbone carbon.

In some embodiments, selecting an appropriate compound to be included in the water-immiscible fluid medium will include considering other properties of the compound. In various embodiments, compounds suitable for use within the water-immiscible fluid medium do not autofluoresce when illuminated by a laser, structured light projected into a microfluidic device, or daylight/laboratory illumination.

In other embodiments, the nature of the covalently modified hydrophobic surface may influence the selection of suitable compounds for use in the water-immiscible fluid medium. For example, the covalently modified surface may be sufficiently hydrophobic such that water droplets within the perfluorinated water-immiscible fluid medium may exhibit a sufficiently high surface tension such that the water droplets cannot move using the electro-optical wetting configuration as described herein.

In some other embodiments, the properties of the microfluidic circuit material may influence the selection of suitable compounds for use within the water-immiscible fluid medium. Swelling of the loop material by the water-immiscible fluid medium may be kept within acceptable limits. For example, in some embodiments, if the microfluidic circuit material includes SU8 or a photo-patternable aryl-substituted organosiloxane, a linear hydrocarbon, linear fluorocarbon, or carbon backbone compound including cyclic, aryl, or heteroaryl groups may be selected for use.

In other embodiments, the microfluidic circuit material may include other materials, such as photo-patternable organosiloxanes that do not contain aryl substituents, and swelling may be limited to acceptable limits by using different compounds in the water-immiscible fluid medium. For example, less than about 40%, 30%, 20%, or 10% swelling may be acceptable compared to prior exposure to the water-immiscible fluid medium. However, in some embodiments, compounds that cause swelling within the water-immiscible fluid medium may still be selected.

In some embodiments, the compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium may be an organic compound having a backbone containing carbon or oxygen atoms. In some embodiments, the organic compound can have a backbone containing carbon atoms and no oxygen atoms, and further wherein the carbon atom backbone is branched. In various embodiments, the branched carbon atom backbone of the organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium is acyclic. The organic compound of the water-immiscible fluid medium having a branched carbon backbone may further be free of any cyclized moiety.

While the above selection criteria may be used to select one or more compounds to be included in the water-immiscible fluid medium and eliminate compounds that do not provide acceptable performance, an acceptable water-immiscible fluid medium may be a multi-component mixture and may include certain portions of individual organic or organosilicon compounds that do not provide acceptable performance when used as the sole component of the water-immiscible fluid medium. For example, when used alone, the components may be too highly fluorinated or may unacceptably swell the microfluidic circuit material, but may be used in combination with other organic or organosilicon compounds to form the water-immiscible fluid medium.

Some suitable organic compounds for use in the water-immiscible fluid medium, alone or in any kind of combination, may include: isohexadecane, 2- (trifluoromethyl) -3-ethoxydodecafluorohexane (HFE-7500,3MTM, NovecTM), Heptamethylnonane (HMN), di (2-ethylhexyl) carbonate (TEGOSOFT DEC, (Evonik)) and (tridecafluoro-1, 1,2, 2-tetrahydrooctyl) tetramethyldisiloxane (Gelest, Cat # SIB 1816.0) or silicone oil (5 centistoke viscosity, Gelest Cat # DMS-T05).

Aqueous droplets. The aqueous droplets may contain one or more micro-objects, which may comprise biological cells or beads. The aqueous droplets may contain biological products that may include nucleic acids or proteins. In some other embodiments, the aqueous droplets may contain reagents for the assay, which may be any kind of reagents, such as enzymes, antibodies, fluorescently labeled probes, or chemical reagents.

In some embodiments, the aqueous droplets may also comprise a surfactant. Surfactants can increase the portability of aqueous droplets within the water-immiscible fluid medium. In some embodiments, suitable surfactants may include nonionic surfactantsA sex agent. In various embodiments, the surfactant can be, but is not limited to

Block oxyalkylene copolymers including F68(ThermoFisher Cat. # 2400032); fatty acid ester ethoxysorbitan, e.g.

(Signa Aldrich Cat. # PI 379) or

(Sigma Aldrich P1629); 2,4,7,9 tetramethyl-5-decyne-4, 7-diol ethoxylate (TET, Sigma Aldrich Cat # 9014-85-1); ethoxylated nonionic fluorosurfactants, e.g.

FS-30(DuPont TM, Synquest Laboratories Cat. # 2108-3-38). In some embodiments, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) may be used as the surfactant. In various embodiments, Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) may be used as the surfactant. The surfactant may be added to the aqueous droplets at about 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, about 25% v/v or any range of values therebetween.

Provided is a system. The present invention provides systems for the delivery of micro-objects, biological products and/or agents that are compatible with and/or soluble in aqueous media. The system can include, for example, any of the microfluidic devices disclosed herein (e.g., a microfluidic device having an enclosure comprising a base and a microfluidic circuit structure, wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic monolayer covalently bound to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base). In addition, the system includes a fluid medium and aqueous droplets, where the fluid medium and aqueous droplets are immiscible fluids. The fluid medium can be any immiscible medium described herein, and the aqueous droplets can comprise any biological material and/or chemical reagent described herein (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids, detergents, surfactants, etc.).

A kit. The invention also provides kits suitable for the delivery of micro-objects, biological products and/or reagents that are compatible with and/or soluble in aqueous media. The kit can comprise any of the microfluidic devices disclosed herein (e.g., a microfluidic device having an enclosure comprising a base and a microfluidic circuit structure, wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic monolayer covalently bound to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base). The kit may further comprise a fluid medium immiscible with the aqueous medium and other useful reagents (e.g., surfactants, etc.).

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device of the present invention (such as apparatus 400) may be fabricated by: (i) bonding the spacing element 108 to an inner surface 428 of the cover 110, the cover 110 having at least one electrode configured to be connected to an AC voltage source (not shown) (ii) bonding the spacing element 108 (and associated cover 110) to a dielectric surface 414 of the substrate 104, the substrate 104 having at least one electrode 418 configured to be connected to an AC voltage source (not shown), whereby the spacing element 108 becomes sandwiched between the inner surface 428 of the cover 110 and the dielectric surface 414 of the substrate 104, wherein the cover 110 and the substrate 104 are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and the substrate 104, the spacing element 108 and the cover 110 collectively define an enclosure 435 configured to contain a liquid, and (iii) forming an outer hydrophobic layer 412 on at least a portion of the inner surface 428 of the cover 110 and forming the outer hydrophobic layer 412 on at least a portion of the inner dielectric layer 414 of the substrate 104 by vapor deposition.

Hydrophobic layers 422 and 412 may achieve a densely packed monolayer by vapor deposition of amphiphilic molecules that covalently bond to molecules of inner dielectric surface 414 of base 104 and inner surface 428 of cover 110, respectively. Any of the self-associating molecules described herein and equivalents thereof can be vapor deposited on the interior surface of the microfluidic device. To achieve a desired bulk density, self-associating molecules comprising, for example, alkyl-terminated siloxanes, can be vapor deposited at a temperature of at least 110 ℃ (e.g., at least 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, etc.) for a period of at least 15 hours (e.g., at least 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or more hours). Such vapor deposition is typically carried out under vacuum and over a water source such as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (i.e., MgSO)₄·7H₂O) in the presence of oxygen. Typically, increasing the temperature and duration of the vapor deposition produces improved characteristics of the hydrophobic layers 422 and 412. For example, by pre-cleaning the cover 110 (with the spacing elements 108) and the substrate 104, the vapor deposition process may be improved. For example, such pre-cleaning may include a solvent bath, such as an acetone bath, an ethanol bath, or a combination thereof. The solvent bath may include sonication. Alternatively or additionally, such pre-cleaning may include treating the cover 110 (with the spacing elements 108) and the substrate 104 in an oxygen plasma cleaner. The oxygen plasma cleaner may be operated, for example, at 100W under vacuum for 60 seconds.

Fig. 6 shows an example of a microfluidic device 600, the microfluidic device 600 comprising an enclosure having microfluidic channels 612, 614 and a plurality of chambers 616, and a droplet generator 606 for providing fluid droplets 620 to the enclosure. Microfluidic channel 614 is configured to hold a first fluidic medium 624. Typically, the first fluid medium is a hydrophobic fluid, such as an oil (e.g. silicone oil or fluorinated oil). Microfluidic channel 614 is connected to droplet generator 606 via interface 608, interface 608 allowing channel 614 to receive droplets 620 generated by droplet generator 606. The received droplets 620 comprise a liquid that is immiscible in the first fluid medium 624. Typically, the received droplets will comprise an aqueous medium, which may contain micro-objects such as cells or beads or reagents that are soluble in the aqueous medium. Microfluidic channel 614 is also connected to each of the plurality of chambers 616, facilitating the entry of received droplets 620 (and droplets 632 drawn from a reservoir of fluid immiscible in first fluid medium 624) into chambers 616 and movement between chambers 616.

Microfluidic channels 612 of device 600 are connected to a subset of chambers 616, and thus are indirectly connected to microfluidic channels 614 via these chambers 616. As shown, microfluidic channel 612 and chamber 616 connected thereto contain a fluid medium 622 that is immiscible in a first fluid medium 624. Thus, for example, fluid medium 622 may be an aqueous medium, such as a cell culture medium. When fluid medium 622 is cell culture medium, chamber 616 containing the culture medium may serve as a culture chamber for growing cells, and microfluidic channel 612 may be a perfusion channel that provides a flow of fresh medium. As discussed herein, the flow of fresh medium in the perfusion channel can provide nutrients to and remove waste from the chamber by molecular diffusion between the perfusion channel and the culture chamber, thereby promoting continued cell growth.

Fig. 7 shows another example of a microfluidic device 700 that includes an enclosure having microfluidic channels 612, 614, a first plurality of chambers 716 and a second plurality of chambers 616, and a droplet generator 606 for providing fluid droplets 620 to the enclosure. Fig. 7 shows a variant of the microfluidic device 600 shown in fig. 6, in which the chambers 616 contain a medium 622 immiscible in a first fluidic medium 624 (located in the microfluidic channels 614), and the chambers 616 are located directly opposite the corresponding chambers 716 across the microfluidic channels 614. This configuration facilitates movement of fluid droplets 632 (optionally containing micro-objects 630 or biological material) from the selection chamber 616 to the corresponding chamber 716 where the fluid droplets (and any micro-objects 630 or biological material) may be processed.

Another example of a microfluidic device includes an enclosure having microfluidic channels 612, 614, a first plurality of chambers 716 and a second plurality of chambers 616, and a droplet generator 606 for providing fluid droplets 620 to the enclosure. This embodiment presents a variation of the microfluidic device 700 shown in fig. 7, in which the chamber 616 is tapered at one end to facilitate movement of microparticles to the interface of the first and second fluid media 624, 622 when the microfluidic device is tilted such that the tapered end of the chamber 616 has a lower potential energy (in the applicable gravitational field) relative to the non-tapered end.

The microfluidic circuit formed by microfluidic channels 612, 614 and chambers 616, 716 is merely an example, and many other configurations of channels and chambers are contemplated by the present invention. For example, in each of devices 600 and 700, microfluidic channel 612 and chamber 616 directly connected to channel 612 are optional features. Thus, devices 600 and 700 may lack perfusion channels and culture chambers.

In embodiments where microfluidic channel 612 is present, the substrate that helps define channel 612 and/or directly connected chambers 616 (e.g., by forming the base of the channel and/or chambers) may have an electrowetting configuration. Alternatively, however, the substrate that helps define the channel 612 and/or directly connected chamber 616 may lack an electrowetting configuration (e.g., and instead may have a DEP configuration, or neither). In embodiments where microfluidic channel 612 is present and the substrate that helps define channel 612 and/or directly connected chambers 616 has an electrowetting configuration, the outer hydrophobic surface of the substrate may be patterned to be more hydrophilic than the outer hydrophobic surface of the substrate that helps define channels 614. For example, as described above, increased hydrophilicity can be achieved.

The droplet generator 606 and any microfluidic circuit to which droplets are provided may be part of (or an integral part of or connected to) a microfluidic device, which may be like any microfluidic device shown in the figures or described herein. Although one droplet generator 606 is shown in fig. 6 and 7, more than one such droplet generator 606 may provide droplets to the microfluidic circuits of devices 600 and 700. The drop generator 606 itself may comprise an electrowetting configuration, and thus may comprise: a substrate having a photoresponsive layer, which may include a-Si: h (e.g., as shown in U.S. patent No. 6,958,132); a photo-driven circuit substrate (e.g., as shown in U.S. patent application publication No. 2014/0124370)); a phototransistor-based substrate (e.g., as shown in U.S. patent No. 7,956,339); or an electrically actuated circuit substrate (e.g., as shown in U.S. patent No. 8,685,344). Alternatively, the drop generator may have a T-shaped or Y-shaped hydrodynamic structure (e.g., as shown in U.S. patent and patent application publications nos. 7,708,949, 7,041,481 (reissue as RE41,780), 2008/0014589, 2008/0003142, 2010/0137163, and 2010/0172803). All of the above U.S. patent documents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

As shown, the drop generator 606 can include one or more fluid inputs 602 and 604 (two are shown, but there can be fewer or more) and a fluid output 208, which can be connected to a microfluidic channel 614. Liquid media 622, 624, biological micro-objects 630, reagents and/or other biological media may be loaded into droplet generator 606 through inputs 602 and 604. Droplet generator 606 can generate and output droplets 620 of liquid medium 622 (which may, but need not, contain one or more biological micro-objects 630), reagent, or other biological medium into channel 614. If channel 614 has an electrowetting configuration, electrowetting (or opto-electrowetting) may be used to move droplet 620 in channel 614. Alternatively, the droplet 620 may be moved in the channel 614 by other means. For example, droplet 620 may be moved in channel 614 using fluid flow, gravity, or the like.

As described above, microfluidic channel 614 and selection chamber 616/716 may be filled with first fluid medium 624, and microfluidic channel 612 and chamber 616 directly connected thereto may be filled with second fluid medium 622. The second fluid medium 622 (hereinafter "aqueous medium") may be an aqueous medium, such as a sample medium for maintaining, culturing, etc., a biological microorganism 630. The first fluid medium 624 (hereinafter "immiscible medium") may be a medium that is immiscible with the aqueous medium 622. Examples of the aqueous medium 622 and immiscible medium 624 include any of the examples discussed above with respect to the various media.

The droplet generator 606 can be used to load biological micro-objects and/or facilitate the running of biochemical and/or molecular biological workflows on a microfluidic device. Non-limiting examples are shown in fig. 6 and 7. By using a droplet generator, the device can have an electrowetting configuration throughout the fluidic circuit.

Fig. 6 and 7 show examples in which droplet generator 606 generates droplets 620 containing reagents (or other biological materials). A droplet 620 containing reagent may move through microfluidic channel 14 and into one of chambers 616/716 containing immiscible medium 624. One or more micro-objects 630 in one or more droplets 632 can be moved into the same chamber 616/716 before or after moving a droplet 620 containing reagents into one of the chambers 616/716. The droplet 620 containing the reagent may then be merged with the droplet 632 containing the micro-objects 630 such that the reagent of the droplet 620 mixes with the contents of the droplet 632 and chemically reacts. As shown in fig. 6 and 7, one or more micro-object containing droplets 632 can be supplied by droplet generator 606 (not shown) or can be obtained from holding pen 616. Micro-objects 630 may be biological micro-objects, such as cells, that have optionally been cultured (e.g., in chamber 616) prior to moving to processing chamber 616/716. Alternatively, the micro-objects 630 may be beads, such as affinity beads capable of binding molecules of interest in the sample (e.g., cellular secretions present in the sample material 622 after the sample material 622 has been used to culture one or more biological cells). In other alternatives, one or more droplets 632 may not contain micro-objects, but only aqueous media, such as sample material 622, e.g., which contains cellular secretions after sample material 622 has been used to culture one or more biological cells.

Fig. 8 shows an example of a process 800 that may be performed in a microfluidic device including a microfluidic circuit as in any of the apparatuses 600 and 700.

In step 802 of process 800, a biological micro-object can be cultured in a holding pen filled with a sample medium (e.g., cell culture medium). For example, the micro-object 630 of fig. 6 or 7 may be biological and may be cultured in its chamber 616. The culture can be usually carried out as described above. For example, culturing may include perfusing channel 612 with culture medium 622. Step 802 may be performed within a specified time period.

At step 804, the cultured biological micro-objects may be moved from the sample media filled chamber 616 to chamber 616/671 where the sample media immiscible medium is filled, wherein the biological micro-objects are cultured in the sample media filled chamber 616. For example, as described above, cultured micro-objects 630 can move from one holding pen 616 to one holding pen 616/716 in a droplet 620 or 632 of sample media 622, as shown in fig. 6 and 7.

At step 806, the cultured biological micro-objects can be subjected to one or more treatments or processes in an immiscible-medium-filled holding pen. For example, one or more droplets 620 containing one or more reagents can be generated by the droplet generator 606, moved into the immiscible medium-filled chamber 612/716, and merged with droplets 632 containing cultured biological micro-objects 630, as shown in fig. 6 and 7 and discussed above. For example, the first reagent-containing droplet 620 may contain a lysing agent. The combination of the droplet 632 containing the cultured biological micro-objects 630 and the first reagent-containing droplet 620 containing the lysing agent will result in lysis of the cultured biological micro-objects 630. In other words, a composite droplet (not shown) will be formed that contains cell lysate from the cultured biological micro-objects 630. Droplets 620 containing additional (e.g., second, third, fourth, etc.) reagents can then be combined with new droplets containing cell lysate to further process the cell lysate as desired.

Additionally or as another example, one or more droplets containing one or more labeled capture micro-objects (not shown) having an affinity for the secretion or substance(s) (e.g., nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA, proteins, metabolites, or other biomolecules) of interest produced by the cultured biological micro-objects 630 can be produced by the droplet generator 606 and moved into the immiscible-medium-filled pens 616 or 716 and combined in a similar manner with the droplets of sample medium 622 containing the cultured biological micro-objects 630. Where the cultured biological micro-objects 630 have been lysed, the droplets 620 comprising the capture micro-objects may comprise one or more affinity beads (e.g., having affinity for nucleic acids such as DNA, RNA, microrna, etc.) that, when combined with the droplets containing cell lysate in the holding pens 616 or 716, may bind to the target molecules present in the lysate.

At step 808, the treated biological micro-objects may optionally be processed. For example, if at step 806, a capture object (not shown) is moved with the cultured biological micro-objects 630 into the immiscible medium-filled chamber 616/716, chamber 616/716 can be monitored at step 808 for a reaction (e.g., a fluorescent signal) indicative of the amount of material of interest bound to the labeled capture micro-objects. Alternatively, such captured micro-objects (not shown) may be removed from chamber 616/716 (e.g., in droplet 622) and output from a microfluidic device (not shown in fig. 6 and 7) for subsequent analysis. As yet another example, the treated biological micro-objects 630 may be removed from the chamber 616/716 (e.g., in droplets 632) and output from a microfluidic device (not shown) for subsequent analysis.

Fig. 9 outlines a method for forming a substrate for a microfluidic device comprising an electrowetting configuration and a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration. For example, the method depicted in fig. 9 may be used to form a monolithic substrate of the type shown in the microfluidic device of fig. 5. Fig. 10-18 depict cross-sectional views of intermediate structures formed after performing various steps in the method of fig. 9. A substrate having a DEP configuration comprising an array of phototransistors is the starting point in fig. 10-18. Of course, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the starting substrate is not limited to a substrate having a DEP configuration of an array of phototransistors, but may be applied to other types of substrates, such as substrates comprising an amorphous silicon layer or an array of electrically actuated electrodes. Further, the steps in the method of fig. 9 may be used alone and/or in other combinations to produce other types of microfluidic devices having conductive substrates, including other microfluidic devices already described herein.

Step 902 in the method of fig. 9 includes preparing an initial substrate for further processing. As shown in vertical cross-section in fig. 10, an initial substrate 1000 comprises a highly doped layer of conductive silicon 1010 on which a phototransistor array 1020 has been formed. The step of preparing the substrate 1000 may include a thermal annealing process. The process of step 902 may prepare the surface of the substrate 1000 to ensure proper bonding of materials subsequently deposited on the substrate 1000.

Step 904 in the method of fig. 9 includes depositing a selective resist material on the top surface of the initial substrate. As shown in vertical cross-section in fig. 11, a layer of conditional resist material 1130 is deposited on the top surface of the substrate 1000 so that it covers the surfaces of the phototransistors 1020 in the array. In some embodiments, the conditional resist material 1130 may be a nitride.

Step 906 in the method of fig. 9 includes applying a first pattern to the conditional resist material deposited on the substrate during step 904. As shown in fig. 12, this pattern allows the conditional resist material 1130 to be removed from the substrate 1000 in selected areas (e.g., the surface of the phototransistor array on the left side of the substrate 1000). As is well known in the semiconductor processing industry, the application of a pattern to the conditional resist material 1130 deposited on the substrate 1000 during step 904 may be accomplished by a photolithographic process. Such lithographic processes include, for example, electron beam, X-ray, UV, and deep-frequency UV. Typically, a polymer is used to define the pattern.

The pattern (e.g., polymer) deposited in step 906 is then processed by depositing a photo-responsive layer over the pattern and then selectively exposing portions of the photo-responsive layer to light (e.g., light of an appropriate wavelength and intensity for the material of the photo-responsive layer), as described in step 908 of the method of FIG. 9.

Step 910 in the method of fig. 9 includes etching the photo-responsive layer (and any conditional resist material located under the etchable portions of the photo-responsive layer) down to a first predetermined location. As shown in fig. 12, the first predetermined location may be, for example, a surface of a substrate (e.g., a surface of a phototransistor 1020).

An optional set of subsequent steps (not shown) in the method of fig. 9 is to deposit, pattern and etch a layer of conductive material once the substrate has been patterned with respect to the conditional resist layer. As shown in fig. 13, a conductive material 1330 may be deposited on the surface of the substrate (e.g., the surface of the phototransistor 1020 on the left side of the substrate 1000) and portions of the conditional resist layer 1130 that were not removed during steps 908 and 910. Conductive material 1330 can be, for example, a conductive silicon, such as amorphous silicon or highly doped silicon. Then, as shown in fig. 14, the patterning and etching of the conductive material 1330 may result in a first portion of the substrate 1000 having a layer of conductive material 1330 deposited directly thereon (e.g., on the surface of the phototransistor 1020 on the left side of the substrate 1000) and a second portion of the substrate 1000 having a layer of conditional resist material 1130 deposited directly thereon (e.g., on the surface of the phototransistor 1020 on the right side of the substrate 1000).

Step 912 in the method of fig. 9 includes depositing at least one dielectric layer over the substrate (or any material that has been deposited over the substrate and has not been etched away). As discussed elsewhere herein (e.g., in connection with the apparatus of fig. 1B), the various layers of the dielectric layer stack (e.g., the first layer of dielectric material, the second layer of dielectric material, the third layer of dielectric material, etc.) may be sequentially deposited on the substrate. For example, as shown in fig. 15, a dielectric stack 1530 composed of two layers of dielectric material may be deposited on the substrate 1000. To be consistent with the rest of this document, the first layer of the dielectric stack 1530 need not be the first layer deposited on the substrate 1000. Rather, the terms first and second may be used arbitrarily or with respect to the order of the layers of dielectric material starting from the surface and moving inward into the substrate. Thus, in the context of fig. 15, the first layer of dielectric material deposited on the substrate 1000 may be a "second layer" of dielectric material, and the second layer of dielectric material deposited on the substrate 1000 may be a "first layer" of dielectric material.

Step 914 in the method of fig. 9 comprises applying a second pattern on top of the at least one dielectric layer and etching the at least one dielectric layer to a second predetermined location. In some embodiments, the second predetermined location may be the surface of the layer of conditional resist material 1130. Thus, as shown in fig. 16, the layers of the dielectric stack 1530 may be etched away from selected portions of the substrate 1000 down to the surface of the conditional resist material 1130. As discussed above, the conditional resist material 1130 may be a nitride. Thus, the etching material used in step 914 may be suitable for etching away dielectric materials other than nitride.

In various embodiments, optional steps may be further performed. For example, a third pattern may be deposited and a lift-off of the conditional resist layer (which may optionally result in etching of up to 10 microns of the silicon substrate) may be performed. As shown in fig. 17, the conditional etch resistant layer 1130 has been etched away from the right side of the substrate 1000, resulting in the surface of the right phototransistor 1020 being exposed again. In addition, as shown in fig. 18, steps may be taken to perform oxide strips and backside metallization of the bottom of the substrate 1000 to add a layer of conductive metal 1830 (e.g., silver or gold) to the substrate. The resulting substrate shown in fig. 18 may have a first portion (e.g., on the right) configured to generate DEP forces and a second portion (e.g., on the left) configured to generate electrowetting forces. At the junction between the first and second portions, the substrate may be electrically inactive (electrically inactive), at least with respect to generating DEP and electrowetting forces. The thickness of the inactive region will depend on the precision of the masking and etching steps and may be, for example, less than 2mm (e.g., less than 1.5mm, less than 1.0mm, less than 0.5mm or less).

While specific embodiments and applications of the invention have been described in this specification, these embodiments and applications are exemplary only, and many variations are possible. For example, the method of fig. 8 may be performed with respect to a sample material containing cellular secretions (e.g., after the sample material 682 has been used to culture one or more biological cells). In such an embodiment, step 802 would remain unchanged, but step 804 would involve moving a droplet 632 of aqueous medium (such as sample material 622 containing cellular secretions), which may be free of micro-objects, only, into a chamber 616/716 containing immiscible medium, and steps 806 and 808 would be performed for such aqueous medium droplet 632. Further, the electrowetting configurations discussed herein may be any type of electrowetting configuration known in the art, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. patent No. 6,958,132 (for OEW configurations) and U.S. patent application publication No. US2016/0158748 (for single sided OEW configurations). Other examples of electrowetting configurations include electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) devices, which may be electronically controlled, an example of which is disclosed in U.S. patent No. 8,685,344. Similarly, the dielectrophoretic configuration discussed herein may be any type of dielectrophoretic configuration known in the art, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. patent nos. RE 44,711 (Wu et al), 7,956,339 (Ohta et al), 6,294,063 (Becker et al), 6,942,776 (Medoro), and 9,403,172 (Wu et al). All of the above U.S. patent documents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Examples of the invention

Systems and microfluidic devices: microfluidic devices and instruments for operating it are manufactured by Berkeley Lights inc. The system includes at least a flow controller, a temperature controller, a fluid medium conditioning and pump assembly, a light source for light-activated DEP or EW configurations, a mounting stage, and a camera. The microfluidic device includes an EW configuration having a surface as described below.

Example 1. Electrowetting microfluidic devices with modified inner surfaces were prepared. A microfluidic device (Berkeley Lights) having a base comprising an electrode-activated substrate having a semiconductor layer of photosensitive silicon and a dielectric layer with an upper surface of alumina, a lid having a glass support with an ITO electrode, and a lid and a micro fluidic circuit material of photo-patterned silicone separating the base and lid was treated in an oxygen plasma cleaner (Nordson Asymtek) for 1 minute using 100W power, 240 millitorr pressure and 440 seem oxygen flow. In the presence of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (0.5g, Acros) as a water reaction source in the foil boat in the bottom of the vacuum reactor, the plasma treated microfluidic device was treated with trimethoxy (3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,13,13,14,14,15,15,16,16, 16-nonafluorohexadecyl) silane (0.3g, synthesis details as described in U.S. provisional application 62/410238 filed on 10, 19, 2016) (in a separate foil boat in the bottom of the vacuum reactor) in the vacuum reactor. The chamber was then pumped to 750 mtorr using a vacuum pump and sealed. The vacuum reactor was placed in a furnace heated to 180 ℃ for 24-48 hours. After cooling to room temperature and introducing argon into the vacuum chamber, the microfluidic device having an outer hydrophobic layer with dimethoxy (3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,13,13,14,14,15,15,16,16, 16-nonafluorohexadecyl) siloxy moieties on all inner surfaces was removed from the reactor. After removal, the microfluidic device was filled with silicone oil (5 centistoke viscosity, Gelest Cat. # DMS-T05) prior to use. Fig. 20A-20C are sequential photographic images of a water droplet moving around a hydrophobic layer (i.e., droplet actuation surface) within an immiscible silicone oil phase. Using an optically actuated electrowetting configuration and a droplet actuation surface of a microfluidic device, the droplets exhibit excellent mobility.

Reproduction of an embodiment

1. A microfluidic device having an electrowetting configuration, the microfluidic device comprising:

a substrate having a dielectric layer, a droplet actuation surface, and a first electrode configured to be connected to an AC voltage source; and

a second electrode configured to be connected to the AC voltage source;

wherein the dielectric layer is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and,

wherein the droplet actuation surface comprises a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the dielectric layer.

2. The microfluidic device of embodiment 1, wherein the device has a single-sided electrowetting configuration.

3. The microfluidic device of embodiment 2, wherein the second electrode is a mesh electrode comprised of the substrate.

4. The microfluidic device of embodiment 1, wherein the device has an electro-optical wetting (OEW) configuration.

5. The microfluidic device of embodiment 1, wherein the device has an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) configuration.

6. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 1-5, wherein the hydrophobic layer is a single layer comprising a surface modifying ligand and a linking group that links the surface modifying ligand to the surface, wherein the droplet actuation surface has a structure of formula II:

Wherein

Is the surface of the dielectric layer; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-; w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface; z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or to the surface; y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface; r is hydrogen or fluorine; m is hydrogen or fluorine; h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; (n + [ (h + j) · k)]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25; when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

7. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 1-6, wherein the electrowetting configuration of the device comprises a first portion of the device, and wherein the device further comprises a second portion having a Dielectrophoresis (DEP) configuration.

8. A microfluidic device comprising: a substrate having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source; a lid having at least one electrode configured to be connected to the voltage source; and at least one spacer element, which is,

wherein the substrate and the cover are substantially parallel to each other and joined together by the spacing element to define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid, wherein the substrate has a droplet actuation surface partially defining the enclosure, the droplet actuation surface having an inner dielectric layer and an outer hydrophobic layer,

Wherein the outer hydrophobic layer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the surface of the inner dielectric layer to form a densely packed hydrophobic monolayer thereon, and

wherein the substrate is capable of applying an electrowetting force on an aqueous droplet in contact with the droplet actuation surface of the substrate when at least one electrode of the substrate and at least one electrode of the cover are connected to opposite terminals of the voltage source.

9. The microfluidic device of embodiment 8, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer each comprise a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group linking the surface-modifying ligand to the inner dielectric layer surface, wherein the droplet actuation surface has a structure of formula II:

wherein

Is the surface of the dielectric layer; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-; w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface; z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or to the surface; y is to adjacent phosphorus attached to the surfaceA bond to an atom or to a surface; r is hydrogen or fluorine; m is hydrogen or fluorine; h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; (n + [ (h + j) · k)]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25; when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

10. The microfluidic device of embodiment 9, wherein V is-Si (OZ)₂W-。

11. The microfluidic device of embodiment 9, wherein V is-p (o) (oy) W-.

12. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 9-11, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein R is hydrogen.

13. The microfluidic device of embodiment 12, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

14. The microfluidic device of embodiment 13, wherein m is 2.

15. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 9-11, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein R is fluorine.

16. The microfluidic device of embodiment 15, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

17. The microfluidic device of embodiment 16, wherein m is 2.

18. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 9-17, wherein k is 1.

19. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 9-17, wherein k is 0.

20. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 9-19, wherein the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 13 to 19.

21. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-20, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers.

22. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-21, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate is patterned such that selected areas are relatively hydrophilic compared to the rest of the outer hydrophobic layer.

23. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-22, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate comprises a first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide.

24. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-23, wherein the oxide is a metal oxide.

25. The microfluidic device of embodiment 24, wherein the metal oxide is aluminum oxide.

26. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 23-25, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is formed by atomic layer deposition.

27. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 23-26, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate further comprises a second layer of dielectric material, and wherein the outer hydrophobic layer is covalently bonded to the first layer of dielectric material.

28. The microfluidic device of embodiment 27, wherein the second layer of dielectric material comprises an oxide or a nitride.

29. The microfluidic device of embodiment 28, wherein the second layer of dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride.

30. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 27-29, wherein the second layer of dielectric material is formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

31. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 23-30, wherein the first layer of dielectric material comprises a first sublayer of dielectric material and a second sublayer of dielectric material, wherein the first sublayer is covalently bonded to the hydrophobic layer.

32. The microfluidic device of embodiment 31, wherein the first sub-layer dielectric material comprises silicon oxide.

33. The microfluidic device of embodiment 31, wherein the first sub-layer dielectric material is deposited by ALD.

34. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 31-33, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a thickness of about 10nm to about 20 nm.

35. The microfluidic device of embodiment 34, wherein the first sub-layer dielectric material has a thickness of about 2nm to about 10 nm.

36. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-35, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of at least about 40 nanometers.

37. The microfluidic device of embodiment 36, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of about 40 nanometers to about 120 nanometers.

38. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-37, wherein the substrate further comprises a photo-responsive layer having a first side contacting the inner dielectric layer and a second side contacting at least one electrode.

39. The microfluidic device of embodiment 38, wherein the photo-responsive layer comprises hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H).

40. The microfluidic device of embodiment 38 or 39, wherein the photo-responsive layer has a thickness of at least 900 nanometers.

41. The microfluidic device of embodiment 40, wherein the photo-responsive layer has a thickness of about 900 to 1100 nanometers.

42. The microfluidic device of embodiment 38, wherein the photo-responsive layer comprises a plurality of conductors, each conductor controllably connected to at least one electrode of the substrate via a phototransistor switch.

43. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-42, wherein the substrate comprises a single electrode configured to be connected to an AC voltage source, the single electrode comprising an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) layer.

44. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-42, wherein the substrate comprises a single electrode configured to be connected to an AC voltage source, the single electrode comprising a conductive silicon layer.

45. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-37, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to be connected to one or more AC voltage sources.

46. The microfluidic device of embodiment 45, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is connectable to one of the one or more AC voltage sources via a transistor switch.

47. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-46, wherein the lid has an inward surface partially defining the enclosure, the inward surface of the lid having an inner layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the lid comprises self-associated molecules covalently bonded to a surface of the inner layer of the lid forming a densely-packed hydrophobic monolayer thereon.

48. The microfluidic device of embodiment 47, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the lids each comprise a surface modifying ligand and a linking group linking the surface modifying ligand to the surface of the inner layer of the lids, wherein the inward surface of the lids has a structure of formula II:

Wherein

Is the surface of the dielectric layer; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-; w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface; z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or to the surface; y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface; r is hydrogen or fluorine; m is hydrogen or fluorine; h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; (n + [ (h + j) · k)]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25; when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

49. The microfluidic device of embodiment 48, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the cover are the same as the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate.

50. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 47-49, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the inward-facing surface of the cover has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers.

51. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 47-50, wherein the inner layer of the lid is an inner dielectric layer.

52. The microfluidic device of embodiment 51, wherein the lid further comprises a photo-responsive layer.

53. The microfluidic device of embodiment 51, wherein the lid comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to be connected to one or more AC voltage sources.

54. The microfluidic device of embodiment 8, wherein the at least one spacing element comprises a silicon-based organic polymer.

55. The microfluidic device of embodiment 54, wherein the silicon-based organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and photo-Patternable Polysiloxane (PPS).

56. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-53, wherein the at least one spacer element comprises SU-8.

57. The microfluidic device according to any one of embodiments 8-56, wherein the at least one spacing element has a thickness of at least 30 microns.

58. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 8-57, wherein the at least one spacing element defines one or more microchannels within the enclosure.

59. The microfluidic device of embodiment 58, wherein the at least one spacing element further defines a plurality of chambers within the enclosure, wherein each chamber opens from at least one microchannel.

60. A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device, the method comprising: bonding a spacer element to an inner surface of a cover having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source;

Bonding the spacer element and cover to a dielectric surface of a substrate having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source, whereby the spacer element becomes disposed between an inner surface of the cover and the dielectric surface of the substrate, the cover and the substrate are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and the substrate, spacer element and cover collectively define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid; forming a densely-packed hydrophobic monolayer on at least a portion of the inner surface of the cap by vapor deposition, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bound to the inner surface of the cap; and forming a densely-packed hydrophobic monolayer on at least a portion of the dielectric surface of the substrate by vapor deposition, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bound to the dielectric surface of the substrate.

61. The method of embodiment 60, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the cover and the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the substrate each comprise a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group that links the surface-modifying ligand to the inner surface of the cover and the dielectric surface of the substrate, respectively, wherein the resulting surfaces of the cover and the substrate have a structure of formula II:

Wherein

Is the surface of the dielectric layer; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-; w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface; z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or to the surface; y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface; r is hydrogen or fluorine; m is hydrogen or fluorine; h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; (n + [ (h + j) · k)]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25; when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

62. According to the factThe method of embodiment 61, wherein V is-Si (OZ)₂W-。

63. The method of embodiment 61 wherein V is-P (O) (OY) W-.

64. The method of any one of embodiments 61-63, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein R is hydrogen.

65. The method of embodiment 64, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

66. The method of embodiment 65 wherein m is 2.

67. The method of any one of embodiments 61-63, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein R is fluorine.

68. The method of embodiment 67, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

69. The method of embodiment 68, wherein m is 2.

70. The method of any one of embodiments 61-69, wherein k is 1.

71. The method of any one of embodiments 61-69, wherein k is 0.

72. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 61-71, wherein the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 13 to 19.

73. A microfluidic device comprising: a conductive silicon substrate having a dielectric stack and at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source; a cover having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source; and at least one spacer element, which is,

wherein the conductive silicon substrate and the lid are substantially parallel to each other and are joined together by the spacing element so as to define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid,

wherein the electrically conductive silicon substrate has an inward-facing surface partially defining the enclosure, the inward-facing surface comprising an outermost surface of the dielectric stack, and wherein the substrate is capable of applying an electrowetting force on an aqueous droplet in contact with the inward-facing surface of the substrate when the at least one electrode of the substrate and the at least one electrode of the lid are connected to opposite terminals of an AC voltage source.

74. The microfluidic device of embodiment 73, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises amorphous silicon.

75. The microfluidic device of embodiment 73, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of phototransistors.

76. The microfluidic device of embodiment 73, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of electrodes.

77. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 73-76, wherein the inward-facing surface of the conductive silicon substrate further comprises an outer hydrophobic layer comprising self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the inner dielectric stack.

78. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 73-77, wherein the inner dielectric stack comprises a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material.

79. The microfluidic device of embodiment 78, wherein a first layer of dielectric material has a first surface and an opposing surface, wherein the first surface of the first layer abuts the second layer, and wherein the opposing surface of the first layer forms an outermost surface of the dielectric stack.

80. The microfluidic device of embodiment 78 or 79, wherein the first layer of dielectric material comprises a metal oxide.

81. The microfluidic device of embodiment 80, wherein the first layer of dielectric material comprises aluminum oxide or hafnium oxide.

82. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 78 to 81, wherein the second layer of dielectric material comprises an oxide or a nitride.

83. The microfluidic device of embodiment 82, wherein the second layer of dielectric material comprises silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

84. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 78 to 83, wherein the second layer is deposited by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique.

85. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 78 to 84, wherein the first layer is deposited by an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique.

86. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 78 to 85, wherein the inner dielectric stack comprises a third layer having a first surface and an opposing surface, wherein the first surface of the third layer abuts the opposing surface of the first layer, and wherein the opposing surface of the third layer forms an outermost surface of the dielectric stack.

87. The microfluidic device of embodiment 86, wherein the third layer comprises silicon oxide.

88. The microfluidic device of embodiment 86 or 87, wherein the third layer is deposited by an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique.

89. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 78 to 85, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a thickness of about 10nm to about 50 nm.

90. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 86-88, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a thickness of about 5nm to about 20nm and the third layer of dielectric material has a thickness of about 2nm to about 10 nm.

91. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 78 to 90, wherein the second layer of dielectric material has a thickness of about 30nm to about 100 nm.

92. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 73-91, wherein the dielectric stack of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of at least about 40 nanometers.

93. The microfluidic device of embodiment 92, wherein the dielectric stack of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of about 40 nanometers to about 120 nanometers.

94. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 73-93, wherein the dielectric layer has an impedance of about 50k ohms to about 150k ohms.

95. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 73-94, wherein the device comprises:

A dielectrophoresis module to perform a first microfluidic operation in response to a first applied voltage at a first frequency; and

an electrowetting module to receive an output from the dielectrophoresis module and to perform a second microfluidic operation in response to a second applied voltage at a second frequency,

wherein the electrowetting module comprises a dielectric stack of the conductive silicon substrate.

96. The microfluidic device of embodiment 95, further comprising a bridge between the first module and the second module.

97. The microfluidic device of embodiment 96, wherein the bridge does not perform the first microfluidic operation or the second microfluidic operation.

98. The microfluidic device of embodiment 96 or 97, wherein the bridge is an electrically neutral region.

99. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 96-98, wherein the bridge comprises a conduit.

100. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 96-98, wherein the bridge comprises a polymer.

101. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-100, wherein the output is a biological material.

102. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-101, wherein the first frequency is in the range of 100kHz to 10 mHz.

103. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-102, wherein the second frequency is in the range of 1kHz to 300 kHz.

104. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-103, wherein the first voltage is in a range of 1 to 10 volts.

105. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-104, wherein the second voltage is in the range of 10 to 100 volts.

106. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-105, wherein the conductive silicon substrate is monolithic.

107. The microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 95-106, wherein the conductive silicon substrate is catamaran.

108. The microfluidic device of embodiment 106, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises amorphous silicon.

109. The microfluidic device of embodiment 107, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises amorphous silicon.

110. The microfluidic device of embodiment 106, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of phototransistors.

111. The microfluidic device of embodiment 107, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of phototransistors.

112. The microfluidic device of embodiment 106, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of electrodes.

113. The microfluidic device of embodiment 107, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of electrodes.

114. A system for transporting micro-objects, bio-products and/or agents compatible and/or soluble in aqueous media, the system comprising:

a microfluidic device having an enclosure comprising a base and a microfluidic circuit structure, wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic monolayer covalently bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base;

a first fluid medium immiscible with the aqueous medium; and

at least one aqueous droplet.

115. The system of embodiment 114, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer has a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group that links the surface-modifying ligand to the surface, wherein the hydrophobic surface has a structure of formula II:

wherein

Is a surface; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ) 2W-; w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface; z is to adjacent silicon atoms attached to the surfaceA bond to a child or to a surface; y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface; r is hydrogen or fluorine; m is hydrogen or fluorine; h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; (n + [ (h + j) · k) ]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25; when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

116. The system of embodiment 114 or 115, wherein the base comprises a conductive substrate.

117. The system of any one of embodiments 114-116, wherein the microfluidic device is the microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 1-59.

118. The system of embodiment 117, wherein the microfluidic device comprises an optically-actuated EW configuration.

119. The system of embodiment 117 or 118, wherein the microfluidic device further comprises a DEP configuration.

120. The system of any of embodiments 114-119 wherein the first fluidic medium comprises at least one organic compound or at least one organosilicon compound having a backbone structure comprising atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, and oxygen.

121. The system of embodiment 120 wherein the backbone structure of the at least one organosilicon compound comprises silicon atoms and optionally oxygen atoms.

122. The system of embodiment 120, wherein the backbone structure of the at least one organic compound comprises carbon atoms and optionally oxygen atoms.

123. The system of embodiment 122, wherein the backbone structure is branched.

124. The system of any of embodiments 120-123 wherein the first fluid medium comprises one or more acyclic organic or organosilicon compounds.

125. The system of embodiment 124, wherein the first fluid medium is comprised of an acyclic organic or organosilicon compound.

126. The system of any of embodiments 114-125, wherein the first fluidic medium does not comprise perfluorocarbon atoms.

127. The system of any of embodiments 114-125, wherein the substituents of carbon atoms of the compounds of the first fluid medium comprise no more than 90% fluorine substituents.

128. The system of any of embodiments 115-125, wherein the surface modifying ligand comprises at least a first portion comprising a perfluorocarbon atom at an inward-facing end of the hydrophobic monolayer.

129. The system of embodiment 128, wherein all carbon atoms of the hydrophobic monolayer are perfluorinated.

130. The system of any of embodiments 114-129 wherein the first fluid medium comprises more than one organic or organosilicon compound.

131. The system of any of embodiments 114-130, wherein the enclosure further comprises a lid.

132. The system of embodiment 131 wherein the cover is transparent to light.

133. The system of embodiments 131 or 132, wherein the cover comprises glass and/or Indium Tantalum Oxide (ITO).

134. The system of any of embodiments 131-133, wherein the lid comprises an electrode.

135. The system of any one of embodiments 114 to 134, wherein the aqueous droplets comprise a surfactant.

136. The system of embodiment 135, wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant.

137. The system of embodiments 135 or 136, wherein the surfactant comprises a block alkylene oxide copolymer, a fatty acid ester ethoxylated sorbitan, an ethoxylated fluorosurfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate, or a 2,4,7, 9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4, 7-diol ethoxylate.

138. The system of any of embodiments 135-137, wherein theThe surfactant comprises

FS-30(DuPontTM，Synquest Laboratories)。

139. The system of any of embodiments 114-139, wherein the droplets comprise a phosphate buffered saline solution.

140. The system of any one of embodiments 114-139, wherein the aqueous droplets comprise at least one micro-object.

141. The system of embodiment 140, wherein the micro-object is a biological micro-object.

142. The system of any one of embodiments 114-141, wherein aqueous droplets comprise a biological product comprising nucleic acids and/or proteins.

143. The system of any one of embodiments 114-142, wherein aqueous droplets comprise an agent.

144. A kit for the delivery of micro-objects, bio-products and/or reagents compatible and/or soluble in aqueous media, said kit comprising:

a microfluidic device having an enclosure comprising a base and a microfluidic circuit structure, wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic monolayer covalently bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base; and a first fluid medium immiscible with the aqueous medium.

145. The kit of embodiment 144, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer has a surface-modified ligand and a linking group linking the surface-modified ligand to the surface, wherein the hydrophobic surface has a structure of formula II:

wherein

Is a surface; v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ) 2W-; w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface; z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or to the surface; y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface; r is hydrogen or fluorine; m is hydrogen or fluorine; h is independently an integer of 2 or 3; j is 1; k is 0 or 1; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20; (n + [ (h + j) · k) ]+ m) is an integer from 11 to 25; when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

146. The kit of embodiment 144 or 145, wherein the base comprises a conductive substrate.

147. The kit of any one of embodiments 144 to 146, wherein the microfluidic device is the microfluidic device of any one of embodiments 1 to 59.

148. A process of operating a microfluidic device according to any one of embodiments 8 to 59, the process comprising:

filling the envelope or a part thereof with a first liquid medium;

applying an AC voltage potential between the at least one electrode of the substrate and the at least one electrode of the lid;

introducing a first liquid droplet into the capsule, wherein the first liquid droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium; and

moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure by applying an electrowetting force to the first droplet.

149. The process of embodiment 148, wherein the first liquid medium is oil.

150. The process of embodiment 148, wherein said first liquid medium is a silicone oil, a fluorinated oil, or a combination thereof.

151. The process of any one of embodiments 148 to 150, wherein the applied AC voltage potential is at least 20 ppV.

152. The process of embodiment 151, wherein the applied AC voltage potential is between about 25 and 35 ppV.

153. The process of any one of embodiments 148 to 152, wherein the applied AC voltage potential has a frequency of about 1 to 100 kHz.

154. The process of any of embodiments 148-153, wherein the microfluidic device comprises a droplet generator, and wherein the droplet generator introduces the first droplet into the enclosure.

155. The process of any one of embodiments 148-154, wherein the first droplet comprises an aqueous solution.

156. The process of embodiment 155, wherein the first droplet comprises at least one micro-object.

157. The process of embodiment 156, wherein said at least one micro-object is a biological micro-object.

158. The process of embodiment 157, wherein said biological micro-object is a cell.

159. The process of any one of embodiments 155 to 158, wherein the aqueous solution is a cell culture medium.

160. The process of embodiment 156, wherein said at least one micro-object is a capture bead having an affinity for a material of interest.

161. The process of embodiment 160, wherein the first droplet comprises 2 to 20 capture beads.

162. The process of embodiment 160, wherein the material of interest is a biological cell secretion.

163. The process of embodiment 160 or 161, wherein the material of interest is selected from the group consisting of DNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, RNA, mRNA, miRNA, or any combination thereof.

164.164. The process of embodiment 155 or 156, wherein the first droplet comprises a reagent.

165. The process of embodiment 164, wherein the reagent is a cell lysis reagent.

166. The process of embodiment 165, wherein the reagent comprises a non-ionic detergent.

167. The process of embodiment 166, wherein the concentration of the non-ionic detergent is less than 0.2%.

168. The process of embodiment 164, wherein the agent is a proteolytic enzyme.

169. The process of example 168, wherein the proteolytic enzyme may be inactivated.

170. The process of any one of embodiments 148 to 169, further comprising:

introducing a second droplet into the enclosure, wherein the liquid of the second droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid of the first droplet;

Moving the second droplet to a position within an enclosure adjacent to the first droplet by applying an electrowetting force to the second droplet; and

merging the second droplet with the first droplet to form a first combined droplet.

171. The process of embodiment 170, wherein the second droplet is merged with the first droplet by applying electrowetting forces to the second droplet and/or the first droplet.

172. The process of embodiment 170 or 171, wherein the first droplet comprises a biological micro-object, and wherein the second droplet comprises a reagent.

173. The process of embodiment 172, wherein the reagent comprised in the second droplet is selected from the group consisting of a lysis buffer, a fluorescent label, and a luminescent assay reagent.

174. The process of embodiment 172, wherein the reagent contained in the second droplet is a lysis buffer, and wherein the biological cells are lysed upon the merging of the first and second droplets.

175. The process of any one of embodiments 170 to 174, further comprising:

introducing a third droplet into the capsule, wherein the liquid of the third droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid of the first combined droplet; and moving the third droplet to a position within the enclosure adjacent to the first combined droplet by applying an electrowetting force to the third droplet; and

Merging the third droplet with the first combined droplet to form a second combined droplet.

176. The process of embodiment 175, wherein the third droplet is merged with the first combination droplet by applying electrowetting forces to the third droplet and/or the first combination droplet.

177. The process of embodiment 175 or 176, wherein the third droplet comprises a reagent.

178. The process of embodiment 177, wherein the third droplet comprises a protease inhibitor.

179. The process of embodiment 177, wherein the third droplet comprises one to twenty capture beads having an affinity for the material of interest.

180. The process of embodiment 179, wherein the capture beads comprise an oligonucleotide capture agent.

181. The process of embodiment 180, wherein the oligonucleotide capture agent is a poly-dT oligonucleotide.

182. The process of any one of embodiments 179-181, wherein the material of interest is selected from the group consisting of DNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, RNA, mRNA, miRNA, or any combination thereof.

183. The process of any one of embodiments 179 to 182, further comprising:

Outputting one to twenty capture beads from the microfluidic device.

184. The process of any one of embodiments 175 to 183, further comprising:

introducing a fourth droplet into the capsule, wherein the liquid of the fourth droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid of the second combined droplet;

moving a fourth droplet to a position within an enclosure adjacent to the second combined droplet by applying an electrowetting force to the fourth droplet; and

merging the fourth droplet with the second combined droplet to form a third combined droplet.

185. The process of embodiment 184, wherein the fourth droplet is merged with the second combination droplet by applying electrowetting forces to the fourth droplet and/or the second combination droplet.

186. The process of embodiment 184 or 185, wherein the fourth droplet comprises a reagent.

187. The process of embodiment 186, wherein the reagents contained in the fourth droplet comprise a mixture comprising a buffer, dntps, and a polymerase suitable for performing a reverse transcription reaction.

188. The process of embodiment 186, wherein the reagents contained in the fourth droplet comprise a mixture comprising a buffer, dntps, and a polymerase suitable for performing a whole genome amplification reaction.

189. The process of any one of embodiments 148-188, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth droplets each have a volume of about 5 to 50 nanoliters.

190. The process of embodiment 189, wherein the first droplet, the second droplet, and the third droplet each have a volume of about 5 to 20 nanoliters.

191. The process of embodiment 190, wherein the volume of the second droplet and/or the third droplet is substantially equal to the volume of the first droplet.

192. The process of embodiment 190 or 191, wherein the fourth droplet has a volume that is about 1 to 3 times greater than the first droplet.

193. The process of embodiment 192, wherein the fourth droplet has a volume of about 10 to 30 nanoliters.

194. The process of any of embodiments 148-193, wherein the capsule comprises at least one microchannel.

195. The process of embodiment 194, wherein moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure comprises moving the first droplet through the at least one microchannel.

196. The process of embodiment 194 or 195, wherein the capsule further comprises a plurality of chambers opening from the at least one microchannel.

197. The process of embodiment 196, wherein moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure comprises moving the first droplet into one of the plurality of chambers.

198. The process of any one of embodiments 194 to 197, wherein moving the second droplet to a position adjacent to the first droplet comprises moving the second droplet through the at least one microchannel and optionally into a chamber containing the first droplet.

199. The process of embodiment 198, wherein moving the third droplet to a position adjacent to the first combined droplet comprises moving the third droplet through the at least one microchannel and optionally into a chamber containing the first combined droplet.

200. The process of embodiment 199, wherein moving the fourth droplet to a position adjacent to the second combined droplet comprises moving the fourth droplet through at least one microchannel and optionally into a chamber containing the second combined droplet.

201. The process of any one of embodiments 148 to 200, wherein applying electrowetting forces to move and/or coalesce droplets comprises changing effective electrowetting properties of a region of the substrate surface proximate to a droplet.

202. The process of embodiment 201, wherein changing effective electrowetting characteristics includes activating an electrowetting electrode at a region of the substrate surface proximate to the droplet.

203. The process of embodiment 202, wherein the substrate comprises a photo-responsive layer, and wherein activating an electrowetting electrode at a region of the substrate surface proximate to a droplet comprises directing a light pattern onto the region of the electrowetting surface.

Identity of

The foregoing written description is considered to be sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments. The foregoing description and examples detail certain embodiments and describe the best mode contemplated. It should be understood, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the embodiments may be practiced in many ways and should be construed in accordance with the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims (193)

1. A microfluidic device having an electrowetting configuration, the microfluidic device comprising:

a substrate having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source;

a lid having at least one electrode configured to be connected to the voltage source; and

at least one of the spacing elements is arranged,

wherein the substrate and the lid are substantially parallel to each other and are joined together by the spacer element to define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid,

Wherein the substrate has a droplet actuation surface partially defining the enclosure, the droplet actuation surface having an inner dielectric layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate comprises a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material, the first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide,

wherein the outer hydrophobic layer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the surface of the first layer of dielectric material of the inner dielectric layer to form a densely packed hydrophobic monolayer thereon, and

wherein the substrate is capable of applying an electrowetting force on an aqueous droplet in contact with the droplet actuation surface of the substrate when the at least one electrode of the substrate and the at least one electrode of the cover are connected to opposite terminals of the voltage source.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the device has an electro-wetting OEW configuration.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the device has an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) configuration.

4. The microfluidic device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microfluidic device comprises a first portion having an electrowetting configuration and a second portion having a dielectrophoretic DEP configuration.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer each comprise a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group linking the surface-modifying ligand to a surface of the first layer of dielectric material of the inner dielectric layer, wherein the droplet actuation surface has a structure of formula II:

wherein,

is the surface of the dielectric layer;

v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-；

W is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface;

z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

r is hydrogen or fluorine;

m is hydrogen or fluorine;

h is independently an integer of 2 or 3;

j is 1;

k is 0 or 1;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 11 to 25;

when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and

when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein V is-Si (OZ)₂W-。

7. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein V is-P (O) (OY) W-.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein n is an integer from 3 to 11, and wherein R is hydrogen.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 8, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 9, wherein m is 2.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein n is an integer from 11 to 17, and wherein R is fluorine.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

13. The microfluidic device of claim 12, wherein m is 2.

14. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein k is 1.

15. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein k is 0.

16. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 13 to 19.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers.

18. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate is patterned such that selected areas are relatively hydrophilic compared to the remainder of the outer hydrophobic layer.

19. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the oxide is a metal oxide.

20. The microfluidic device of claim 19, wherein the metal oxide is aluminum oxide.

21. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is formed by atomic layer deposition.

22. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the second layer of dielectric material comprises an oxide or a nitride.

23. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the second layer of dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride.

24. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first layer of dielectric material comprises a first sublayer of dielectric material and a second sublayer of dielectric material, wherein the first sublayer is covalently bonded to the hydrophobic layer.

25. The microfluidic device of claim 24, wherein the first sub-layer dielectric material comprises silicon oxide.

26. The microfluidic device of claim 24, wherein the first sub-layer dielectric material is deposited by ALD.

27. The microfluidic device of any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a thickness of 10nm to 20 nm.

28. The microfluidic device of claim 27, wherein the first sub-layer dielectric material has a thickness of 2nm to 10 nm.

29. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of at least 40 nanometers.

30. The microfluidic device of claim 29, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of 40 to 120 nanometers.

31. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises a photo-responsive layer having a first side contacting the inner dielectric layer and a second side contacting the at least one electrode of the substrate.

32. The microfluidic device according to claim 31, wherein the photo-responsive layer comprises hydrogenated amorphous silicon a-Si: H.

33. The microfluidic device according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the photo-responsive layer has a thickness of at least 900 nanometers.

34. The microfluidic device according to claim 33, wherein the photo-responsive layer has a thickness of 900 to 1100 nanometers.

35. The microfluidic device according to claim 31, wherein the photo-responsive layer comprises a plurality of conductors, each conductor being controllably connected to the at least one electrode of the substrate via a phototransistor switch.

36. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a single electrode configured to be connected to an AC voltage source, the single electrode comprising an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) layer.

37. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a single electrode configured to be connected to an AC voltage source, the single electrode comprising a conductive silicon layer.

38. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to be connected to one or more AC voltage sources.

39. The microfluidic device of claim 38, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is connectable to one of the one or more AC voltage sources via a transistor switch.

40. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the lid has an inward-facing surface that partially defines the enclosure, the inward-facing surface of the lid having an inner layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the lid comprises self-associated molecules covalently bonded to a surface of the inner layer of the lid, forming a densely-packed hydrophobic monolayer thereon.

41. The microfluidic device of claim 40, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the cover each comprise a surface modifying ligand and a linking group linking the surface modifying ligand to the surface of the inner layer of the cover, wherein the inward surface of the cover has a structure of formula II:

Wherein,

is the surface of the dielectric layer;

v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-；

W is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface;

z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

r is hydrogen or fluorine;

m is hydrogen or fluorine;

h is independently an integer of 2 or 3;

j is 1;

k is 0 or 1;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 11 to 25;

when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and

when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

42. The microfluidic device of claim 41, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the cover are the same as the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate.

43. The microfluidic device of any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein the outer hydrophobic layer of the inward-facing surface of the cover has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers.

44. The microfluidic device of claim 40, wherein the inner layer of the lid is an inner dielectric layer.

45. The microfluidic device according to claim 44, wherein the lid further comprises a photo-responsive layer.

46. The microfluidic device of claim 44, wherein the lid comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to be connected to one or more AC voltage sources.

47. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer element comprises a silicon-based organic polymer.

48. The microfluidic device of claim 47, wherein the silicon-based organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and photo-Patternable Polysiloxane (PPS).

49. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer element comprises SU-8.

50. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacing element has a thickness of at least 30 microns.

51. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacing element defines one or more microchannels within the enclosure.

52. The microfluidic device of claim 51, wherein the at least one spacing element further defines a plurality of chambers within the enclosure, wherein each chamber opens from at least one microchannel.

53. The microfluidic device of claim 4, wherein the microfluidic device having the first portion and the second portion is monolithic.

54. A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

bonding a spacer element to an inner surface of a cover having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source;

bonding the spacing element and cover to a dielectric surface of an inner dielectric layer of a substrate having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source, whereby the spacing element becomes disposed between an inner surface of the cover and the dielectric surface of the substrate, the cover and the substrate are oriented substantially parallel to one another, and the substrate, spacing element and cover collectively define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid, the inner dielectric layer of the substrate comprising a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material, the first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide;

forming a densely-packed hydrophobic monolayer on at least a portion of the inner surface of the cap by vapor deposition, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bound to the inner surface of the cap; and

forming a densely-packed hydrophobic monolayer on at least a portion of a dielectric surface of the substrate by vapor deposition such that the substrate has a droplet actuation surface that partially defines the enclosure, wherein the droplet actuation surface has the inner dielectric layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, the outer hydrophobic layer comprising the hydrophobic monolayer, and the hydrophobic monolayer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the dielectric surface of the substrate.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the cover and the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the substrate each comprise a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group linking the surface-modifying ligand to the inner surface of the cover and the dielectric surface of the substrate, respectively, wherein the resulting surfaces of the cover and the substrate have a structure of formula II:

wherein,

is the surface of the dielectric layer;

v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-；

W is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface;

z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

r is hydrogen or fluorine;

m is hydrogen or fluorine;

h is independently an integer of 2 or 3;

j is 1;

k is 0 or 1;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 11 to 25;

when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and

when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein V is-Si (OZ)₂W-。

57. The method of claim 55 wherein V is-P (O) (OY) W-.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein R is hydrogen.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein m is 2.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein R is fluorine.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein M is an integer from 1 to 20, and wherein M is hydrogen.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein m is 2.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein k is 1.

65. The method of claim 55, wherein k is 0.

66. The method of claim 55, wherein the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 13 to 19.

67. A microfluidic device comprising:

a conductive silicon substrate having a dielectric stack and at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source;

a cover having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source; and

at least one of the spacing elements is arranged,

wherein the conductive silicon substrate and the lid are substantially parallel to each other and joined together by the spacing element to define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid,

Wherein the conductive silicon substrate has an inward surface partially defining the encapsulant, the inward surface comprising an outermost surface of the dielectric stack, and

wherein the conductive silicon substrate is capable of applying electrowetting forces to aqueous droplets in contact with an inward-facing surface of the conductive silicon substrate when the at least one electrode of the conductive silicon substrate and the at least one electrode of the cover are connected to opposite terminals of an AC voltage source,

wherein the conductive silicon substrate has a droplet actuation surface partially defining the enclosure, the droplet actuation surface having the dielectric stack and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the dielectric stack of the droplet actuation surface of the conductive silicon substrate comprises a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material, the first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide.

68. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises amorphous silicon.

69. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of phototransistors.

70. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of electrodes.

71. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the inward-facing surface of the conductive silicon substrate further comprises an outer hydrophobic layer comprising self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the dielectric stack.

72. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a first surface and an opposing surface, wherein the first surface of the first layer abuts the second layer, and wherein the opposing surface of the first layer forms an outermost surface of the dielectric stack.

73. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the first layer of dielectric material comprises a metal oxide.

74. The microfluidic device of claim 73, wherein the first layer of dielectric material comprises aluminum oxide or hafnium oxide.

75. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the second layer of dielectric material comprises an oxide or a nitride.

76. The microfluidic device of claim 75, wherein the second layer of dielectric material comprises silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

77. The microfluidic device according to claim 67, wherein the second layer is deposited by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique.

78. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the first layer is deposited by an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique.

79. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the dielectric stack comprises a third layer having a first surface and an opposing surface, wherein the first surface of the third layer abuts the opposing surface of the first layer, and wherein the opposing surface of the third layer forms an outermost surface of the dielectric stack.

80. The microfluidic device of claim 79, wherein the third layer comprises silicon oxide.

81. The microfluidic device of claim 79, wherein the third layer is deposited by an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique.

82. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a thickness of 10nm to 50 nm.

83. The microfluidic device of claim 79, wherein the first layer of dielectric material has a thickness of 5nm to 20nm and the third layer of dielectric material has a thickness of 2nm to 10 nm.

84. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the second layer of dielectric material has a thickness of 30nm to 100 nm.

85. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the dielectric stack of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of at least 40 nanometers.

86. The microfluidic device of claim 85, wherein the dielectric stack of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate has a thickness of 40 to 120 nanometers.

87. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the dielectric stack has an impedance of 50k ohms to 150k ohms.

88. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the device comprises:

a dielectrophoresis module to perform a first microfluidic operation in response to a first applied voltage at a first frequency; and

an electrowetting module to receive an output from the dielectrophoresis module and to perform a second microfluidic operation in response to a second applied voltage at a second frequency,

wherein the electrowetting module comprises a dielectric stack of the conductive silicon substrate.

89. The microfluidic device of claim 88, further comprising a bridge between the dielectrophoresis module and the electrowetting module.

90. The microfluidic device of claim 89, wherein the bridge does not perform the first microfluidic operation or the second microfluidic operation.

91. The microfluidic device of claim 89, wherein the bridge is an electrically neutral region.

92. The microfluidic device of claim 89, wherein the bridge comprises a conduit.

93. The microfluidic device of claim 89, wherein the bridge comprises a polymer.

94. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the output is a biological material.

95. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the first frequency is in the range of 100kHz to 10 mHz.

96. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the second frequency is in the range of 1kHz to 300 kHz.

97. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the first applied voltage is in the range of 1 to 10 volts.

98. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the second applied voltage is in the range of 10 to 100 volts.

99. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the conductive silicon substrate is monolithic.

100. The microfluidic device of claim 88, wherein the conductive silicon substrate is binary.

101. The microfluidic device of claim 99, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises amorphous silicon.

102. The microfluidic device of claim 100, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises amorphous silicon.

103. The microfluidic device of claim 99, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of phototransistors.

104. The microfluidic device of claim 100, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of phototransistors.

105. The microfluidic device of claim 99, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of electrodes.

106. The microfluidic device of claim 100, wherein the conductive silicon substrate comprises an array of electrodes.

107. The microfluidic device of claim 67, wherein the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the cap and the self-associating molecules of the hydrophobic monolayer of the conductive silicon substrate each comprise a surface modifying ligand and linking groups that link the surface modifying ligand to the inner surface of the cap and the dielectric stack of the conductive silicon substrate, respectively, wherein the resulting surfaces of the cap and the conductive silicon substrate have a structure of formula II:

wherein,

is a surface of the dielectric stack;

v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ)₂W-；

W is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface;

Z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

r is hydrogen or fluorine;

m is hydrogen or fluorine;

h is independently an integer of 2 or 3;

j is 1;

k is 0 or 1;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 11 to 25;

when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and

when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

108. A system for transporting micro-objects, bio-products and/or agents compatible and/or soluble in aqueous media, the system comprising:

a microfluidic device having an enclosure comprising a base and a microfluidic circuit structure, wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic monolayer covalently bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base, wherein the base has a droplet actuation surface that partially defines the enclosure, the droplet actuation surface having an inner dielectric layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the base comprises a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material, the first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide;

A first fluid medium immiscible with the aqueous medium; and

at least one aqueous droplet.

109. The system of claim 108, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer has a surface-modifying ligand and a linking group that links the surface-modifying ligand to the surface, wherein the hydrophobic surface has a structure of formula II:

wherein,

is the surface;

v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ) 2W-;

w is-O-, -S-, or-NH-and is attached to the surface;

z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

r is hydrogen or fluorine;

m is hydrogen or fluorine;

h is independently an integer of 2 or 3;

j is 1;

k is 0 or 1;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 11 to 25;

when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and

when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

110. The system of claim 108, wherein the microfluidic device is the microfluidic device of any one of claims 1-53.

111. The system of claim 110, wherein said microfluidic device comprises an optically-actuated EW configuration.

112. The system of claim 110, wherein the microfluidic device further comprises a DEP configuration.

113. The system of claim 108, wherein the first fluid medium comprises at least one organic compound or at least one organosilicon compound having a backbone structure comprising atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, and oxygen.

114. The system claimed in claim 113 and wherein a backbone structure of said at least one organosilicon compound comprises silicon atoms and optionally oxygen atoms.

115. The system of claim 113, wherein the backbone structure of the at least one organic compound comprises carbon atoms and optionally oxygen atoms.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein the backbone structure is branched.

117. The system of claim 113 wherein the first fluid medium comprises one or more acyclic organic or organosilicon compounds.

118. The system claimed in claim 117 and wherein said first fluid medium is comprised of an acyclic organic or organosilicon compound.

119. The system of claim 108, wherein the first fluid medium does not include perfluorocarbon atoms.

120. The system of claim 108, wherein the substituents of carbon atoms of the compounds of the first fluid medium comprise no more than 90% fluoro substituents.

121. The system of claim 108, wherein the surface modifying ligand comprises at least a first portion comprising a perfluorocarbon atom at an inward-facing end of the hydrophobic monolayer.

122. The system of claim 121, wherein all of the carbon atoms of the hydrophobic monolayer are perfluorinated.

123. The system of claim 108 wherein the first fluid medium comprises more than one organic or organosilicon compound.

124. The system of claim 108, wherein the enclosure further comprises a lid.

125. The system of claim 124, wherein the cover is transparent to light.

126. The system of claim 124, wherein the lid comprises glass and/or Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).

127. The system of any one of claims 124-126, wherein the lid comprises an electrode.

128. The system of claim 108, wherein the aqueous droplets comprise a surfactant.

129. The system of claim 128, wherein the surfactant comprises a non-ionic surfactant.

130. The system of claim 128 or 129, wherein the surfactant comprises a block oxyalkylene copolymer, a fatty acid ester ethoxylated sorbitan, an ethoxylated fluorosurfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate, or a 2,4,7, 9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4, 7-diol ethoxylate.

131. The system of claim 128, wherein the surfactant comprises

FS-30，DuPontTM，Synquest Laboratories。

132. The system of claim 108, wherein the droplets comprise a phosphate buffered saline solution.

133. The system of claim 108, wherein the aqueous droplets comprise at least one micro-object.

134. The system of claim 133, wherein the micro-object is a biological micro-object.

135. The system of claim 108, wherein the aqueous droplets comprise a biological product comprising nucleic acids and/or proteins.

136. The system of claim 108, wherein the aqueous droplets comprise a reagent.

137. A kit for the delivery of micro-objects, bio-products and/or reagents compatible and/or soluble in aqueous media, said kit comprising:

A microfluidic device having an enclosure comprising a base and a microfluidic circuit structure, wherein the base comprises a hydrophobic monolayer covalently bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base, wherein the base has a droplet actuation surface that partially defines the enclosure, the droplet actuation surface having an inner dielectric layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the base comprises a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material, the first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide; and

a first fluid medium immiscible with the aqueous medium.

138. The kit of claim 137, wherein a hydrophobic monolayer has a surface-modified ligand and a linking group that links the surface-modified ligand to the surface, wherein the hydrophobic monolayer has a structure of formula II:

wherein,

is the surface;

v is-P (O) (OY) W-or-Si (OZ) 2W-;

w is-O-, -S-or-NH-and is attached to the surface;

z is a bond to an adjacent silicon atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

y is a bond to an adjacent phosphorus atom attached to the surface or a bond to the surface;

r is hydrogen or fluorine;

M is hydrogen or fluorine;

h is independently an integer of 2 or 3;

j is 1;

k is 0 or 1;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 20;

the sum of (n + [ (h + j) · k ] + m) is an integer from 11 to 25;

when k is 1, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen; and

when k is 0 and R is fluorine, then M is at least 2 and M is hydrogen.

139. The kit of claim 138, wherein the base comprises a conductive substrate.

140. The kit of any one of claims 138 to 139, wherein the microfluidic device is the microfluidic device of any one of claims 1 to 53.

141. A process of operating a microfluidic device having an electrowetting configuration, the microfluidic device comprising: a substrate having at least one electrode configured to be connected to a voltage source; a lid having at least one electrode configured to be connected to the voltage source; and at least one spacer element, which is,

wherein the substrate and the lid are substantially parallel to each other and are joined together by the spacer element to define an enclosure configured to hold a liquid,

wherein the substrate has a droplet actuation surface partially defining the enclosure, the droplet actuation surface having an inner dielectric layer and an outer hydrophobic layer, wherein the inner dielectric layer of the droplet actuation surface of the substrate comprises a first layer of dielectric material and a second layer of dielectric material, the first layer of dielectric material comprising an oxide,

Wherein the outer hydrophobic layer comprises self-associating molecules covalently bonded to the surface of the first layer of dielectric material of the inner dielectric layer to form a densely packed hydrophobic monolayer thereon, and

wherein the substrate is capable of applying electrowetting forces to aqueous droplets in contact with the droplet actuation surface of the substrate when the at least one electrode of the substrate and the at least one electrode of the cover are connected to opposite terminals of the voltage source

Wherein the process comprises:

filling the enclosure or a portion of the enclosure with a first liquid medium, wherein the first liquid medium is an oil;

applying an AC voltage potential between the at least one electrode of the substrate and the at least one electrode of the lid;

introducing a first droplet of a liquid into the enclosure, wherein the first droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium;

moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure by applying an electrowetting force to the first droplet, wherein the first droplet contacts a droplet actuation surface of the substrate;

introducing a second droplet of liquid into the enclosure, wherein the liquid of the second droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid of the first droplet;

Moving the second droplet to a position within the enclosure adjacent to the first droplet by applying an electrowetting force to the second droplet; and

merging the second droplet with the first droplet to form a first combined droplet.

142. The process of claim 141, wherein the first liquid medium is a silicone oil, a fluorinated oil, or a combination thereof.

143. The process of claim 141, wherein the applied AC voltage potential is at least 20 ppV.

144. The process of claim 143, wherein the applied AC voltage potential is between 25 and 35 ppV.

145. The process of claim 141, wherein the applied AC voltage potential has a frequency of 1 to 100 kHz.

146. The process of claim 141, wherein said microfluidic device comprises a droplet generator, and wherein said droplet generator introduces said first droplets into said enclosure.

147. The process of claim 141, wherein said first droplet comprises an aqueous solution.

148. The process of claim 147, wherein said first droplet comprises at least one micro-object.

149. The process of claim 148, wherein said at least one micro-object is a biological micro-object.

150. The process of claim 149, wherein said biological micro-object is a cell.

151. The process of claim 147, wherein said aqueous solution is a cell culture medium.

152. The process of claim 148, wherein said at least one micro-object is a capture bead having an affinity for a material of interest.

153. The process of claim 152, wherein the first droplet comprises 2 to 20 capture beads.

154. The process of claim 152, wherein the material of interest is a biological cell secretion.

155. The process of claim 152, wherein the material of interest is selected from the group consisting of DNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, RNA, mRNA, miRNA, or any combination thereof.

156. The process of claim 147, wherein the first droplet comprises a reagent.

157. The process of claim 156, wherein said agent is a cell lysis agent.

158. The process of claim 157, wherein said reagent comprises a non-ionic detergent.

159. The process of claim 158, wherein the concentration of said non-ionic detergent is less than 0.2%.

160. The process of claim 156, wherein said agent is a proteolytic enzyme.

161. The process of claim 160, wherein said proteolytic enzyme is capable of being inactivated.

162. The process of claim 141, wherein the first droplet comprises a biological cell, and wherein the second droplet comprises a reagent.

163. The process of claim 162, wherein the reagent contained in the second droplet is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent label and a luminescent assay reagent.

164. The process of claim 162, wherein the reagent contained in the second droplet is a lysis buffer, and wherein the biological cells are lysed upon merging of the first and second droplets.

165. The process of claim 141, further comprising:

introducing a third droplet of liquid into the capsule, wherein the liquid of the third droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid of the first combined droplet; and

moving the third droplet to a position within the enclosure adjacent to the first combined droplet by applying an electrowetting force to the third droplet; and

Merging the third droplet with the first combined droplet to form a second combined droplet.

166. The process of claim 165, wherein said third droplet is merged with said first combined droplet by applying electrowetting forces to said third droplet and/or said first combined droplet.

167. The process of claim 165, wherein the third droplet comprises a reagent.

168. The process of claim 167, wherein the third droplet comprises a protease inhibitor.

169. The process of claim 167, wherein the third droplet comprises one to twenty capture beads having an affinity for a material of interest.

170. The process of claim 169, wherein the capture beads comprise an oligonucleotide capture agent.

171. The process of claim 170, wherein the oligonucleotide capture agent is a poly-dT oligonucleotide.

172. The process of claim 169, wherein the material of interest is selected from the group consisting of DNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, RNA, mRNA, miRNA, or any combination thereof.

173. The process of claim 169, further comprising:

Outputting the one to twenty capture beads from the microfluidic device.

174. The process of claim 165, further comprising:

introducing a fourth droplet of liquid into the capsule, wherein the liquid of the fourth droplet is immiscible in the first liquid medium but miscible with the liquid of the second combined droplet;

moving the fourth droplet to a position within the enclosure adjacent to the second combined droplet by applying an electrowetting force to the fourth droplet; and

merging the fourth droplet with the second combined droplet to form a third combined droplet.

175. The process of claim 174, wherein said fourth droplet is merged with said second combined droplet by applying electrowetting forces to said fourth droplet and/or said second combined droplet.

176. The process of claim 174, wherein the fourth droplet comprises a reagent.

177. The process of claim 176, wherein the reagents contained in the fourth droplet comprise a mixture comprising a buffer, dntps, and a polymerase suitable for performing a reverse transcription reaction.

178. The process of claim 176, wherein the reagents contained in the fourth droplet comprise a mixture comprising a buffer, dntps, and a polymerase suitable for performing a whole genome amplification reaction.

179. The process of claim 174, wherein the first, second, third and fourth droplets each have a volume of 5 to 50 nanoliters.

180. The process of claim 179, wherein the first, second, and third droplets each have a volume of 5 to 20 nanoliters.

181. The process of claim 180, wherein the volume of the second droplet and/or the third droplet is substantially equal to the volume of the first droplet.

182. The process of claim 180, wherein said fourth droplet has a volume 1 to 3 times greater than said first droplet.

183. The process of claim 182, wherein the fourth droplet has a volume of 10 to 30 nanoliters.

184. The process of claim 141, wherein the capsule comprises at least one microchannel.

185. The process of claim 184, wherein moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure comprises moving the first droplet through the at least one microchannel.

186. The process of claim 184, wherein said capsule further comprises a plurality of chambers opening from said at least one microchannel.

187. The process of claim 186, wherein moving the first droplet to a desired location within the enclosure comprises moving the first droplet into one of the plurality of chambers.

188. The process of claim 184, wherein moving the second droplet to a position adjacent to the first droplet comprises moving the second droplet through the at least one microchannel and optionally into a chamber containing the first droplet.

189. The process of claim 188, wherein moving the third droplet to a position adjacent to the first combined droplet comprises moving the third droplet through the at least one microchannel and optionally into a chamber containing the first combined droplet.

190. The process of claim 189, wherein moving the fourth droplet to a position adjacent to the second combined droplet comprises moving the fourth droplet through the at least one microchannel and optionally into a chamber containing the second combined droplet.

191. The process of claim 141, wherein applying electrowetting forces to move and/or merge droplets includes changing effective electrowetting properties of a region of the substrate surface proximate the droplets.

192. The process of claim 191, wherein changing effective electrowetting characteristics includes activating an electrowetting electrode at a region of the substrate surface proximate the droplet.

193. The process of claim 192, wherein the substrate comprises a photo-responsive layer, and wherein activating the electrowetting electrode at a region of the substrate surface proximate to the droplet comprises directing a light pattern onto the region of the electrowetting surface.

Images