EP3661649A1 - Mikrofluidische systeme mit kapillarpumpen - Google Patents

Mikrofluidische systeme mit kapillarpumpen

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Publication number
EP3661649A1
EP3661649A1 EP18753355.9A EP18753355A EP3661649A1 EP 3661649 A1 EP3661649 A1 EP 3661649A1 EP 18753355 A EP18753355 A EP 18753355A EP 3661649 A1 EP3661649 A1 EP 3661649A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
pump
solid sorbent
fluid
channel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP18753355.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3661649B1 (de
EP3661649C0 (de
Inventor
Jaroslav Belotserkovsky
Francesco DAL DOSSO
Tadej KOKALJ
Jeroen Lammertyn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Original Assignee
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB1712562.6A external-priority patent/GB201712562D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB1712561.8A external-priority patent/GB201712561D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB1712564.2A external-priority patent/GB201712564D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB1721699.5A external-priority patent/GB201721699D0/en
Application filed by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven filed Critical Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Publication of EP3661649A1 publication Critical patent/EP3661649A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3661649B1 publication Critical patent/EP3661649B1/de
Publication of EP3661649C0 publication Critical patent/EP3661649C0/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/50273—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B19/00—Machines or pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B17/00
    • F04B19/006—Micropumps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
    • B01L2200/0621—Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/069—Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0809—Geometry, shape and general structure rectangular shaped
    • B01L2300/0816—Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
    • B01L2300/087—Multiple sequential chambers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/12—Specific details about materials
    • B01L2300/126—Paper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0403—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces
    • B01L2400/0406—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces capillary forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0475—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
    • B01L2400/0481—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure squeezing of channels or chambers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/06—Valves, specific forms thereof
    • B01L2400/0694—Valves, specific forms thereof vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fluid conduit system, web or network to manipulate fluids with gas- permeable liquid-sealed unit(s) with and without vent, suitable for the propulsion of fluids as well as to the manufacturing and use of such pumps.
  • the micro- or millifluidic system of the present invention are particularly useful within lab-on-a-chip, point-of-care diagnostics, digital ELISA and drug delivery applications or sampling.
  • microfluidic field has witnessed over the past years a true outburst in developing portable and self- powered devices for point-of-care (POC) applications (Mohammed et al. Procedia Technol. 2015; Gervais et al. Adv. Mater. 2011)
  • POC point-of-care
  • LOC lab-on-a-chip
  • Miniaturization is one of the key aspects of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices as it enables limited sample and reagent consumption, reduced time-to-results, portability, and high parallelization and multiplexing.
  • LOC lab-on-a-chip
  • the majority of traditional LOC platforms still requires external large and relatively expensive pumping mechanisms to control the liquid flow, such as syringe pumps, electro-pneumatic or pressure - driven systems.
  • This issue has been tackled already by various completely autonomous and self-powered pumping solutions. For instance, systems based on capillary forces of intricate microstructures are capable of drawing liquids into a microfluidic network and can perform complicated multi-step assays.
  • Paper microfluidics is another approach in the LOC field, attracting large attention in recent years.
  • paper, or other porous materials such as textile, are exploited as pumping element relying on capillary action to move liquids.
  • the paper strip are often patterned with different reagents at different locations with the final goal to perform multi-step tests.
  • the most successful commercially available self-powered devices to date are the lateral flow strips which have been used to develop a wide variety of point-of-care (POC) tests, including HiV, influenza A/B, malaria, and hCG hormone testing.
  • POC point-of-care
  • the transport of analytes and reagents in the paper matrix remains an important limitation since it decreases sensitivity and specificity of the tests, leading mainly to qualitative results.
  • the presented self-powered LOC platforms are designed to pull the liquid inside the channel or matrix. Only a few solutions have been described in literature that show the ability to push the liquid through the channels or matrix. This concept drastically expands the number of microfluidic applications and the ability to manipulate liquids on-chip. For instance, such infusion pumping could allow also for drug delivery systems whereas the combination of infusion and suction systems would enable the LOC devices with complex and multistep protocols. Different mechanisms were proposed so far for infusion pumping: i) a pressurized gas generated by a chemical reaction that pushes the downstream liquid through the microfluidic channel (Qin, et al. Lab Chip.
  • a pumping lid coupled to the inlet/outlet of a microfluidic chip, able to generate a controlled pressure, positive or negative, to infuse or withdraw fluids in a microfluidic device
  • vents or valves can be introduced in the LOC devices that allow gas venting or stop a flow (US5522769, US5571633).
  • microfluidic components such as micropumps and microfluidic valves.
  • micropumps and microfluidic valves are reliable, easy to fabricate and inexpensive microfluidic components.
  • microfluidic valves have been long acknowledged in the field (Oh and Ahn. J. Micromech. Microeng 2006; Au, et al.
  • Micromachines 2011 These micro components enable delay or complete stopping of the fluid flow without the user intervention, which in turn enables all-important complex liquid manipulations on microfluidic devices.
  • microfluidic valves can be classified in two main categories: active and passive, field (Oh and Ahn. J. Micromech. Microeng 2006; Au, et al. Micromachines 2011 ; Castillo-Leon and Svendsen. Springer International Publishing, 2015; Zhang, et al. Biotechnol. Adv. 2007.) Active microvalves require external, often bulky equipment or power supply (i.e. pneumatic, magnetic, electric, piezoelectric or thermal actuation mechanisms). Although used in many different instances, (Oh and Ahn. J. Micromech.
  • microfluidic valve should ideally present number of assets, both generic (compatibility with liquids and gases, pressure resistance, free of leakage) as well as those specific for the POC applications (ease of fabrication and use, portability and lack of need for any external power supply). Therefore, passive microvalves, which are independent from any external equipment for their activation and functioning, are fairly better candidates for POC. Passive microvalves can be subdivided into mechanical and non-mechanical subclass.
  • the mechanical valves rely on moving parts such as flap, membrane, ball or other microfabricated elements for opening/closing of a specific microfluidic channel.
  • moving parts such as flap, membrane, ball or other microfabricated elements for opening/closing of a specific microfluidic channel.
  • Suction pump POC diagnostics have been around for many years, such as pregnancy tests and glucose monitors for diabetics, and have been a great improvement for patients. Thanks to the high success of these suction pump tests, there is a strong drive to develop advanced chips for other relevant applications.
  • An example is the I-stat device that automates and miniaturizes advanced diagnostics currently performed in laboratories for several biomarkers such as blood gases, acid-base concentration, lactate concentration, and other blood variables.
  • the requirements for a POC device set by the World Health Organization (WHO) are so called ASSURED, which stands for: affordable, specific, sensitive, user-friendly, robust and rapid, equipment free - self powered and disposable. These tests are of great importance in environments where timing is critical, laboratory facilities are limited or resources are low, such as in developing countries. POC devices must ensure high sensitivity and specificity, regardless their intrinsic simplicity, portability and affordability. For certain applications, it is important that the target of interest (TOI) can be detected at very low concentrations and in complex matrices, such as blood or urine. The high sensitivity and specificity in a diagnostic test can be achieved through different methods, but the digital assay concept has proven to be one of the most sensitive and specific of all.
  • TOI target of interest
  • EWOD electrowetting on dielectric
  • HIH microwell array shuttling back and forth the droplet with beads over the array multiple times and achieving almost 100% with the help of a magnet positioned below the array.
  • the EWOD platform requires large equipment, power supply and trained personnel increasing the cost, the complexity and reducing the portability and the user-friendliness.
  • the shuttling of a droplet over the array can be achieved manually, moving the droplet with the help of for example a pipette tip.
  • this approach is subjected to user to user variations, low reproducibility, needs expertise and training and is not automated.
  • Both EWOD and manual protocols need a super hydrophobic surface to be able to move the droplet easily over the array. This surface is normally achieved with a layer of Teflon.
  • Teflon coated array is complicated and expensive.
  • a third approach is using channel-based microfluidics. Here a suction element (syringe pump) is used to pull a flow of beads over the array and let them sediment by gravity on top of the array to achieve seeding.
  • the drawbacks are the need of an external pumping system such as syringe or pressure pumps and the low seeding efficiency achieved (around (40-50%)
  • the fluidic delivery systems of the art such as those used for delivery or injection of drugs, vaccines or other medicinal products through the skin barrier are typically mechanically powered syringe systems. Such systems typically are not designed to deliver small volumes, below lOOuL, and to do so at controlled, predetermined flow rates. Further the precise control of flow rates during infusion or injection of fluids into biological tissue through a narrow opening such as a microneedle, or microneedle array is necessary.
  • Actuators in the art must be powered externally, e.g. electrically, magnetically, mechanically or by gas pressure systems. In the case of electrical, these require batteries and electric motors or response elements, adding to complexity, cost and requiring special disposing procedures (batteries, electrical components).
  • Adhesive patches are commonly used for transdermal drug delivery, however, these systems are based on passive diffusion of pharmaceutical substances across the skin barrier. As such, it is of interest to provide for active drug delivery systems that can be applied as self -powered adhesive patches.
  • US patent 7,226,439 discloses a microneedle drug delivery device for transdermal delivery of drugs or other fluid.
  • US patent 4,320,758A discloses an osmotic microfluidic pump that is capable of actuation of fluids in infusion mode at a controlled rate. .
  • the invention disclosed in US 4,320,758 relies on externally applied liquid to drive the osmotic pump. This limits the use of the system to certain environments and applications, such as implantable devices.
  • osmotically driven pumps typically are not capable of attaining high pressures necessary for injection or infusion of viscous liquids through a narrow opening, such as may be required for drugs delivered transdermally via small needles.
  • osmotically driven pumps have a narrow range of achievable flow rates.
  • US patent 9,447,781 provides for an osmotically driven pump for high pressures and controlled flow rates.
  • this system is reliant on a spring and piston mechanism to actuate the fluid to be pumped. This complicates the design of the system, increasing its cost and limiting the types of materials that can be used for its fabrication. Further, this system is not capable of delivering fluids in a rapid fashion, being limited to flow rates of lul/hour.
  • the present invention provides a fluid conduit device comprising
  • a capillary pump comprising a solid sorbent and having an inlet
  • the fluid conduit comprises at least three interconnected zones, the at least three interconnected zones comprise:
  • a second conduit zone pre-filled, or pre-fillable, with a working liquid positioned between the first conduit zone and the third conduit zone and functionally connected to both, and directly connected to the first conduit zone therebetween,
  • first volume is proportionally larger than or equal to the further volume of the third conduit zone.
  • the pre-filled liquid in the second conduit zone can contact the solid sorbent of the capillary pump when the flux of the predetermined first volume of trigger liquid in the first conduit zone over the predetermined location of the unit with the vent hole corresponds to the movement of the same volume of working liquid through the third conduit zone (with a smaller volume than the first conduit zone) towards the capillary pump.
  • Directly connected to the first conduit zone may mean that there is no further conduit zone between the second conduit zone and the first conduit zone. In some embodiments this may be referred to as there being no gap between the first conduit zone and the second conduit zone.
  • trigger liquid and working liquid this does not refer to the fact that such liquids are different. Rather trigger liquid is used to refer to the liquid initially (after filling) present in the first conduit zone and working liquid is used to refer to the liquid initially (after filling) present in the second conduit. Thus the difference between trigger liquid and working liquid is rather determined by their spatial position and by their function thus performed.
  • the above device allows a reliable contact between the pre-filled liquid and the capillary pump, where only a first actuation with a small pressure is needed, the rest of the pumping being ensured by the capillary pump and the fluid, e.g. a gas such as air, provided into the conduit through the vent hole of the unit with the vent hole.
  • a gas such as air
  • the trigger liquid in the first conduit zone is of a same type as the working liquid. This advantageously allows filling the second conduit zone with working liquid and adding the trigger liquid in the first conduit zone, in a same step.
  • a predetermined volume of fluid e.g. a gas such as air
  • a predetermined volume of fluid e.g. a gas such as air
  • a predetermined volume of fluid e.g. a gas such as air
  • the amount of pre-filled liquid added may not exceed the saturation of the capillary pump.
  • a predetermined amount of fluid e.g. a gas such as air, may be present between the trigger liquid and the unit with the vent hole. This allows a tunable delay between actuating the trigger liquid and the contact between the pre-filled liquid and the capillary pump.
  • the pre-filling of the liquid in the second conduit zone may be done via an inlet port or the like.
  • the first conduit zone may also be prefilled with a liquid.
  • the third conduit zone and/or the capillary pump is pre-filled with gas, or at least with a fluid with lower wettability than the liquid of the second conduit zone.
  • the device includes a barrier whereby the barrier comprises a gas-permeable liquid-sealed material to allow gas to pass and to stop liquid flow.
  • the barrier is provided in the fluid conduit between two interconnected zones.
  • the zones may both be filled with fluid, upstream and downstream of the barrier.
  • the zones may both be filled with liquids, and the barrier may physically separate these liquids while at the same time keeping the two sections of the device connected, e.g. functionally connected, e.g. so that a change of pressure in an interconnected zone produces a change of pressure in the other interconnected zone.
  • the barrier comprises a hydrophobic material containing cavities for gas passage, which may be the same or similar material as the solid sorbent further treated to give it hydrophobic properties, for instance a hydrophobic paper, thus obtaining a gas-permeable liquid- sealed solid sorbent.
  • the solid sorbent of the pump has cavities with pore diameter of a value between 0.1 to 35 ⁇ .
  • the solid sorbent may be liquid absorbent.
  • the device further comprising downstream of said capillary pump and connected thereto a fluid conduit output comprising microneedles.
  • the solid sorbent of the pump is shaped in a 10° to 150° circular sector. This advantageously provides continuous action.
  • the sector may be more preferably a 50° to 70° circular sector so that the pump is adapted to pump 0.1 ⁇ to 1000 ⁇ volume, for example 100 ⁇ to 300 ⁇ liquid.
  • the size of the paper also determine the amount of volume of liquid that can be absorbed, e.g. the amount that can be pumped.
  • the cavity size of the solid sorbent e.g. 0.1-35 ⁇ , for example being the pore size of a solid sorbent such as paper
  • the flow rate may be about 0.07 ⁇ 1/ ⁇ to 30 ⁇ 1/ ⁇ , for example 4 to ⁇ /min.
  • the pressure may partly or mainly be determined by the type of paper used.
  • the volume of the liquid pumped may partly or mainly be determined by the size of the paper.
  • the shape of the paper may partly or mainly determine the flow rate.
  • the fluid conduit device comprises a network configuration of channels and/or fluid reservoirs and whereby pumps, fluid reservoirs, the at least one gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit with vent and optionally at least one gas-permeable liquid-sealed barrier unit are engaged in the conduit device, to mix different fluids, to sequentially deliver different fluids or to push fluids forward and back in a same conduit zone, for instance an analysis zone, reaction zone or zone enclosing a hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic (HIH) microtube or microwell grids array.
  • HHIH hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic
  • the fluid conduit device is a microfluidic device and the (capillary) pump comprises a solid sorbent containing cavities and being enclosed in an enclosure, the microfluidic device further comprising a sample delivery section for applying a liquid containing magnetic beads operationally connected to a detection zone with one or more recessed parts, and a magnet.
  • the magnet is positioned in the proximity of the detection zone.
  • the solid sorbent can be shaped as explained earlier, and may be adapted to provide a flow rate of about 4 to 10 ⁇ l/min so that when operational the beads are immobilized in the recessed part of the detection zone in one continuous flow.
  • the magnet of the microfluidic device has a strength of about 1.3 T and is positioned about 1.5 to 2.5 mm below the recessed part.
  • the bead concentration in the liquid is about 2*10 ⁇ 7 to 10*10 ⁇ 7 beads/ml.
  • a solid sorbent of the pump has cavities with pore diameter of a value between 0.1 to 35 ⁇ m to pump second fluid at pressures of 50 to 100 kPa, preferably 60 to 70 kPa, to move liquids with a viscosity in the range of 0.5 to 75 cP, preferably in the range of 0.9 up to 60 cP.
  • a chamber is included for receiving, or including, powder reagents.
  • the chamber may be placed downstream of the capillary pump. The device is adapted to mix powder reagents with pumped liquid by that solid sorbent of the pump.
  • the device is adapted to mix powder reagents with pumped liquid by that solid sorbent of the pump with cavities with pore diameter of a value between 0.1 to 35 ⁇ to pump fluid in the chamber at pressures of 50 to 100 kPa, more preferable of 60 to 70 kPa.
  • the capillary pump is a propulsion pump comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, said solid sorbent containing cavities comprising a first fluid,
  • said enclosure of the solid sorbent comprises a first opening through which said solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid and a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel and
  • said propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent with a liquid via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent;
  • the pump is adapted to pump second fluid at pressures of 50 to 100 kPa, e.g. 60 to 70 kPa.
  • the pump can move liquids with a viscosity in the range of 0.5 to 75 cP, preferably in the range of 0.9 up to 60 cP.
  • the device further comprises a barrier, whereby the barrier comprises a hydrophobic material or patch (e.g.
  • the capillary pump is a pulling pump, comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, said solid sorbent containing cavities comprising a first fluid, wherein the enclosure is connected downstream to a conduit open to the ambient, e.g. air.
  • the enclosure of the solid sorbent includes vent-holes to expel the displaced first fluid (e.g. air) in the solid sorbent of the pulling pump.
  • the displaced first fluid e.g. air
  • the first conduit zone is connected at its upstream side to, e.g. a fourth conduit zone further connected to an inlet for providing a sample, e.g. a liquid sample.
  • a sample e.g. a liquid sample.
  • the pulling pump pulls the sample until the liquid of the first conduit zone passes the unit with the vent hole, e.g. when the moving liquid being in contact with the unit with the vent hole stops being in contact thereto, in other words when the back end of the liquid passes the unit with the vent hole. Afterwards, the pump will pull air from the vent and the liquid sample will not be pulled.
  • the pulling action and volume pulled can be predetermined by selecting the position of the vent along the channel.
  • the capillary pump can be connected to another conduit downstream or to a vent-hole (e.g a vent-hole in the enclosure of the solid sorbent), respectively.
  • a vent-hole e.g a vent-hole in the enclosure of the solid sorbent
  • a fluid conduit output with microneedles is provided downstream of the capillary pump.
  • the pump may be adapted to pump liquid at pressures of 50 to 100 kPa, e.g. 60 to 70 kPa, through the resistance of a biological tissue barrier, for instance a skin.
  • the pump may be adapted to pump a volume of liquid between 0.1 ⁇ and 1000 ⁇ .
  • the solid sorbent of the pump is shaped in a 10° to 150° circular sector, e.g. 50° to 70° circular sector as explained earlier.
  • the device can be actuated manually, e.g. by finger pressure, and operates with no additional energy consumption.
  • the device comprises at least a further capillary pump, the device being adapted to activate the capillary pump and the at least further capillary pump simultaneously, with exit in the same zone, for instance an analysis or reaction zone, of a conduit when operational to mix their fluid.
  • the device may be adapted to activate the capillary pump and the at least further capillary pump consequentially with exit in the same zone, for instance an analysis or reaction zone, of a conduit when operational to sequentially deliver their fluid to the same zone in said conduit.
  • the further capillary pump may be activated by the first capillary pump.
  • a plurality of capillary pumps are provided, which may be connected so that some are adapted to be activated simultaneously, while others may be activated sequentially, and yet at least one capillary pump of the plurality may be engaged to activate at least a different capillary pump.
  • the fluid conduit comprises a conduit shunt physically or functionally connected with a port for sampling fluid, for instance ambient fluid.
  • the fluid conduit comprises a conduit shunt physically or functionally connected with a reservoir for containing any one of the group consisting of a working fluid, an analyte, a ligand, a biological active molecule, a chemical reactive molecule and a physical reactive molecule.
  • the device comprises an enclosure of the solid sorbent comprising an opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel.
  • an analytical zone is in fluid connection to an outlet channel, the analytical zone being adapted for receiving an analyte, the analytical zone furthermore being provided with a detector unit for detecting properties of analyte in the analytical zone.
  • the device comprises a propulsion pump according to any of the previous claims, wherein an analytical zone is in fluid connection to the outlet channel, the analytical zone being adapted for receiving an analyte, the analytical zone furthermore being provided with a detector unit for detecting properties of analyte in the analytical zone.
  • the propulsion pump system comprises one or more vents, e.g. units with vent holes, that are capable of introducing pressure variations within different zones of a microfluidic network in a controlled manner allow for decoupling different zones of a microfluidic network in order to design LOC devices with a more complex architecture (e.g. including a controlled actuation, including a delay in time between system activation and delivery of the fluid to an outlet in the system, allowing shuffling of fluids).
  • the present invention further provides a new microfluidic valving concept, based on a gas permeable-liquid impermeable porous material, that offers number of attractive features for POC applications, such as ease of fabrication, robustness, versatile functions and low fabrication cost.
  • the material may be a hydrophobic material, and to develop this hydrophobic material, we treated filter paper with a fluorinated compound and characterized it in terms of its hydrophobicity and burst pressure. Furthermore, to test its functionality as microfluidic valve, we have integrated it with our recently established SIMPLE platform (Self -powered Imbibing Microfluidic Pump by Liquid Encapsulation) and its infusion counterpart, namely iSIMPLE (Kokalj, et al. Lab Chip 2014; Dal Dosso, et al.
  • SIMPLE platform Self -powered Imbibing Microfluidic Pump by Liquid Encapsulation
  • the present invention is not limited to hydrophobic materials, and the valving concept may utilize hydrophilic material and/or oleophobic or lipophobic material in a suitable system, e.g. and oil-based system as well.
  • a suitable system e.g. and oil-based system as well.
  • we present an innovative valve for channel-based microfluidics that fulfills the need for simple but robust and versatile microfluidic valves and as such can be combined with highly demanding point-of-care (POC) devices.
  • the presented hydrophobic valve may include hydrophobic material simply made of porous material (e.g. filter paper) treated with a fluorinated compound (i.e.
  • this valve can be integrated in any channel-based system and can be used both as a vent, forming a gas permeable liquid sealed unit with a vent, to delay for instance liquids displacement on chip, or as a barrier, to stop the liquid flow in a certain direction (e.g. the same type of hydrophobic material may be included in the unit with the vent and in the barrier).
  • this work we demonstrated some of its capacities by combining the barrier and valve concepts with our in house developed self -powered SIMPLE and iSIMPLE platforms.
  • hydrophobic valve combined with SIMPLE/iSIMPLE present essential building blocks for an ideal POC system, which is self -powered, inexpensive, robust and can perform complex bioassays upon a single user activation.
  • the present invention further solves the problems of the related art by providing a self -powered, low-cost system to deliver, inject, or infuse fluids through biological barriers such as skin, preferably in conjunction with needles or microneedles.
  • this microfluidic infusion pump is capable of self -powered delivery of liquids through skin or other biological tissue barriers with controlled flow rate and (high) pressures, for instance 50 to 100 kPa or 60 to 70 kPa.
  • This system is capable of delivering small volumes of liquids, for instance volumes in the range 1-lOOOul and preferably in the range of 100 ⁇ to 300 ⁇ .
  • this microfluidic infusion pump is capable of injecting liquids with different viscosities, for instance in the range of 0.5 to 75 cP and preferably in the range of 0.9 up to 60 cP.
  • a further advantageous aspect is also that such delivery system can in total or in part, and in particular the needles, be made of biocompatible material.
  • biocompatible resin polypropylene, polytetrafluoretheen (PTFE) (such as Teflon (registered trademark)) or polyurethane, as a single substance or a mixture of any of these substances, may be used.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoretheen
  • Stainless steels, gold, silver, platinum, titanium, nitinol, metal or any other conductive biocompatible materials can be used to fabricate the microneedles.
  • Other parts of the delivery system may be biocompatible to the skin.
  • the delivery may also in total or in part be made of a biodegradable material.
  • biodegradable material as may be selected, for example, from among the following materials: polyglycolide (PGA), copolymers of glycolide, polylactides, copolymers of polylactide, unsymmetrically 3,6-substituted poly-l,4-dioxane-2,5 diones, poly-.- hydroxybutyrate (PHBA), PHBA/.-hydroxyvalerate copolymers (PHBA/HVA), poly-.-hydroxypropionate (PHP A), poly-p-dioxanone (PDS), poly-.
  • PGA polyglycolide
  • PGA polyglycolide
  • copolymers of glycolide polylactides
  • copolymers of polylactide unsymmetrically 3,6-substituted poly-l,4-dioxane-2,5 diones
  • poly-.- hydroxybutyrate PHBA/.-hydroxyvalerate copolymers
  • PPS poly-.-hydroxypropionate
  • glycolide comprise, for example, glycolide/L-lactide copolymers (PGA/PLLA) and glycolide/trimethylene carbonate copolymers (PGA/TMC).
  • Polylactides comprise, for example, poly-L-lactide (PLLA), poly-D-lactide (PDLA) and poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA).
  • Copolymers of polylactide comprise, for example, L-lactide/DL- lactide copolymers, L-lactide/D-lactide copolymers, lactide/tetramethylglycolide copolymers, lactide/trimethylene carbonate copolymers, lac tide/.
  • -valerolactone copolymer lactide/.-caprolactone copolymer, polydepsipeptides (glycine-DL-lactide copolymer), polylactide/polyethylene oxide copolymers, glycolide/L-lactide (PGA/PLLA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) copolymers and polylactide/polyethylene glycol (PEG) copolymers.
  • PGA/PLLA glycolide/L-lactide
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • the delivery of medicinal products, drugs, vaccines or other fluids into or across the skin can be accomplished in a pain-free, or almost pain-free manner to a human or animal subject.
  • the system is an infusion pump coupled an outlet connected to a single needle or microneedle, composed of metal, polymer of other appropriate material.
  • Another aspect of the invention is system is an infusion pump coupled an outlet connected to an array of microneedles, composed of metal, polymer or other appropriate material.
  • the system is comprised of an integrated infusion pump and outlet, connected to needle(s), in the form of a flexible or depressible adhesive patch to be applied to skin of a human or animal subject.
  • the system is an infusion pump connected to an outlet, whereby the infusion mechanism is started by a finger -press.
  • the system is any number of infusion pumps connected to an outlet, and where the activation of the infusion mechanism is achieved by contact of a biological liquid, such as sweat or saliva, wherein the biological liquid serves as the working liquid for the infusion pump(s).
  • a biological liquid such as sweat or saliva
  • the system is an infusion pump connected to an outlet in the form of a flexible or depressible adhesive patch, whereby the infusion mechanism is started by application of the patch to the subject's skin, such that the force of the application to the skin is sufficient to activate the infusion mechanism.
  • the system is an infusion pump connected to an outlet connected to (micro)needle (array), and where the needle is initially retracted in the system, but through the action of the infusion pump, is forced into the subject's skin or another biological barrier such as a vein.
  • the system is an infusion pump connected to an outlet, whereby the infusion pump is designed such that is allows to vary the flow rate of the fluid to be expelled from the outlet.
  • An example of a flow rate achieved is 0.07 - 30 ⁇ L/ ⁇ .
  • the system is any number of infusion pumps connected to an outlet, such that the pumps may be activated simultaneously, and where the pumping rate or pressure of one pump may be different to the other.
  • such pumps may be connected by microfluidic channels that contain fluids or solid chemical compounds. Such an arrangement may be useful for mixing a number of fluids with other fluids or with solid chemical compounds pre-loaded in the connected microfluidic channels.
  • the different pumps may not be connected by a microfluidic network, but may be connected to outlets, thereby providing for a way to deliver more than one fluid, and at different flow rates or pressures but where the activation of the different pumps is simultaneous.
  • the system is any number of infusion pumps connected to an outlet, such that the pumps may be activated sequentially, whereby one pump activates another pump, and where each pump is separated by a hydrophobic valve. Sequential pump activation may be useful to delay the time between system activation and delivery of the fluid to an outlet in the system.
  • the system is any number of infusion pumps connected to an outlet, whereby the fluid to be delivered through the outlet is pre-loaded into the system, and is stored in the system until such time that the infusion pump(s) is activated to deliver the stored fluid through the outlet.
  • the system is any number of infusion or propulsion pumps connected to an outlet, whereby the fluid to be delivered through the outlet is not part of the system, but is integrated into the system at such moment that the user of the system wishes to do so.
  • An example of such is a container that contains the fluid to be delivered by the system, as a separate entity.
  • the container i.e. primary container
  • the container is then applied/inserted to the infusion system by the user, whereby the infusion system is designed such that the contained may be integrated into the system, and at the moment of integration becomes connected to the microfluidic network in the system.
  • the system is comprised of an infusion or propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) and a suction (so called SIMPLE) pump, whereby such system may be useful for simultaneous delivery of fluids through a biological barrier and into a biological tissue, and sampling of biological fluids within that same biological tissue.
  • the suction pump(s) and consequently infusion pump may be connected by a microfluidic network to the same outlet, such that the delivery of fluids and sampling of fluids is achieved sequentially through the same or a different opening.
  • the activation of the first infusion and second sampling through the same or another outlet may be activated by one actuation, whereby each one pump functions in succession of the other.
  • system is adapted for sequential or simultaneous delivery of fluids and sampling of fluids
  • the system is preloaded with fluid, or adapted to be loaded upon use.
  • the propulsion pump system is connected to microneedles for delivery of fluid into a patient, more particular by intradermal delivery of volumes in the range 1-lOOOul and preferably in the range of 100 ⁇ to 300 ⁇ .
  • injection pressures for instance 50 to 100 kPa or 60 to 70 kPa. This objective is accomplished by a device according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • the present invention is based on the finding that by guiding the fluids, typically gas, expulsed from a solid sorbent during the absorption of a liquid by said solid sorbent into a milli- or microfluidic channel, referred to as outlet channel, this fluid flow provides a propulsion force, which allows for pushing a fluid contained in said outlet channel and/or connected a milli- or microfluidic network over a predictable trajectory. Moreover, it was found that the expulsed fluid flow allowed for generating a pressure within said outlet channel and/or connected milli- or microfluidic network, which was higher or at least comparable to that of all the microfluidic pumps presented in literature.
  • the propulsion pump system of the present invention has the important advantage over the pump systems of the prior art in that it can be made self- powered by incorporating the liquid needed for driving the absorption based propulsion pump system within the milli- or microfluidic system comprising the pump. It is clear that such propulsion pump systems may be particularly useful in many different milli- and microfluidic applications such as in Lab-on-Chip (LOC) or Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic devices or in the, for instance intradermal, delivery of therapeutic compounds to a human or animal in need thereof.
  • LOC Lab-on-Chip
  • POC Point-of-Care
  • the present invention provides a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump, which comprises a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, wherein said solid sorbent contains a first fluid prior to the activation of said pump.
  • said enclosure of the solid sorbent comprises a first opening through which said solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid and a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel.
  • the propulsion pump according to the present invention is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent with a liquid via said first opening, resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent. This absorption is typically associated with the expulsion of at least part of said first fluid from the cavities in said solid sorbent into said outlet channel.
  • the flow of said first fluid into the outlet channel allows for propulsing and/or compressing a second fluid contained in said outlet channel and/or in a microfluidic network connected to said outlet channel.
  • the propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention works in infusion mode, pushing with a predetermined flow rate. By tuning the shape and properties of parts of the propulsion pump, different flow rates can be achieved, based on the application requirements, and the flow rates can be defined as constant, decreasing or increasing flow rate.
  • Parameters that can be tuned to achieve a predetermined flow rate are the geometrical shape of the enclosed sorbent material and/or its properties, such as pore size, pore distribution in the sorbent material, porosity and/or wetting properties; the inlet and/or outlet channel dimensions (diameter and/or length); the load upstream and/or downstream of the pump, e.g. the volume of working liquid and outlet liquid; the properties of the applied fluids (working liquid and/or active substance), such as, viscosity, compressibility and surface tension.
  • the pump system of embodiments of the invention requires no external power and addresses the POC, LOC or drug delivery requirements. At the same time it is robust, easy to fabricate, inexpensive, easy to use, and suited for mass replication technologies.
  • the propulsion pump system of embodiments of the present invention allows to achieve predictable flows as well as high pressures. These properties allow to also use the propulsion pump of embodiments of the present invention for drug delivery applications, where a sufficient pressure is required to inject the drug through the skin into the body to overcome the skin barrier backpressure.
  • the solid sorbent of the milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump may be any of a porous materials, wherein said cavities are interconnected pores; or a capillary material, wherein said cavities are capillaries, preferably open ended capillaries; or a mixed material or powder comprising both capillaries and pores.
  • the first fluid may be a gas.
  • said first fluid may be a liquid in case the liquid being absorbed has a higher wetting affinity towards said solid sorbent than said first fluid.
  • said first opening of the enclosure of the solid sorbent of a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump connects to an inlet channel suitable for bringing a liquid into contact with said solid sorbent through said first opening in order to activate said propulsion pump.
  • said inlet channel contains a liquid and/or connects to a reservoir containing a liquid, the liquid being referred to as working liquid.
  • the working liquid Prior to the activation of the propulsion pump the working liquid is prevented from contacting said solid sorbent.
  • the contact between said working liquid and the solid sorbent is prevented by the presence of a gas between the working liquid and the solid sorbent.
  • the propulsion pump may comprise an activation means or actuators for moving the working liquid in the inlet channel such that it contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of the working liquid by said solid sorbent.
  • this activation means or actuators comprises a flexible or depressible wall integrated in a wall of said inlet channel and/or reservoir, wherein said propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by applying a sufficient pressure on said flexible or depressible wall whereby the deformation of said pressed flexible or depressible wall acts on the working liquid in the inlet channel and/or reservoir such that the working liquid moves in the inlet channel and contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of the working liquid by said solid sorbent.
  • the inlet channel and/or reservoir containing said working liquid may be further connected to a micro- or millifluidic network.
  • micro- or millifluidic network comprises a channel having an inlet opening wherein said suction force allows for pulling in a liquid positioned on said inlet opening into said channel.
  • LOC Lab-on-Chip
  • POC Point-of-Care
  • Embodiments of the present invention provide a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump wherein an analytical zone is in fluid connection to the outlet channel, the analytical zone being adapted for receiving an analyte.
  • the analytical zone can be a channel, a chamber such as a reaction chamber, a compartment; any region that allows for some kind of fluid flow and then detection.
  • the analytical zone is connected to a channel that allows the delivery of sample and reagents.
  • the analytical zone is furthermore provided with a detector unit for detecting properties of analyte in the analytical zone.
  • the detector unit may be any suitable type of detector unit, irrespective of the detection method e.g. any analytical sensor for detecting analytes in fluids, a colorimetric sensor, etc.
  • the detector unit may be, but does not need to be, an optical detector.
  • the detector unit may comprise a surface plasma resonance detector, for instance a gold surface plasma resonance detector or a fiber optic surface plasma resonance detector.
  • the detector unit is a system for converting a biological signal into a quantifiable signal (electric, intensity, numbers).
  • the detector unit may comprise a responsive element, responsive to an event; a processing element for generating a detection signal based on the response to the event; and a means for transmitting information between the responsive element and the processing element.
  • the detector unit does not need to be present in the analytical zone, but in that zone an event, e.g. a reaction, must take place to generate a signal that is detectable.
  • the detector unit can be present outside the analytical zone.
  • the detector unit can be integrally connected to a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention. If the detector unit is miniaturized and power (e.g. a battery) is provided, the detector unit can be attached / integrated to the chip comprising the propulsion pump.
  • the connection between the detector unit and the propulsion pump can be via a channel, a pipe or a tube. Such channel, pipe, tube should be connected to the enclosure enclosing the solid sorbent without any fluid leakage.
  • a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump wherein a unit, for instance a reaction chamber, is in fluid connection to the outlet channel, an analytical zone, for instance an analytical channel, being adapted for receiving reactive fluids.
  • the unit is furthermore physically or functionally connected with a responsive element.
  • the responsive element may comprise a fiber optic surface plasma resonance detector.
  • the responsive element may be part of the body of the reaction chamber.
  • the responsive element may be attached to the wall of the reaction chamber. Alternatively, the responsive element may be free of attachment to the reaction chamber.
  • the responsive element may be sealed in the reaction chamber.
  • the responsive element may be addressed by one or more electrodes located outside the reaction chamber.
  • the responsive element may be addressed remotely.
  • the transmitting means comprises one or both of electrical and optical elements.
  • the said transmitting means may comprise one or both of mechanical and radiation elements.
  • the radiation element provides radiation selected from the group consisting of acoustic waves, actinic radiation, nuclear radiation, and magnetism.
  • the reaction chamber may further comprise one or more of reaction component(s), intermediate(s), and reaction product(s).
  • the responsive element can be selected from the group consisting of thermocouples, interdigitated transducers (IDTs) and acoustic sensors (SAWs, QCMs).
  • the responsive element can be an analytical sensor.
  • the analytical sensor can monitor a physical property, a chemical property, a biological property.
  • the analytical sensor can be disposable.
  • the present invention provides a milli- or microfluidic system comprising a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention.
  • said milli- or microfluidic system further comprises a suction pump.
  • the suction pump may serve as an activation means or actuator for a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the inlet channel of the propulsion pump is typically operably connected to said suction pump such that following the activation of the suction pump a liquid can be moved into the inlet channel of said propulsion pump such that it contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of the liquid by said solid sorbent and the expulsion of at least part of said first fluid from the solid sorbent into the outlet channel of the propulsion pump.
  • the suction pump may comprise a further solid sorbent enclosed in a further enclosure.
  • the further enclosure of said solid sorbent comprises one or more vent- holes and an opening connecting the further enclosure to a further inlet channel and/or to a further reservoir, which either or both contain a liquid, referred to as further working liquid.
  • Said further inlet channel and/or further reservoir are operably connected to an inlet channel of a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the suction pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said the further working liquid to the further solid sorbent of the suction pump, which results in the absorption of the further working liquid from said further reservoir and/or further inlet channel by this further solid sorbent.
  • the pressure fall resulting from the absorption of the further working liquid from said further inlet channel and/or further reservoir generates a suction force on a liquid introduced or contained in the inlet channel of said propulsion pump such that said liquid is moved towards and brought into contact with said solid sorbent of the propulsion pump.
  • Milli- or microfluidic systems according to the second object of the invention may comprise two propulsion pumps according to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention wherein a first propulsion pump can serve as an activation means or actuator for a second propulsion pump.
  • the outlet channel connected to the enclosure of the solid sorbent of said first propulsion pump connects with the reservoir and/or inlet channel containing a working liquid and being connected to the enclosure of the solid sorbent of said second propulsion pump.
  • the fluid flow from the outlet channel of said first propulsion pump into said reservoir and/or inlet channel activates the second propulsion pump by pushing the working liquid contained therein towards and into contact with the enclosed solid sorbent of said second propulsion pump, resulting in the absorption of the working liquid by this sorbent and the expulsion of at least part of said first fluid from the solid sorbent into the outlet channel of the second propulsion pump.
  • the system of the further aspect of the present invention may comprise a second propulsion pump including an inlet channel and a working liquid (or in contact to a reservoir with said working liquid) which is prevented from contacting the solid sorbent before activating the second propulsion pump.
  • the first and second propulsion pump are configured such that the first propulsion pump can serve as a means for activating said second propulsion pump.
  • the outlet channel connected to the enclosure of the solid sorbent of the first propulsion pump may connect with the reservoir (and/or inlet channel) containing said working liquid. It also may be connected to the enclosure of the solid sorbent of the second propulsion pump.
  • the fluid flowing from the outlet channel of the first propulsion pump into the reservoir and/or inlet channel, activates the second propulsion pump by pushing the working liquid contained therein towards, and into contact, with the enclosed solid sorbent of the second propulsion pump, resulting in the absorption of the working liquid by this sorbent.
  • milli- or microfluidic systems according to the second object of the invention may comprise more than two propulsion pumps, acting on a different or the same outlet channel.
  • the plurality of propulsion pumps may be connected in series and activate one another as explained above.
  • two propulsion pumps may be connected in parallel, either with their inlet to the outlet of a third propulsion pump, for being activated by this third propulsion pump; or with their outlets both to the inlet of a third propulsion pump, for both together activating the third propulsion pump.
  • the present invention provides a milli- or microfluidic point of care diagnostic device comprising a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a lab-on-chip device or a drug delivery device comprising a propulsion pump according to the present invention.
  • the present invention provides the use of a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump according to any of the embodiments of the first aspect in a milli- or microfluidic system wherein said milli- or microfluidic system is a lab-on-chip (LOC) or point of care diagnostic or drug delivery device.
  • LOC lab-on-chip
  • the present invention provides a delivery system for delivering a target molecule or agent, for instance a bioactive compound, into a target location, for instance through an injection needle or one or more microneedles.
  • the target location can be a cell, a tissue or a living organism such as a plant or animal.
  • the present invention for instance provides a patch for the delivery of a medicinal or veterinary compound, wherein said patch comprises a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention and at least one hollow needle, preferably a microneedle, the microneedle comprising a channel connecting a needle inlet opening with an open free end, adapted for being introduced in a human or animal tissue.
  • the outlet channel of said propulsion pump comprises a solution or suspension containing said compound to be delivered, or is connected to a reservoir for containing or comprising such solution or suspension.
  • Said outlet channel or reservoir is further connected to the inlet of said hollow microneedle such that by activating the propulsion pump said solution or suspension can be pumped via said inlet towards the open free end of the microneedle and preferably into a tissue in which the microneedle is introduced.
  • the present invention also provides a fluid conduit system, particularly a valve system, which can be used in combination with the pumps and systems of the previous aspects such as actuators for activating pumping or suction action, and which may provide manipulation of fluid by providing propulsion by fluid sorption by enclosed sorbent, providing differences of pressure thanks to the gas-permeable liquid- sealed unit with vent hole and a conduit zone pre-filled with liquid.
  • a device with fluid conduit system, web or network to manipulate fluids comprising a fluid actuator unit, a gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit comprising a vent hole, and a solid sorbent enclosed in a chamber with entry access and outlet access engaged with the fluid conduit system.
  • the gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit with vent and the sorbent enclosure are each engaged by a fluid transit with a fluid conduit that comprises at least three interconnected zones:
  • a second conduit zone pre-filled with a liquid positioned between the first and third conduit zones, whereby the volume of the first conduit zone is proportionally larger than, or equal to, the volume of the third conduit zone.
  • fluid manipulation includes mixing, separating, and/or moving gases or liquids, e.g. moving gases or liquids along conduits and/or into inlets, out of outlets, or into chambers.
  • the gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit with vent is engaged, by direct access orifice or through a shunt conduit, with the fluid conduit system, web or network, and it is also engaged by the vent for gas discharge or gas intake with the external environment of said device.
  • the gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit is fixed in the fluid conduit system, web or network, to transit gases and block liquids between intermittent fluid conduits.
  • the unit is a patch made of a hydrophobic material containing cavities for gas passage, for instance an hydrophobic paper.
  • the device further comprises a gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit fixed in the fluid conduit system, web or network, to transit gases and block liquids between intermittent fluid conduits.
  • the gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit comprises a hydrophobic material containing cavities for gas passage, for instance a hydrophobic paper.
  • a hydrophobic material containing cavities for gas passage for instance an hydrophobic paper.
  • the device includes a fluid port or opening, which acts as 'fluid transit' .
  • the first conduit zone comprises a liquid, e.g. it may be prefilled with a liquid.
  • the first conduit zone is prefilled with a liquid into the gas- permeable liquid-sealed unit with vent contacting the gas-permeable seal.
  • the liquid is interconnected with liquid that is prefilling the second conduit zone.
  • the third conduit zone is pre-filled with gas.
  • the conduit may be a channel or tube.
  • the device further comprises two propulsion pumps simultaneously activatable by an actuator with exit in the same zone, for instance an analysis or reaction zone, of a conduit, when operational, in order to mix their fluids (e.g. their liquids).
  • two propulsion pumps simultaneously activatable by an actuator with exit in the same zone, for instance an analysis or reaction zone, of a conduit, when operational, in order to mix their fluids (e.g. their liquids).
  • the device comprises a further propulsion pump (e.g. the device includes two propulsion pumps, or more) with exit in the same zone, consequentially activatable by an actuator .
  • the propulsion pumps may exit to, for instance, an analysis or reaction zone, of a conduit, to sequentially deliver their fluid to the same zone in said conduit when operational.
  • the device may comprise a first propulsion pump engaged to activate a second propulsion pump.
  • the elements of the device may be arranged and functionally connected to each other, to perform a diversity of actions of fluids, e.g. on liquids.
  • the pumps, fluid reservoirs, at least one gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit with vent and at least one gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit may be engaged in the conduit system, web or network to mix different fluids, and/or to sequentially deliver different fluids and/or to push forward and back in a same conduit zone, for instance an analysis zone, reaction zone or zone enclosing a hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic (HIH) microtube or microwell grids array.
  • HHIH hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic
  • the solid sorbent may be shaped in order to improve sorption, for example it may be tapered towards the inlet port.
  • the solid sorbent may be a solid 3D object shaped (for instance a cone), tapered towards the inlet port.
  • the solid sorbent may be swellable and its chamber or enclosure may comprise at least one expandable wall.
  • the unit with a vent hole may function as a valve.
  • the solid sorbent may be a liquid absorbent.
  • the fluid conduit comprises a shunt conduit physically or functionally connected with a port for sampling fluid, for instance fluid from the environment, or fluid surrounding or in contact with the port, more in general ambient fluid.
  • the port has a seal of any one of the group consisting of a valve seal, a seal that can be in a closed or open position and a seal that is removable, openable or closable to open or close the shunt conduit.
  • the fluid conduit comprises a shunt conduit physically or functionally connected with a reservoir that can contain or contains any one of the group consisting of a working fluid, an analyte, a ligand, a biological active molecule, a chemical reactive molecule and a physical reactive molecule.
  • the reservoir may be an enclosure that is openable or closeable for instance by a seal that is removable, or a seal that can be in a closed or open position.
  • the fluid actuator comprises a fluid within a depressible enclosure
  • the conduits are adapted so the fluids therein are geometrically constrained to millimeter scale, or lower, for example to sub-millimeter scale.
  • the device is miniaturised to manipulate, move, mix or separate milliliter fluids, or even lower volumes, for example microliter fluids or nanoliter fluids.
  • the device is miniaturised on a single chip.
  • no external actuation means are additionally used for a directed transport of the media.
  • the device may require only actuation by manual means, e.g. by pressure of the finger of a user, and it consumes no additional energy to operate.
  • the actuated fluid manipulation does not require any other external force, or centrifugal, thermal, electromechanical and/or electronic generation or actuation.
  • the solid sorbent enclosed in the chamber is a propulsion pump, comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, which may have a diamond shape, or a circular sector.
  • the device comprises a propulsion pump comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure.
  • the device includes a propulsion pump, an actuator and a gas- permeable liquid-sealed unit comprising a vent hole.
  • the solid sorbent contains cavities or capillars comprising a first fluid
  • the enclosure of the solid sorbent comprises a first opening through which the solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid and a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel.
  • the propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent with a liquid, via said first opening, resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent. This absorption is associated with the expulsion of at least part of said first fluid from the cavities of said solid sorbent into said outlet channel.
  • the flow of said first fluid into the outlet channel allows for propulsing and/or compressing a second fluid contained in said outlet channel and/or in a channel or reservoir physically or functionally connected to said outlet channel.
  • said first opening connects to an inlet channel suitable for bringing a liquid into contact with said solid sorbent via said first opening in order to activate said propulsion pump.
  • said inlet channel contains a liquid and/or connects to a reservoir containing a liquid, referred to as working liquid, wherein prior to the activation of the propulsion pump the working liquid is prevented from contacting said solid sorbent.
  • a portion of the inlet channel including working fluid forms the second conduit zone, and it is prevented from contacting the solid sorbent by the first conduit zone.
  • the propulsion pump comprises activation means or actuators for moving the working liquid in the inlet channel through the first conduit zone, such that it contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of the working liquid by said solid sorbent.
  • the activation means or actuators comprise a flexible or depressible wall integrated in a wall of said inlet channel and/or reservoir, and the propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by applying a sufficient pressure on said flexible or depressible wall.
  • the deformation of said pressed flexible or depressible wall acts on the working liquid in the inlet channel and/or reservoir, in particular on the liquid (working liquid, or a trigger liquid) in a third conduit zone, with a volume larger than the volume of the first conduit zone, such that the working liquid moves in the inlet channel and contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of the working liquid by said solid sorbent.
  • the inlet channel and/or reservoir containing the working liquid are connected to a micro- or millifluidic network.
  • the arrangement results in the effect that, upon activation of the propulsion pump, the absorption of said working liquid from the inlet channel and/or reservoir by the solid sorbent exerts a suction force on the fluids contained in said connected micro- or millifluidic network.
  • the network may comprise at least a channel having an inlet opening, and the suction force allows for pulling in a liquid positioned on said inlet opening into said channel.
  • the present invention is not limited to "working liquid".
  • the first fluid is a gas.
  • the device includes a propulsion pump, an actuator and a gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit comprising a vent hole device, wherein some features comprise particular embodiments from previous aspects of the present invention; for example the solid sorbent of the propulsion pump is a porous material, wherein said cavities are interconnected pores, or a capillary material, wherein said cavities are open ended capillaries, or a mixed material comprising both such capillaries and pores.
  • the device may include an analytical zone in fluid connection to the outlet channel.
  • the analytical zone is adapted for receiving an analyte, and it may be provided with a detector unit for detecting properties of analyte in the analytical zone.
  • Any suitable detector can be used.
  • the detector unit may comprise a plasma resonance detector, e.g. a fiber optic surface plasma resonance detector
  • a device can be provided for delivery of a liquid into a tissue.
  • the device may provide a fast delivery, e.g. faster than 1 microliter per hour, at a suitable pressure for transdermal delivery, and with a wide range of delivery volume.
  • Such device may advantageously be self- powered, e.g. it may not need an external power source.
  • the principles of actuation are based in, and share common features, with previous aspects of the present invention.
  • a self-powered microliter liquid system is provided, for injecting a liquid into a tissue, where its delivery system comprises at least one microneedle coupled to a device comprising at least one milli- or microfluidic capillary propulsion pump.
  • the capillary propulsion pump comprises a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, said solid sorbent containing cavities comprising a first fluid, and the enclosure of the solid sorbent comprises a first opening, through which the solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid.
  • the enclosure further comprises a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel.
  • the propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent with a liquid via said first opening, resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent.
  • this absorption is associated with the expulsion of at least part of said first fluid from the cavities of said solid sorbent into said outlet channel, whereby the flow of said first fluid into the outlet channel allows for propulsing and/or compressing a second fluid contained in said outlet channel and/or in a channel or reservoir connected to said outlet channel.
  • the solid sorbent comprises a porous material or materials, including cavities which may be interconnected pores, open ended capillaries, a mixed material comprising both, etc.
  • the first fluid which is included in the cavities of the solid sorbent may be a gas.
  • the first opening connects to an inlet channel suitable for bringing, via the opening, a liquid into contact with said solid sorbent, in order to activate said propulsion pump.
  • the inlet channel contains a liquid ("working liquid”) and/or connects to a reservoir containing that liquid, which is prevented from contacting the solid sorbent prior to the activation of the propulsion pump
  • the propulsion pump comprises activation means, or actuators, for moving the working liquid in the inlet channel, such that it contacts the solid sorbent via said first opening when the actuator is used, resulting in the absorption of at least part of the working liquid by said solid sorbent.
  • the activation means may comprise a flexible or depressible wall integrated in a wall of said inlet channel and/or reservoir.
  • the propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by applying a sufficient pressure on said flexible or depressible wall.
  • the deformation of said pressed flexible or depressible wall acts on the working liquid in the inlet channel and/or reservoir, such that the working liquid moves in the inlet channel ( e.g. moves through the first conduit zone) and contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening, resulting in the absorption of at least part of the working liquid by the solid sorbent.
  • the inlet channel and/or reservoir containing the working liquid are further connected to a micro- or millifluidic network, so upon activation of the propulsion pump, the absorption of said working liquid from the inlet channel and/or reservoir by said solid sorbent exerts a suction force on the fluids contained in the connected micro- or millifluidic network.
  • the micro- or millifluidic network comprises a channel having an inlet opening. The suction force allows for pulling in a liquid positioned on said inlet opening into said channel.
  • the system may include an analytical zone in fluid connection to the outlet channel.
  • the analytical zone can be adapted for receiving an analyte, and be provided with a detector unit for detecting properties of analyte in the analytical zone, e.g. a fiber optic surface plasma resonance detector.
  • a milli- or microfluidic system comprising a self-powered liquid system is provided.
  • the milli- or microfluidic system further comprises a suction pump.
  • said suction pump serves as an activation means or actuators of the propulsion pump introduced earlier, wherein the inlet channel of the propulsion pump is operably connected to the suction pump.
  • a liquid can be moved into the inlet channel of said propulsion pump, such that it contacts said solid sorbent via said first opening, resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent.
  • the suction pump comprises a further solid sorbent enclosed in a further enclosure comprising one or more vent-holes, and an opening connecting the further enclosure to a further inlet channel and/or to a further reservoir.
  • the channel and/or reservoir, or both, contain a liquid, referred to as a "further working liquid".
  • the further inlet channel and/or further reservoir are further operably connected to an inlet channel of the propulsion pump introduced earlier.
  • the suction pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said "further working liquid" to the further solid sorbent of the suction pump, resulting in the absorption of the further working liquid from said further reservoir and/or further inlet channel by this further solid sorbent, so a suction force is exerted on a liquid introduced or contained in the inlet channel of said propulsion pump.
  • the liquid is moved towards and brought into contact with said solid sorbent of the propulsion pump.
  • a second propulsion pump is included.
  • the first and second propulsion pumps are configured such that the first propulsion pump can serve as a means for activating said second propulsion pump.
  • the outlet channel connected to the enclosure of the solid sorbent of the first propulsion pump connects with said reservoir and/or inlet channel containing the working liquid and being connected to the enclosure of the solid sorbent of the second propulsion pump.
  • the fluid flow from the outlet channel of the first propulsion pump into the reservoir and/or inlet channel activates the second propulsion pump, by pushing the working liquid contained therein towards and into contact with the enclosed solid sorbent of tbe second propulsion pump resulting in the absorption of the working liquid by this sorbent.
  • the device is adapted for providing self -powered delivery of liquids in to a tissue, or through skin or other biological tissue barriers, with controlled flow rate at high pressures of 50 to 100 kPa, for example 60 to 70 kPa.
  • the device is adapted for delivery of small volumes of liquids, for instance volumes in the range 1-lOOOul or even lower, e.g. O. lul to lOOOul, and preferably in the range of 100 ⁇ to 300 ⁇ in to a tissue or through skin or other biological tissue barriers.
  • the device is adapted for delivery of liquids with different viscosities, for instance in the range of 0.5 to 75 cP and preferably in the range of 0.9 up to 60 cP in to a tissue or through skin or other biological tissue barriers with controlled flow rate at high pressures of 50 to 100 kPa or 60 to 70 kPa.
  • the present invention provides the use of a self-powered microliter liquid system according embodiments of the previous aspect, in a milli- or microfluidic system integrated in a patch for the delivery of a medicinal or veterinary compound.
  • the present invention provides a patch for the delivery of a medicinal or veterinary compound.
  • the patch comprises a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the previous aspects and at least one hollow microneedle, comprising a channel connecting a needle inlet with an open free end, adapted for being introduced in a tissue.
  • the outlet channel of the propulsion pump comprises a solution or suspension containing said compound, or is connected to a reservoir comprising such solution or suspension, wherein said outlet channel or reservoir is connected to the inlet of the hollow microneedle such that, by activating the propulsion pump, said solution or suspension is pumped via the inlet towards the free end of the microneedle, and into the tissue in which the microneedle is introduced.
  • the patch is flexible or depressible
  • current methods rely on expensive, not user-friendly and power-dependent microfluidic platforms for liquid manipulation which are not compatible with POC application, low cost production, robustness and user-friendliness.
  • a microfluidic device including a sample delivery section for applying a liquid containing magnetic beads operationally connected to a detection zone with one or more recessed parts and a magnet positioned in the proximity of the detection zone so that when operational the beads are immobilized in the recessed part of the detection zone in one continuous flow.
  • the magnetic beads are positioned to the walls of the sample delivery section
  • a capillary delivery pump is further included.
  • the capillary delivery pump is a suction pump for providing the continuous flow to immobilize said beads in the recessed part
  • the suction pump comprises a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, said solid sorbent containing cavities comprising a first fluid.
  • the enclosure of the solid sorbent comprises a first opening through which said solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid and a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel and wherein said suction pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent with a liquid via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent resulting in a suction force exerted on a liquid introduced or contained in the inlet channel of said suction pump such that said liquid is moved towards and brought into contact with said solid sorbent.
  • the solid sorbent is shaped in a 10° up to 150° circular sector, for example 50° to 70° circular sector to provide a flow rate of about 4 to 10 ⁇ l/min
  • the recessed parts are a set of indentations with a shape complementary to the beads
  • the magnet is positioned perpendicular or almost perpendicular at an angle in the range of 85-95° underneath the detection zone. Moreover, in some embodiments the magnet may be at least as large as the surface of the detection zone
  • the magnet has a strength of about 1.3 T and is positioned about 1.5 to 2.5 mm below the recessed part
  • the bead concentration in the liquid is about 2*10 ⁇ 7 to 10*10 ⁇ 7 beads/ml.
  • a propulsion pump comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, said solid sorbent containing cavities comprising a first fluid, wherein said enclosure of the solid sorbent comprises a first opening through which said solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid and a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel and wherein said propulsion pump is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent with a liquid via said first opening resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent; whereby this absorption is associated with the expulsion of at least part of said first fluid from the cavities of said solid sorbent into said outlet channel, whereby the flow of said first fluid into the outlet channel allows for propulsing and/or compressing a second fluid contained in said outlet channel and/or in a channel or reservoir connected to said outlet channel.
  • At least a transparent section for visual inspection of the beads is present
  • a kit of parts if provided, the kit comprising the microfluidic device according to the previous aspect of the present invention and functionalized magnetic beads.
  • a method for immobilizing magnetic beads on a detection zone is provided. The method can be applied in a microfluidic device according to embodiments of the previous aspects of the present invention. The method comprising the steps of 1) adding a liquid with to the sample delivery section or adding a liquid to the delivery section whereon magnetic beads are positioned, 2) applying a continuous liquid flow thereby transporting the beads into the direction of the detection zone and 3) applying force with a magnetic strength sufficient to retain the magnetic beads in the recessed zone of the detection zone.
  • the method further comprises the steps of applying substrate and subsequently oil over the magnetic beads.
  • Figure 1 shows the schematics of pump design and prefilling steps.
  • Figure 2 shows the schematic representation of the activation and operation of an embodiment of the propulsion pump of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 shows the fabrication of an embodiment of a microfluidic propulsion pump of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 shows a stepwise representation of the prefilling of a microfluidic propulsion pump according to the embodiment of Figure 3 of the present invention, in side view and in top view.
  • Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the operation of an embodiment of a propulsion pump system according to the present invention.
  • Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a propulsion pump according to the present invention for investigating the use of said pump for generating a pressure in a microfluidic system.
  • Figure 7 shows the trend of the pressure building in the device of Figure 6.
  • Figure 8 shows an exemplary microfluidic system comprising a suction pump and a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 and 10 shows different exemplary embodiments of a microfluidic system with two propulsion pumps according to embodiments of the present invention, activated with suction pump.
  • Figure 11 shows an embodiment of a microfluidic system comprising a suction pump being activated by a propulsion pump.
  • Figure 12 shows a microfluidic system comprising two propulsion pumps according to the present invention.
  • Figure 13 shows an assay system comprising a suction and propulsion pump combination.
  • Figure 14 shows a detection system for use in a microfluidic bioassay.
  • Figure 15 shows an assay system for use in a microfluidic bioassay involving a coupled enzyme reaction.
  • Figure 16 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention, in which a surface plasmon resonance optical fiber is integrated with a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention, in a system or chip, for data readout.
  • Figure 17 is a graphic that displays the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) of present invention for drug delivery with hydrophobic valve.
  • Figure 18 is a graphic of a needle/microneedle connection to the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip.
  • the device is shown on side view: i) bottom layer, ii) outlet channel (OC) cut in PSA, iii) top layer with outlet hole.
  • a connection ring (CR) made of PSA is used to connect the outlet of the propulsion pump
  • iSIMPLE chip with the inlet of the needle/microneedle.
  • Figure 19 is a graph that depicts the flow rate of the outlet liquid in the different sections (i.e. S(l-2), each of 1.91 ⁇ L) )or outlet liquid of different viscosity. Each point represents the flow rate values obtained for water solutions with 0% and 90% glycerol.
  • Figure 20 shows A) the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip for drug delivery assembled and prefilled with an array of five 32G needles. B) Operation of the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip with microneedle array while injecting in 1 % agarose matrix. C,D) Top and side view of the agarose matrix after injection were the red colored outlet liquid is clearly injected in the matrix.
  • iSIMPLE the propulsion pump
  • Figure 21 shows Table A: Calculated pressure (using Hagen-Poiseuille law) needed to eject a liquid with different viscosity (0 - 100% glycerol concentrations) through a needle of different diameter (i.e. 26 and 34G) at 20°C using a flow rate of 0.8 ⁇ L/min
  • Figure 22 is a schematic illustration of a device with fluid conduit system to manipulate fluids including the elements of a fluid actuator unit , a shunt conduit with downstream a gas-permeable liquid-sealed vent hole ,(e.g. a unit with vent hole forming a hydrophobic valve), and a capillary pump.. It also provides a drawing of the phases of the activation of propulsion pump in a design with hydrophobic valve
  • Figure 23 is a graphic and photographic that displays A) a suction pump and B) a propulsion pump.
  • Figure 24a - 24h is a schematic illustration of the device with fluid conduit system to manipulate fluids of present invention with a fluid conduit web that is featured to operate as an ELISA with or without microbeads seeding over an array of holes, for instance in the analytical zone.
  • Fig 24a displays gates and valves adapted to form a passageway for gas and a barrier for liquid.
  • the figures 24b to 24h demonstrate such device at actuation and in various phases of its operation.
  • Figure 25 is a graphic display of a functionally engaged suction pump and propulsion pump integrated into a fluid conduit web or microfluidic network moreover comprising an enclosure hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic (HIH) microtube or microwell grids array in said the fluid conduit system.
  • HHIH hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic
  • Figure 26 is a graphic that demonstrates an embodiment with a suction pump and propulsion pump series with engagement of an hydrophobic valve (HV) in a design that delays an intermittent activation of a next pumping system.
  • HV hydrophobic valve
  • Figure 27 Schematic work flow for the fabrication of the microwell array grounding plate, using both an Parylene-C shadow mask and an aluminium hard mask
  • Figure 28 Microfluidic set-up: outlet connected to a syringe pump, magnet underneath the array and 10 ⁇ L ⁇ droplet of the buffer solution on the inlet.
  • Figure 29 Overview of the suction pump: i) part of the filter paper, ii) working liquid channel with activation button, and iii) analytical channel with sample inlet.
  • Figure 30 Design Suction Pump: a) PSA middle layer with channel design, b) top PVC layer with vent- holes and prefilling hole, and c) bottom PVC part with inlet.
  • Figure 31 Microfluidic set-up with well-known volume marks in the PSA layer, outlet of array connected to a prefilled Suction Pump.
  • Figure 32 Microfluidic set-up of prefilled activated Suction Pump connected with the outlet of the microwell array.
  • the microwell array chip is clamped onto the 3D printed magnet holder.
  • Figure 33 The plug flow is pushing and seeding the aggregate of beads above the array.
  • Figure 34 Fitted results of I-optimal full factorial blocked design of seeding efficiencies at different magnet to array distances with flow rate varied between 1, 5 and 10 ⁇ L/min.
  • Figure 35 Overview microscope images for the three different distances: a) immobilization of the beads above the array due to too high magnetic attraction (distance of 1.75 mm), b) good seeding (distance of 2.4 mm), and c) low seeding due to low magnetic attraction (distance of 3.5 mm).
  • Figure 36 Fitted results of the two level full factorial block DOE of seeding efficiencies with flow rate of 5 and 10 ⁇ L/min and a bead concentration of 2.5 and 5 x 10 ⁇ 7 beads/mL.
  • Figure 37 Predicton profiler set at maximal seeding efficiency in which a seeding efficiency of 91.55% is predicted at settings of 5 ⁇ L/min and 5x10 ⁇ 7 beads/mL.
  • Figure 38 Brightfield images of seeded beads into the microwell array using the suction pump as pumping mechanism: a) brightfield pictures taken of one array with 15x objective, and b) pictures taken of second array with some defaults with 40x objective both showing seeding over 92%.
  • Figure 39 A) iSIMPLE pump during the operation. B) flow rate of the outlet liquid in the different sections for different filter papers.
  • Figure 40 A) Terumo Nanopass 34 G microneedle with internal and needle dimensions. B) Modified needle housing. C) iSIMPLE chip used for drug delivery experiments. D) Ready-to-use iSIMPLE chip with the integrated microneedle
  • Figure 41 Volume ejected at the corresponding time during the pump operation.
  • Figure 43 Overview of injecting different glycerol concentrations (0 and 40 %) in different agarose matrices (1 and 2.65 %) with iSIMPLE.
  • Figure 44 Injection in chicken breast with iSIMPLE.
  • Figure 45 shows, in three steps, the characterization of the burst pressure of a hydrophobic barrier.
  • Figure 46 illustrates measurements of the contact angle of water in contact with hydrophobic filter paper.
  • Figure 47 shows a graph with the results of burst pressure characterization of hydrophobic valve (e.g. its hydrophobic material) used as hydrophobic barrier.
  • Figure 48 illustrates the influence of the hydrophobic valve in the activation of a microfluidic system (iSIMPLE design), in particular an example of failed activation in a system without hydrophobic valve and the comparison with the successful activation of a system including the hydrophobic valve
  • Figure 49 illustrates a microfluidic system (SIMPLE design) for sample splitting towards multichannel analysis. It also provides a drawing of the phases of the activation of a pulling pump and the splitting of the sample.
  • Figure 50 illustrates a combination of SIMPLE and iSIMPLE designs with hydrophobic valve, hydrophobic barrier and porous barrier for shuttling of liquid on chip.
  • Figure 51 illustrates an embodiment of a system with a safe disposal, needle disable feature.
  • Figure 52 illustrates an embodiment with multi-chamber / one-step reconstitution on the device
  • Figure 53 illustrates an embodiment including features for monitoring of pump function/ termination of injection feature/ Barcoding/compliance/traceability system
  • Figure 54 illustrates a pump activation and (micro)needle application "button"
  • the present invention provides a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump 100 comprising a solid sorbent 101 enclosed in an enclosure 102.
  • the solid sorbent 101 contains cavities comprising a first fluid.
  • the first fluid may be a liquid, or a gas such as for instance air.
  • the enclosure 102 of the solid sorbent 101 comprises a first opening 103 through which the solid sorbent 101 can be contacted with a liquid.
  • the enclosure 102 furthermore comprises a second opening 104, through which the first fluid can be evacuated from the enclosure 102.
  • the second opening 104 connects the enclosure 102 to an outlet channel 105.
  • the propulsion pump 100 is adapted for being activated by contacting said solid sorbent 101 with a liquid via said first opening 103, for instance a liquid flowing in an inlet channel 106, resulting in the absorption of at least part of said liquid by the solid sorbent 101.
  • This absorption of liquid by the solid sorbent 101 is associated with the expulsion of at least part of the first fluid from the cavities of the solid sorbent 101 through the second opening 104 into the outlet channel 105.
  • the flow of the first fluid into the outlet channel 105 allows for propulsion and/or compression of a second fluid contained in the outlet channel 105 and/or in a channel or reservoir connected to said outlet channel 105.
  • the solid sorbent is a porous material, which may absorb liquids.
  • it may be hydrophilic (or oleophilic or lipophilic, if the working liquid is oily). It may be a filter paper.
  • the gate adapted to form a passageway for gas and a barrier for liquid for instance an hydrophobic patch can for instance comprising a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane.
  • a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane Preferably it is a porous material, so that the air can flow through, that do not show affinity with the liquid in contact.
  • hydrophobic properties are used for watery liquids or hydrophilic if liquid used is oil-based.
  • such hydrophobic patch is made of a filter paper which is made hydrophobic by applying silicon or fluorinated compounds (i.e. Aquapel solution).
  • silicon or fluorinated compounds i.e. Aquapel solution.
  • Whatman IPS Phase Separator Papers was used (silicon based), while in the second, a fluorinated compounds (i.e.
  • the gate adapted to form a passageway for gas and a barrier for liquid can be integrated in a microfluidic device for instance acting as i) a barrier or ii) a valve for instance acting as i) a hydrophobic barrier or ii) a hydrophobic valve for conduits with aqueous liquids or for instance acting as i) a hydrophilic barrier or ii) a oleophobic valve for conduits with oily liquids.
  • hydrophobic valve reference is made to a unit with a vent hole, e.g. a gas- permeable liquid-sealed unit with a vent hole; however it may also be a lipophobic or oleophobic valve, if the working fluid or trigger fluid is oily. In some cases, the hydrophobic valve or its materials can be used as a barrier or part thereof.
  • liquid-barrier gas-passageway gate is a barrier (for instance an hydrophobic barrier for aqueous liquids or an hydrophilic barrier for oily liquids)
  • such liquid-barrier gas-passageway gate is for instance a patch that is embedded in a microfluidic channel connected to the inlet and outlet of the devices through channel partially filled with liquids (A upstream, B downstream).
  • the technical effect thereof is that it physically separates these liquids (upstream and downstream the barrier) while at the same time keeping the two sections of the device connected.
  • the liquid A is pushed/pulled through the inlet, the effect is transferred to liquid B and vice versa, because the over/under pressure generated will be transmitted by the air between the two liquids that on its turn can freely go through the barrier.
  • the two parts of the device are not connected anymore once the liquid A (or liquid B) reaches the barrier. In this case, the liquid B (or liquid A) cannot push/pull the liquid A (or liquid B) anymore because it is blocked by the barrier.
  • liquid-barrier gas-passageway gate is a valve it can be in the form of a patch.
  • a hydrophobic patch can be used for aqueous liquids and hydrophillic (and/or oleophobic) patch for oily liquids.
  • the patch may be embedded in a microfluidic channel connected to the inlet and outlet of the devices through channel partially filled with liquids (A upstream, B downstream), forming a barrier for liquids, but also directly connected to the outside via a vent hole, for example forming a unit with a vent hole where the patch allows the passage of air but stops passage of liquid.
  • a third liquid C can be upstream or at the interface with the valve (e.g. with the unit with a vent hole acting as a valve). Part of the valve is then connected to the microfluidic channel side and part to the atmosphere via the vent hole.
  • the valve e.g. with the unit with a vent hole acting as a valve.
  • liquid B is pulled along the channel while liquid A is pulled only if the valve is covered by the liquid C.
  • the under pressure applied to the outlet is not applied to the liquid A since there is a vent hole between, represented by the hydrophobic valve. If the valve is covered by the liquid C, the under pressure applied to the outlet is applied to the liquid A as long as the liquid C keeps blocking the valve.
  • the liquid A is not pulled anymore.
  • the liquid A is pushed downstream along with the liquid C.
  • the liquid B is pushed only when the liquid C and later on the liquid A, block the valve, otherwise the air pushed by the liquid C and A can escape from the hydrophobic valve without affecting the liquid B.
  • suction pumps and propulsion pumps can be activated sequentially with a desired time in between.
  • the patch compared to other valves/barrier, are robust, easy to fabricate, inexpensive and provide a physical barrier or a phase selective (air/liquid) valve system.
  • microbeads are seeded in a microwell array under continuous flow with the Suction Pump.
  • Magnetophoresis is used in the present invention to enhance the seeding efficiency of superparamagnetic microbeads in the HIH wells array.
  • Magnetophoresis can be described as the motion of magnetic particles through a medium induced by an external magnetic field. Magnetophoresis finds its applications in separation processes where magnetic particles are used as solid phase carriers in biological assays and can be subsequently manipulated due to their superparamagnetic properties.
  • the advantages of using superparamagetic beads in biological assays are: i) sample handling is easier, ii) magnets can be positioned externally (allowing manipulation of the beads externally), iii) in contrast to electric separation, magnetic forces are not influenced by temperature, pH and ionic strength, and iv) the magnetic labeled beads can be retained on the microwell array for a digital analysis.
  • Superparamagnetic beads are typically magnetic nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix and can be made of a polystyrene shell and an iron oxide core and therefore they have the typical ferromagnetism magnetic susceptibilities (permanent magnetic materials) while in the presence of a magnetic field. This produces some interesting properties: i) they are used as solid phase carriers and can be subsequently manipulated due to their magnetic properties, and ii) the iron oxide core, which causes the beads to be magnetic, cannot interfere with biological reagents. However, when the external field is removed, the global magnetic permeability ⁇ of the bead returns to zero due the redistribution of the magnetic moments. Thus, these beads can be strongly magnetic but at the same time conserve the property of reversibility typical of the paramagnetism. For these reasons these beads are called 'superparamagnetic'.
  • a self -powered POC device with a porous material shaped in 60° circular sector used to provide a flow rate of 6.59+0.78 ⁇ L/ ⁇ , a magnet distance of 1.95 mm and a bead concentration of 5xl0 7 beads/mL is presented here. These values are only indicative, and other concentrations may be used, independently of the magnet distance, flow rate or shape or type of capillary pump.
  • This system proves to be reliable and when used to seed microbeads guarantees the proper flow rate to achieve a seeding efficiency of 91.6%.
  • High seeding efficiency i.e. more than 90%
  • the Suction Pump platform may be used to first seed and then seal microbeads combining a propulsion pump, with the aim to design a self -powered POC device with unprecedented sensitivity.
  • Figure 1 illustrates different steps in the process of prefilling of a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, i.e. before the propulsion pump 100 is actually used as a pump.
  • Figure 1 A) Before its prefilling the pump 100 comprises an enclosure 102, said enclosure 102 comprising a first opening 103 connected with an inlet channel 106, a second opening 104 connected with an outlet channel 105 and a vent-hole 107.
  • B) Solid sorbent 101 in the example illustrated for instance in the form of porous material comprising cavities filled with air, is hosted in the enclosure 102 and the vent-hole 107 is open.
  • the solid sorbent 101 e.g. porous material
  • Figure 2 illustrates steps in the actual use of a device 100 as a propulsion pump.
  • Figure 2 A) Following the prefilling of said propulsion pump 100 (see Figure 1), the pump 100 comprises a solid sorbent 101 (porous material) enclosed in an enclosure 102 connected via a first opening 103 to an inlet channel 106 containing a working liquid 108, and via a second opening 104 to an outlet channel 105 containing the outlet liquid 109. The vent-hole 107 is closed.
  • the starting step illustrated in Figure 2 A) corresponds to the finishing step of the pre-filling process as illustrated in Figure 1 F). Neither the working liquid 108 nor the outlet liquid 109 contact the solid sorbent 101.
  • the device 100 may have been pre-filled immediately before the actual use as a pump, or it may have been pre-filled a longer time before, and have been stored.
  • the pump 100 is activated by generating a pressure 200 on the working liquid 108 in the inlet channel 106, thus moving the working liquid 108 such that it contacts the solid sorbent 101, for instance at the first opening 103, and gets absorbed.
  • Figure 3 illustrates how a microfluidic propulsion pump 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may be manufactured.
  • the microfluidic propulsion pump 100 may be assembled from a plurality of layers and/or elements with different characteristics and functions.
  • the propulsion pump 100 is assembled from three layers, and a chamber is filled with solid sorbent material.
  • a bottom layer 301 in solid material, for supporting the propulsion pump 100 may be a light weight material, as this is a useful property in for instance LOC and POC applications.
  • the solid material of the bottom layer 301 may be cheap material, which is desirable in case the propulsion pump 100 is embedded in a disposable device.
  • the solid material of the bottom layer 301 should be resistant against, e.g. not corroded by, and not absorbing, the fluids present in or flowing through the enclosure 102, the inlet channel 106 and the outlet channel 105.
  • the solid material of the bottom layer 301 is hydrophobic material, to prevent the liquid to move autonomously by capillarity
  • the solid material of the bottom layer 301 may be transparent, for instance to allow visual inspection.
  • the solid material of the bottom layer 301 may be shatter resistant.
  • the thickness of the bottom layer may be limited; it may for instance not more than a few ⁇ , such that the bottom layer in fact may be nothing more than a sheet of material.
  • the solid material may for instance be plastic material (e.g. PVC or PMMA).
  • the milli- or microfluidic channel 303 comprises at least a section which, upon assembling the elements, will form the enclosure 102 for enclosing the solid sorbent 101.
  • the milli- or microfluidic channel 303 may furthermore comprise at least part of the inlet channel 106 and/or the outlet channel 105.
  • the solid sorbent 101 material may be a porous material (e.g. filter paper) suitably shaped, for instance with an electronic cutting machine, to fit in the part of the milli-or microfluidic channel 303 which will form the enclosure 102.
  • a porous material e.g. filter paper
  • a top layer 304 for covering the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 302 and closing the milli- or microfluidic channel.
  • an inlet hole 305 for introducing working liquid 108 into the inlet channel 106; an outlet hole 306, for introducing outlet liquid 109 into and evacuating outlet liquid from the outlet channel 105; and a vent-hole 107 may be provided, for instance with an electronic cutting machine.
  • the top layer 304 may be made from any suitable material, for instance a plastic material like PVC or PMMA. Characteristics of the top layer 304 may be similar to the characteristics of the bottom layer 301.
  • the top layer and the bottom layer may be, but do not need to be, made from the same material.
  • FIG. 4 is a stepwise representation of the pre-filling of a microfluidic propulsion pump according to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3. The different steps are illustrated in side view in the left hand column, and in top view at the right hand column.
  • Figure 4 before its prefilling the pump 100 comprises i) a bottom layer 301, ii) a layer 302 comprising channels and chambers cut in a pressure sensitive adhesive material, iii) a solid sorbent 101 (porous material), iv) a top layer 304 with an inlet hole 305, an outlet hole 306 and a vent-holes 107.
  • the solid sorbent material 101 e.g. porous material, is hosted in the enclosure 102 forming a porous material chamber, and the vent-hole 107 is open during the prefilling phase, as also explained with reference to Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 A) is a cross-sectional side view of the device which is illustrated in top view both in Figure 3 C) and in Figure 4 B).
  • the inlet channel 106 is filled, via the inlet hole 305, with working liquid 108.
  • the working liquid 108 is made to approach but not contact the solid sorbent material 101, e.g. porous material.
  • the working liquid 108 may be forced to travel through the inlet channel 106 by applying an external force, for example by injection.
  • E,F outlet liquid 109 is introduced, e.g. injected, in the outlet channel 105, via the outlet hole 306, also without contacting the solid sorbent material 101, e.g. porous material.
  • G,H Closure of the vent-hole 107 can be performed for instance by means of small patches of tape, for instance double sided tape, which can be removed on activation.
  • the tape may be gas impermeable.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the operation of an embodiment of a propulsion pump system according to the present invention.
  • Figure 5 A) Prior to its activation the propulsion pump 100 comprises a solid sorbent 101 (porous material) enclosed in an enclosure 102, preferably in the shape of a circle sector.
  • a solid sorbent 101 porous material
  • the enclosure 102 preferably in the shape of a circle sector.
  • a circular sector shape provides a constant flow rate of the liquids manipulated by the pump, which is a preferred condition in microfluidics.
  • the enclosure 102 is connected to an inlet channel 106 and to an outlet channel 105.
  • the inlet channel 106 is further connected to an inlet reservoir 501 having a flexible or depressible wall, wherein the inlet reservoir 501 and the inlet channel 106 contain a working liquid 108.
  • the outlet channel 105 comprises an outlet liquid 109 and is connected to an outlet reservoir 502 positioned downstream of the solid sorbent 101.
  • the propulsion pump 100 is activated by applying a pressure 503 to, e.g.
  • FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a propulsion pump 100 according to the present invention. It is used for investigating the use of this pump 100 for generating a pressure in a microfluidic system.
  • A) The microfluidic pump 100 comprises a solid sorbent 101 (porous material) enclosed in an enclosure 102.
  • the enclosure 102 comprises a first opening 103 for contacting a liquid to said solid sorbent 101 and a second opening 104 connecting the enclosure 102 to an outlet channel 105.
  • a liquid plug of outlet liquid 109 Prior to the activation of the microfluidic pump 100, a liquid plug of outlet liquid 109 was preloaded in said outlet channel 105 via an outlet hole 306, which was sealed after provision of the liquid plug (e.g. acting as outlet liquid 109).
  • Operation while the working liquid 108 is absorbed into the solid sorbent 101, it pushes out the fluid, typically air, present in the cavities in the solid sorbent 101.
  • This fluid pushes the liquid plug of outlet liquid 109 towards the closed end of the outlet channel 105, i.e. towards the end where the outlet hole 306 has been closed in the pre-filling phase after provision of the outlet liquid 109 plug .
  • Termination the pumping operation is terminated either when all working liquid 108 is absorbed into the solid sorbent 101 or when the solid sorbent is saturated by the working liquid 108. Pressurized air 504 is generated, or any other suitable type of fluid is put under pressure, between the liquid plug (outlet liquid 109) and the closed end (at the closed outlet hole 306) of the outlet channel 105.
  • the amount of displacement of the liquid plug (outlet liquid 109) after termination is indicative of the pressure that would be generated, as a result of the action of the propulsion pump 100 of the present invention, in a microfluidic system connected to the propulsion pump 100.
  • Figure 7 shows the trend of the pressure building in the device of Figure 6 as a function of time after the activation of the propulsion pump 100. It can be seen that pressure gradually builds up, up to a particular moment in time, in the embodiment illustrated about 24 minutes, when the pressure levels out. This moment in time corresponds to the time required for all working liquid 108 to be absorbed into the solid sorbent 101 or for the solid sorbent to be saturated by the working liquid 108. Hence the moment in time when the pressure stops building up determines the termination of the pumping action.
  • the time required before the pumping action terminates is a function of the shape and dimensions of the enclosure 102, and/or of the type and amount of solid sorbent material 101 filling the enclosure 102, and/or of the amount of working liquid 108 provided to be brought into contact with the solid sorbent 101.
  • FIG 8 illustrates a milli - or microfluidic system 800 comprising a propulsion pump 801 according to embodiments of the present invention, operably connected to a suction pump 802, also called pulling pump, wherein said suction pump 802 serves as an activation means or actuators for said propulsion pump 801.
  • the milli- or microfluidic system 800 comprises a suction pump 802 comprising a solid sorbent 803, e.g. porous material, enclosed in a suction pump solid sorbent enclosure 804 in the shape of a circle sector.
  • the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802 contains cavities comprising a fluid.
  • the milli- or microfluidic system 800 furthermore comprises a propulsion pump 801 according to embodiments of the present invention, comprising a solid sorbent 101 enclosed in an enclosure 102.
  • the enclosure 102 is wing-shaped, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That particular wing-shape maximizes the size of the porous material without increasing to much the size of the overall chip.
  • the channel 808 and reservoir 807 of the suction pump 802 are operably connected to the propulsion pump 801 according to embodiments of the present invention, via a channel 810 (analytical zone) comprising an analyte inlet 811.
  • a droplet of a first liquid analyte is placed on the inlet 811 of the analytical channel 810.
  • the wing-shaped enclosure 102 of the solid sorbent 101 e.g.
  • porous material) of the propulsion pump 801 comprises a first opening 103 connecting the enclosure 102 to said analytical channel 810, and a second opening 104 connecting to an outlet channel 105.
  • the outlet channel 105 is connected to an analyte storage channel 812, which connects to the analytical channel 810.
  • the analyte storage channel 812 is preloaded with a second liquid analyte via an inlet opening 813 in said channel 812. Immediately after loading the second liquid analyte in said analyte storage channel 812 said inlet opening 813 is sealed.
  • the suction pump 802 is activated by applying pressure to the flexible or depressible wall of the reservoir 807, e.g. by compressing the reservoir 807 comprising the working liquid 809, so as to contact the working liquid 809 to the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802, thus initiating the absorption of the working liquid 809 by the solid sorbent of the suction pump 802.
  • Any other actuating means for bringing the working liquid into contact with the solid sorbent, thereby activating the suction pump can be applied, such as for example opening of a channel or introduction of extra liquid under pressure or the like.
  • the solid sorbent 803 absorbs working liquid 809, liquid is expelled out of the cavities of the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump, and is evacuated from the enclosure 804 through the vent-holes 805.
  • the action of the suction pump 802 terminates when all working liquid 809 is absorbed into the solid sorbent of the suction pump 802, or when the solid sorbent of the suction pump 802 is saturated by the working liquid 809.
  • the technical effect of this design with cooperating suction and propulsion pump is that two different fluids sequentially can find a passageway over the same analytical zone.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of a milli- or microfluidic system 900 according to the present invention.
  • the milli- or microfluidic system comprises two propulsion pumps 901, 902 according to embodiments of the present invention, which are operably connected to a suction pump 802, wherein said suction pump 802 serves as an activation means or actuator for said propulsion pumps 901, 902.
  • said suction pump 802 simultaneously activates both propulsion pumps 901 , 902.
  • the technical effect of operably connecting two downstream propulsion pumps, preferably equal and opposing propulsion pumps, having their inlet at the same location of the analytical conduit, e.g. analytical channel, according to embodiments of the present invention to an upstream suction pump is that the suction pump when activated by working fluid being sorbed into it and pressure in the analytical conduit, e.g. channel, being reduced that a first fluid, e.g. analyte can be conducted into an analytical zone, where after by activation of the two propulsion pumps two additional fluids are conducted to the same analytical zone and mixed.
  • the microfluidic system 900 Before activation of the propulsion pumps 901, 902, the microfluidic system 900 comprises a suction pump 802 comprising a solid sorbent 803, e.g. porous material, enclosed in an enclosure 804, preferably in the shape of a circle sector.
  • the enclosure 804 of said solid sorbent 803, e.g. porous material comprises several vent-holes 805 and an opening 806 connecting the enclosure 804 of the suction pump 802 to a reservoir 807 via a channel 808, wherein said reservoir 807 has a flexible or depressible wall.
  • Said channel 808 and reservoir 807 comprise a working liquid 809.
  • the milli- or microfluidic system 900 furthermore comprises a first propulsion pump 901 according to embodiments of the present invention, and a second propulsion pump 902 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • the first and second propulsion pumps 901, 902 comprise a solid sorbent 101a, 101b, enclosed in an enclosure 102a, 102b, respectively.
  • the enclosures 102a, 102b are wing-shaped, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
  • the channel 808 and reservoir 807 are operably connected to the first propulsion pump 901 and to the second propulsion pump 902, via a channel 810 (analytical zone) comprising an analyte inlet 811.
  • a droplet of a first liquid analyte is placed on the inlet 811 of the analytical channel 810.
  • the enclosures 102a, 102b of the preferably wing-shaped solid sorbents 101a, 101b (e.g. porous material) of the propulsion pumps 901, 902 each comprise a first opening 103a, 103b connecting the enclosures 102a, 102b, respectively, to said analytical channel 810, wherein said openings 103a, 103b are positioned at a same position along said analytical channel 810 but at opposite sides thereof.
  • Each of said enclosures 102a, 102n of the preferably wing-shaped solid sorbent material 101a, 101b further comprises a second opening 104a, 104b connecting each of said enclosures 102a, 102b to a separate outlet channel 105a, 105b.
  • Each of said outlet channels 105a, 105b is connected to a separate analyte storage channel 812a, 812b, which each connect to the analytical channel 810 at a same position along the analytical channel 810 but at opposite sides thereof.
  • These analyte storage channels 812a, 812b are preloaded with a second and third liquid analyte A2, A3, respectively, via the inlet openings 813a, 813b in each of these channels 812a, 812b.
  • said inlet openings 813a, 813b are sealed.
  • the suction pump 802 is activated by applying a force on, e.g. by compressing, the flexible or depressible wall of the reservoir 807 comprising the working liquid 809, thus bringing the working liquid 809 into contact with the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802 and initiating the absorption of the working liquid 809 by the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802.
  • the action of the suction pump 802 terminates when all working liquid 809 is absorbed into the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802, or when the solid sorbent 803 o the suction pump 802 is saturated with the working liquid 809.
  • the design of the microfluidic system 900 is such that the action of the suction pump 802 terminates upon activation or shortly after activation of the propulsion pumps 901, 902.
  • Termination of the propulsion pumps901, 902 the operation of each of the propulsion pumps 901, 902 terminates as soon as either the first liquid analyte Al is absorbed by the solid sorbents 101a, 101b, or when the solid sorbents 101a, 101b are saturated with the first liquid analyte Al .
  • FIG. 10 illustrates another milli- or microfluidic system 1000 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • the milli- or microfluidic system 1000 comprises two propulsion pumps 1001, 1002 according to embodiments of the present invention operably connected to a suction pump 802, wherein said suction pump 802 serves as an activation means or actuators for said propulsion pumps 1001, 1002.
  • the suction pump 802 sequentially activates the propulsion pumps 1001, 1002. This is obtained by, opposite to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, not having the inlet of the propulsion pumps 1001, 1002 at the same location of the analytical channel 810.
  • the microfluidic system 1000 Before activation of the propulsion pumps 1001, 1002, the microfluidic system 1000 comprises a suction pump 802 comprising a solid sorbent 803 enclosed in an enclosure 804, preferably in the shape of a circle sector.
  • the enclosure 804 of the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802 comprises one or more vent- holes 805 and an opening 806 connecting the enclosure 804 to a reservoir 807 via a channel 808, wherein said reservoir 807 has a flexible or depressible wall.
  • Said channel 808 and reservoir 807 comprise a working liquid 809 and are operably connected to a plurality of, in the example illustrated two, propulsion pumps 1001, 1002 according to embodiments of the present invention, via a channel 810 (analytical zone) comprising an analyte inlet.
  • a droplet of a first liquid analyte Al is placed on the inlet 811 of the analytical channel 810.
  • the enclosures 102a, 102b of the preferably wing-shaped solid sorbents 101a, 101b of the propulsion pumps 1001, 1002 each comprise a first opening 103a, 103b connecting the respective enclosures 102a, 102b to said analytical channel 810, wherein said openings 103a, 103b are positioned at different positions along said analytical channel 810 and at opposite sides thereof.
  • Each of said enclosures 102a, 102b of the preferably wing-shaped solid sorbents 101a, 101b e.g. porous material, further comprises a second opening 104a, 104b connecting each of said enclosures 102a, 102b to a separate outlet channel 105a, 105b.
  • Each of said outlet channels 105a, 105b is connected to a separate analyte storage channel 812a, 812b, which each connect to the analytical channel 81 Oat different positions along the analytical channel 810 and at opposite sides thereof.
  • These analyte storage channels 812a, 8112b are preloaded with a second and third liquid analyte A2, A3 via the inlet openings 813a, 813b in each of these channels 812a, 812b.
  • said inlet openings 813a, 813b are sealed.
  • the suction pump 802 is activated by applying pressure to, e.g. by compressing, the flexible or depressible wall of the reservoir 807 comprising the working liquid 809, thus bringing the working liquid 809 into contact with the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump, thus initiating the absorption of the working liquid 809 by the solid sorbent 803.
  • first propulsion pump 1001 Activation of the first propulsion pump 1001 : when first liquid analyte Al contacts the solid sorbent 101a, e.g. porous material, positioned most upstream relative to the flow of the first liquid analyte Al, it is absorbed and expulses the liquid, e.g. air, from the pores in the solid sorbent 101a of the first propulsion pump 1001 into the outlet channel 105a connected to the enclosure 102a of the solid sorbent 101a.
  • This fluid flow, e.g. air inflow, in said outlet channel 105a subsequently pushes second liquid analyte A2 from its analyte storage channel 812a into the analytical channel 810.
  • the action of the suction pump 802 terminates when all working liquid 809 is absorbed into the solid sorbent 803 of the suction pump 802, or when the solid sorbent 803 is saturated with the working liquid 809.
  • the activation of the first propulsion pump 1001 results in the flow of part of the first liquid analyte Al further downstream into the analytical channel 810 until Al contacts the solid sorbent material 101b, e.g. porous material, by which it is absorbed leading to the expulsion of fluid, e.g. the air, from the pores in the solid sorbent material 101b of the second propulsion pump 1002 into the outlet channel 105b connected to the enclosure 102b of the solid sorbent material 101b.
  • This fluid flow, e.g. air inflow, in said outlet channel 105b subsequently pushes third liquid analyte A3 from its analyte storage channel 812b into the analytical channel 810.
  • the operation of the first propulsion pump 1001 terminates as soon as the solid sorbent material 101a of the first propulsion pump 1001 is saturated with the first liquid analyte Al .
  • Termination of the second propulsion pump 1002 the operation of the second propulsion pump 1002 is similar to the operation of the first propulsion pump 1001, and terminates as soon as either the first liquid analyte Al is absorbed by the solid sorbent of the second propulsion pump 1002, or when the solid sorbent of the second propulsion pump 1002is saturated with the first liquid analyte Al .
  • the technical effect of operably connecting two downstream propulsion pumps, preferably equal and opposing propulsion pumps, having their inlet at a different location of the analytical conduit, e.g. analytical channel, according to embodiments of the present invention to an upstream suction pump is that the suction pump when activated by working fluid being sorbed into it and pressure in the analytical conduit, e.g. channel, being reduced that a first fluid, e.g. analyte can be conducted into an analytical zone, where after when a first propulsion pumps is activated that conduits a second preloaded fluid to and into the same analytical zone and consequently when the second propulsion pumps is activated that conduits a third preloaded fluid to and into the same analytical zone.
  • a first fluid e.g. analyte
  • Figure 11 illustrates a microfluidic system 1100 comprising a suction pump 1102 being activated by a propulsion pump 1101 according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein said propulsion pump 1101 simultaneously acts as a suction pump.
  • the microfluidic system 1100 comprises a first, preferably circular sector shaped, solid sorbent 1103 enclosed in a first enclosure 1104.
  • the first enclosure 1104 of solid sorbent 1103 comprises a first opening 1105 and a second opening 1106, wherein said first opening 1105 connects via a first channel 1107 to a first reservoir 1108 having a flexible or depressible wall and said second opening 1106 connects via a second channel 1109 to a second reservoir 1110.
  • Said first channel 1107 and first reservoir 1108 comprise a first working liquid 1111, and said first reservoir 1108 connects to a first analytical channel 1112 comprising an inlet opening on which a drop of a first liquid analyte Al may be deposited.
  • Said second reservoir 1110 is further connected to a third channel 1114 leading to a second enclosure 1115 comprising a second solid sorbent 1116, wherein said second enclosure 1115 comprises one or more vent-holes 1117.
  • Said third channel 1114 and second reservoir 1110 comprise a second working liquid 1118.
  • said second, preferably circular sector shaped, reservoir 1110 is connected to a second analytical channel 1119, at the inlet opening 1120 of which a drop of a second liquid analyte A2 may be deposited.
  • the first working liquid 1111 and the second working liquid 1118 are fed into said first reservoir 1108 and second reservoir 1110, respectively, via the first filling channel 1121 and second filling channel 1122.
  • the inlet openings 1123, 1124 of the first and second filling channels 1121, 1122 are sealed immediately after filling the channels.
  • the propulsion/suction pump 1101 is activated by compressing the flexible or depressible wall of the first reservoir 1108, thus bringing the first working liquid into contact with the first solid sorbent 1103 and initiating the absorption of the first working liquid 1111 by the first solid sorbent 1103.
  • Termination of the suction pump 1102 The action of the suction pump 1102 terminates when all second working liquid 1118 is absorbed by the second solid sorbent 1116 or when the second solid sorbent 1116 is saturated with the second working liquid 1118.
  • Figure 12 illustrates a milli- or microfluidic system 1200 comprising two propulsion pumps 1201, 1202 according to embodiments of the present invention wherein one propulsion pump 1201 acts as an activating pump for activating the other propulsion pump 1202, and wherein said activating pump 1201 also acts as a suction pump.
  • the microfluidic system 1200 comprises a first, preferably circular sector shaped, solid sorbent 1203 enclosed in a first enclosure 1204.
  • the first enclosure 1204 of first solid sorbent 1203 comprises a first opening 1205 and a second opening 1206, wherein said first opening 1205 connects via a first channel 1207 to a first reservoir 1208 having a flexible or depressible wall, and said second opening 1206 connects via a second channel 1209 to a second reservoir 1210.
  • Said first channel 1207 and first reservoir 1208 comprise a first working liquid 1211 and said first reservoir 1208 connects to an analytical channel 1212 comprising an inlet opening 1213 through which a liquid plug 1214 is introduced, to be present in the vicinity of said inlet opening 1213.
  • Said second reservoir 1210 is further connected to a third channel 1215 leading to a second enclosure 1216 comprising a second, preferably sector shaped, solid sorbent 1217, wherein said second enclosure 1216 comprises one or more vent-holes 1218.
  • Said third channel 1215 and second reservoir 1210 comprise a second working liquid 1219.
  • the second enclosure 1216 enclosing the second solid sorbent 1217 further connects via a fourth channel 1220 with the analytical channel 1212.
  • Said fourth channel 1220 connects with the analytical channel 1212 at a position closer to the inlet 1213 of the analytical channel 1212 than the position of the connection between the analytical channel 1212 and the first reservoir 1208.
  • the first working liquid 1211 and the second working liquid 1219 are fed into said first and second reservoirs 1208, 1210, respectively, via the first and second filling channels 1221 and 1222.
  • the inlet openings 1223, 1224 of the first and second filling channels 1221 and 1222, respectively, and the vent-hole 1218 in the second enclosure 1216 enclosing the second solid sorbent 1217 are sealed, preferably immediately after filling the channels 1207, 1215 and the introduction of the liquid plug 1214.
  • the first propulsion/suction pump 1201 is activated by applying pressure to, e.g. by compressing, the flexible or depressible wall of the first reservoir 1208, thus bringing the first working liquid 1211 into contact with the first solid sorbent 1203 and initiating the absorption of the first working liquid 121 lby the first solid sorbent 1203.
  • the action of the propulsion/suction pump 1201 terminates as soon as the first working liquid 1211 is absorbed by the first solid sorbent 1203 or when the first solid sorbent 1203 is saturated with the first working liquid 1211.
  • the design of the microfluidic system 1200 is such that the action of first propulsion/suction pump 1201 terminates upon activation or shortly after activation of the second propulsion pump 1202.
  • Termination of the second propulsion pump 1202 The action of the second propulsion pump 1202 terminates when all second working liquid is absorbed by the second solid sorbent 1217 or when the second solid sorbent 1217 is saturated with the second working liquid 1219.
  • Figure 13 illustrates an assay system 1300, comprising a suction and propulsion pump combination in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, for example for use in a 3 steps protocol with two reagents mixing and washing steps.
  • the design and parts of the suction and propulsion pumps, and the activation and operation steps of the suction and propulsion pumps, are similar as described above, and are not repeated here in as many details as above. Reference for further details is made to the description hereinabove.
  • a detection zone DZ pre- functionalized with receptors
  • suction pump 1301 suction pump 1301 is activated by applying a pressure to a first reservoir 1302 connected via a first channel 1307 to a first enclosure 1303 comprising first solid sorbent PM1.
  • a first working liquid WL1 was contained in the first reservoir and the first channel 1307, and applying the pressure to the first reservoir 1302 causes the first working liquid WL1 to be absorbed by the first solid sorbent PM1, e.g. porous material, provided in the first enclosure 1303.
  • the absorption of the first working liquid WL1 by the first solid sorbent PM1 generates a reduced pressure in the analytical channel AC, which draws the sample S in the analytical channel AC over the detection zone DZ. After that, the operation of the suction pump 1301 is terminated.
  • propulsion pumps 1304, 1305 are connected in parallel, both being connected with their input opening to a same inlet channel 1308, which at its other end is connected to a second reservoir 1306.
  • the second reservoir 1306 and the inlet channel 1308 are filled with a second working liquid WL2, which before activation of the propulsion pumps 1304, 1305 does not reach the second and third solid sorbents PM2, PM3 in the respective propulsion pumps 1304, 1305.
  • the propulsion pumps 1304, 1305 are activated by applying a pressure to a flexible or depressible wall of the second reservoir 1306, and the second working liquid WL2 starts getting absorbed by the second and third solid sorbents PM2, PM3, e.g.
  • the second working liquid WL2 gets absorbed more and more, and pushes out the fluid, e.g. air, present in the cavities of the second and third solid sorbents PM2 and PM3.
  • This fluid e.g. air
  • the washing buffer WB present in a further channel 1309 between the mixing zone MZ and the detection zone DZ, is pushed over the detection zone DZ, thus replacing the sample S.
  • the propulsion pumps 1304, 1305 continue their action, and while more and more fluid, e.g.
  • Termination propulsion pumps 1304, 1305 When the mixed first reagent Rl and second reagent R2 are moved over the detection DZ, the system stops due to complete absorption of the second working liquid WL2 into the second solid sorbent PM2 and into the third solid sorbent PM3 or due to complete saturation of the second solid sorbent PM2 and the third solid sorbent PM3. The exact moment of stopping of the action of the system can be tuned by tuning design parameters of the systems, e.g. dimensions of the solid sorbents and/or the cavities containing these, lengths of channels, etc.
  • Figure 14 illustrates a detection system for use in a microfluidic bioassay.
  • the illustrated embodiment is based on the capturing of gold nanoparticles 140 functionalized with streptavidin on a surface 141 pre- functionalized with biotinylated antibodies 142, but of course this is an example only, and the invention is not limited thereto but is much broader applicable in other applications as well.
  • a silver enhancement 143 was performed in order to generate a signal that can be detected with bare eyes (for qualitative detection, i.e. yes/no) or with a photodiode (for semiquantitative detection).
  • Silver solution (made of mixed reagent 1 and reagent 2) was brought over the detection zone, and catalyzed by the gold nanoparticles 140, it forms an opaque dark layer.
  • an electrical circuit comprising a light source such as a LED 144, a photodiode 145 and a microcontroller 146 was used to measure the intensity loss of light due to reflection on the silver layer. Only the light that passes through was picked up by the photodiode 145 and this information was processed by the microcontroller 146, which then displayed the result of the test on an LCD screen 147. So the less light the photodiode 145 received, the darker and thicker the silver layer is, due to higher concentration of gold nanoparticlesl40.
  • the detection system of this figure 14 can for instance be used in the assay system according to example 11 below, wherein the detection zone is coated with biotinylated antibodies 142.
  • Figure 15 illustrates an assay system 1500 for use in a microfluidic bioassay involving, as an example, a coupled enzyme reaction, which results in a colorimetric product.
  • This assay system 1500 comprises two propulsion pumps 1501, 1502 and means for diluting and mixing a sample within the assay solution.
  • the design and parts of the propulsion pumps, and the activation and operation steps of the propulsion pumps, are similar as described above, and are not repeated here in as many details as above. Reference for further details is made to the description hereinabove.
  • a reservoir 1504 is connected via an inlet channel 1505 to the input side of two parallel propulsion pumps 1501, 1502.
  • Working liquid WL, first reagent Rl, and second reagent R2 are preloaded in the respective chambers while a sample S is pipetted in a junction zone JZ through an inlet hole 1503 which is subsequently sealed.
  • the reservoir 1504 and the inlet channel 1505 are filled with working liquid WL, such that the working liquid WL does not reach the solid sorbent of the propulsion pumps 1501, 1502.
  • the propulsion pumps 1501, 1502 are activated by applying a pressure to a flexible or depressible wall of the reservoir 1504, which brings the working liquid WL into contact with the solid sorbent materials PMl, PM2, e.g. porous materials, in the first and second propulsion pumps 1501, 1502. Once brought into contact, this is followed by the absorption of the working liquid WL by the solid sorbents, e.g. porous materials.
  • This absorption of the working liquid WL results into the expulsion of the fluid, e.g. air, present in solid sorbents PMl and PM2 into the microfluidic chambers comprising the first and second reagents Rl and R2, respectively.
  • the expulsed fluid e.g.
  • the presence of the colorimetric product can be measured in the detection zone DZ in any suitable way, for instance using a spectrophotometer. It is preferred that the detection zone DZ has an higher height than the other parts of the network to ensure a sufficient path length for spectrophotometric detection.
  • Figure 16 illustrates a fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensor integrated with a milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump, according to further embodiments of the present invention.
  • the propulsion pump 1600 comprises a solid sorbent 101 (porous material) enclosed in an enclosure 102, preferably in the shape of a circle sector.
  • the enclosure 102 is connected to an inlet channel 106 and to an analytical channel AC.
  • the inlet channel 106 is further connected to an inlet reservoir 501 having a flexible or depressible wall, wherein the inlet reservoir 501 and the inlet channel 106 contain a working liquid WL.
  • Analyte A is filled through an analyte hole AH in the analytical channel AC before a measurement starts.
  • a fiber-optic surface plasma resonance (FO-SPR) probe SP is inserted in the analytical channel AC of the propulsion pump, until the sensing part overcomes the outlet channel OC intersection.
  • the FO-SPR sensor setup consists of a white light source, a spectrophotometer, a bifurcated optical fiber and sensor probes.
  • the bifurcated fiber guides white light to the sensor tip where it is reflected back to the spectrometer.
  • the sensor tip is covered with a gold layer. As the light interacts with the surface of the optical fiber, an SPR is generated in this gold layer.
  • a binding event on the outside of the gold layer disturbs prosthesis surface plasmons, changing the resonance conditions and shifts hence the resonance wavelength.
  • the propulsion pump 1600 is activated by applying a pressure to, e.g. by compressing, the flexible or depressible wall of the inlet reservoir 501 connected to the inlet channel 106, thus moving the working liquid WL in the inlet channel 106 so that it contacts the solid sorbent 101 leading to the absorption of the working liquid WL by the solid sorbent 101.
  • Termination the action of the pump 1600 is terminated either when all the working liquid WL is absorbed into the solid sorbent 101 or when the solid sorbent 101 is saturated by the working liquid WL.
  • microfluidic systems In order to satisfy the need for microfluidic systems connected to needles or microneedles for drug delivery, microfluidic systems according to embodiments of the present invention can be used. These have the capability to deliver smaller volumes than mechanical fluidic syringe systems and furthermore that microfluidics systems of present invention have the ability to more precisely control flow rates if actuated for pumping of fluids to outlet by a solid sorbent based milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump.
  • Such milli - or microfluidic propulsion pump comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure, said solid sorbent is contained in a cavity comprising a first opening through which said solid sorbent can be contacted with a liquid and a second opening connecting the enclosure to an outlet channel.
  • the capillary pump may be connected to a conduit downstream for pushing fluid, or in case of a pulling pump, to a vent-hole directly provided on the enclosure of the solid sorbent of the capillary pump or to a unit with a vent hole downstream of the capillary pump or the like.
  • a capillary pump may also serve as actuator of further pumps.
  • the milli- or microfluidic propulsion pump have particular advantages towards actuators of the art, which are typically based on electrical, magnetic, mechanical (spring), or gas pressure systems and need usually external sources of energy or rely on mechanical movable parts, which are prone to malfunction.
  • FIG 17 is a graphic that displays the propulsion pump 1700 (so called iSIMPLE) of present invention for drug delivery with hydrophobic valve.
  • the WL chamber 1703 acts as a second conduit zone.
  • a hydrophobic valve (HV) 1706 comprising a filter paper treated to become hydrophobic, was positioned on a side of the WL chamber 1703 after the WL prefilling point. The other side of the HV 1706 is open to the air.
  • HV hydrophobic valve
  • a needle or microneedle 1707 is coupled to the outlet of the outlet channel 1704.
  • the volume of fluid in the first conduit zone 1804 is pushed forward, forcing the WL of the second conduit zone (WL chamber 1703) into the third conduit zone 1806, surpassing it and making the WL contact the capillary pump.
  • the volume of the first conduit zone 1804 is determined by the volume between the inlet of the WL and the position of the hydrophobic valve 1706, and it must be such that it ensures that the WL can surpass the third conduit zone 1806.
  • Figure 18 is a graphic of a needle/microneedle 1707 connection to the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip.
  • the device is shown on side view: i) bottom layer, ii) outlet channel (OC) 1704 cut in PSA, iii) top layer with outlet hole.
  • a connection ring (CR) 1709 made of PSA is used to connect the outlet of the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip with the inlet of the needle/microneedle.
  • Figure 19 is a graph that depicts the flow rate of the outlet liquid in the different sections (i.e. S(l-2), each of each 1.91 ⁇ L) for outlet liquid of different viscosity. Each point represents the flow rate values obtained for water solutions with 0% and 90% glycerol.
  • Figure 20 shows A) the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip for drug delivery assembled and prefilled with an array of five 32G needles. B) Operation of the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip with microneedle array while injecting in 1 % agarose matrix. C,D) Top and side view of the agarose matrix after injection were the red colored outlet liquid is clearly injected in the matrix.
  • iSIMPLE the propulsion pump
  • Figure 21 shows Table A: Calculated pressure (using Hagen-Poiseuille law) needed to eject a liquid with different viscosity (0 - 100% glycerol concentrations) through a needle of different diameter (i.e. 26 and 34G) at 20°C using a flow rate of 0.8 ⁇ L/min
  • Figure 22 is a scheme of a device 1800 with fluid conduit system to manipulate fluids . It comprises the elements of a fluid actuator unit 1801, a shunt conduit with downstream a gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit with a vent hole 1802 and a solid sorbent enclosed in chamber with entry and outlet access engaged with the fluid conduit system.
  • the solid sorbent 1905 enclosed in an enclosure or chamber, forming the pump 1807, has preferably the shape of a circle sector in a design with unit with a vent hole 1802.
  • a circular sector shape provides a constant flow rate of the liquids manipulated by the pump, which is a preferred condition in microfluidics. It may be a 10° to 150° sector, for example a 50° to 70° sector.
  • the shunt conduit of the unit with the vent hole 1802 and the sorbent enclosure with solid sorbent, which forms the pump 1807, are each engaged by a fluid transit with a fluid conduit that comprises at least three zones i) a first conduit zone 1804 pre-filled with a liquid 1817 upstream of the unit with the vent hole shunt conduit, ii) a third conduit zone 1806 upstream of the solid sorbent enclosure of the pump 1807 and iii) a second conduit zone 1805 pre-filled with a liquid 1817 positioned between the first and third conduit zone and directly connected to the first conduit zone.
  • the volume of the first conduit zone is determined by the volume of the portion of conduit delimited by the shunt conduit of unit with the vent hole 1802 and the shunt conduit of the inlet 1803.
  • Proper functioning of the actuated fluid manipulation is a technical effect of the volume of the first conduit zone 1804 upstream of the unit with the vent hole shunt conduit, e.g. upstream of the hydrophobic valve, being proportionally larger than or equal to the volume of the third conduit zone 1806.
  • the solid sorbent enclosed in chamber functions as a propulsion pump 1807 that via escape of gas from its exit port into the liquid conduit 1808 propels a downstream fluid further towards the vent or outlet 1810 for releasing fluid into the external or ambient environment of said the device.
  • Outlet port 1809 may comprise a liquid reservoir that with liquid passage port is engaged with the fluid conduit web and eventually (as here is the case) with an intermittent conduit shunt between the fluid conduit web and the reservoir.
  • the reservoir can receive or contain a fluid with reagent, analyte, a ligand, a biological active molecule, a chemical reactive molecule or a physical reactive molecule.
  • Outlet port 1809 can be also an intake port adapted to receive a liquid for instance comprising a ligand to be analyzed.
  • This intake port can be engaged with a reservoir. This intake port can be sealed from gas intake by way of sufficient liquid on it, whereby this liquid can be under ambient pressure.
  • the scheme furthermore shows the inlet 1803 with sealed reservoir so that it forms an enclosure.
  • Such reservoir can be provided with a seal that is openable or closeable, for instance with a seal that can be in a closed or open position. Or it can be foreseen with a seal that is removable, openable or closable to open or close reservoir.
  • Such reservoir of inlet 1803 can thus contain a working fluid to engage in the fluid manipulation.
  • the reservoir can receive or contain a working fluid to engage in fluid manipulation, as is the case in the inlet 1803 of the figure.
  • Vp is the volume of gas (for instance air) between the working liquid and the porous material in order to properly function after actuation it must be smaller than Vup, the volume of working liquid upstream the hydrophobic vent (e.g. hydrophobic valve).
  • the volume of air in the air pouch should be larger than Vp and at least equal and preferably larger than Vup as well
  • phases of actuation may comprise the following steps:
  • the enclosure of the capillary pump 1807 is connected to an inlet channel 1910 and to an outlet channel or liquid conduit 1808.
  • the inlet channel 1910 is further connected to a hydrophobic valve or a shunt channel with hydrophobic valve (unit with a vent hole 1802), and further upstream to a working liquid reservoir or inlet 1803 and further upstream to an reservoir acting as actuator unit 1801 having a flexible or depressible wall, wherein a reservoir for the inlet 1803 and the inlet channel 1910 contain the working liquid 1817.
  • working liquid 1817 and outlet liquid 1909 are preloaded in the respective chambers while a porous material 1905 was housed in its chamber during the fabrication, forming the capillary pump 1807.
  • a hydrophobic valve comprising a hydrophobic material (e.g. a filter paper treated to become hydrophobic) in a unit with a vent hole 1802 was positioned on a side of the working liquid chamber 1910 after the working liquid prefilling point, so the working liquid is not in contact with the hydrophobic material.
  • the other side of the hydrophobic valve is open to the external environment, e.g. to ambient air, via the vent hole of the unit with a vent hole 1802.
  • Termination the propulsion pump is terminated either when all working liquid 1817 is absorbed into the solid sorbent (porous material) 1905, or when the solid sorbent (porous material) 1905 is saturated by the working liquid 1817.
  • a technical effect of the hydrophobic valves is easier and more robust actuation of the fluid manipulation system. The right sequence “closing inlet hole”-"pressing the activation area”- “opening the inlet hole”-”releasing the pressure on the activation area” is not required anymore to actuate.
  • the hydrophobic valve (unit with vent hole 1802) comprises a porous material (i.e. filter paper) which may be the same as the porous material in the enclosure of the capillary pump 1807, but treated with hydrophobic coating (i.e. Aquapel).
  • the hydrophobic solution is applied on the porous material and let it dry completely. This may form a barrier.
  • the hydrophobic valve can be made permeable to gas but not to hydrophilic liquid. This is only one example of method for obtaining a gas-permeable liquid-sealed unit with vent hole 1802.
  • Figure 23 is a graphic and photographic illustration that displays A) a suction pump and B) a propulsion pump.
  • the a suction pump (A) is based on a sorbent materials, for instance a solid sorbent enclosed in chamber with port engaged with the fluid conduit system and at least one port engaged with the extern environment the working liquid when brought in contact with the sorbent material, for instance by a finger push on the flexible or depressible wall of an enclosure with working fluid engaged on the fluid conduit, than the absorption of said working liquid from the inlet channel and/or reservoir by said solid sorbent exerts a suction force on such working fluids contained in said connected fluidic network or fluid conduit web.
  • a sorbent materials for instance a solid sorbent enclosed in chamber with port engaged with the fluid conduit system and at least one port engaged with the extern environment the working liquid when brought in contact with the sorbent material, for instance by a finger push on the flexible or depressible wall of an enclosure with working fluid engaged on the fluid conduit, than the absorption of said working liquid from the
  • Such suction pump can be activated by applying pressure to the flexible or depressible wall of the reservoir that functions as the actuator, e.g. by compressing the reservoir comprising the working liquid, so as to contact the working liquid to the solid sorbent of the suction pump, thus initiating the absorption of the working liquid 809 by the solid sorbent of the suction pump. While the solid sorbent absorbs working liquid , liquid is expelled out of the cavities of the solid sorbent of the suction pump, and is evacuated from the enclosure through the vent-holes. Such vent-holes can vent the fluid to the external environment.
  • the pump comprises a sorbent materials, for instance a solid sorbent enclosed in chamber which chamber is intermittent with a fluid conduit by an inlet and an outlet.
  • a gas is expulsed from a solid sorbent during the absorption of a liquid by said solid sorbent into a fluid conduit (for instance fluid channel) referred to as outlet channel, this fluid flow provides a propulsion force, which allows for pushing a fluid contained in said outlet channel and/or connected a web of fluid conduits or network of channels over a predictable trajectory.
  • Figure 24a - 24h is a schematic display of the device with fluid conduit system to manipulate fluids of present invention with a fluid conduit web that is featured to operate as an ELISA with or without microbeads seeding over an array of holes, for instance in the analytical zone.
  • the array of holes can be used in presence of beads, but the present invention is not limited to an the array of holes, for example in case of traditional ELISA, the analytical zone could be functionalized with receptors (Antibody, DNA,...) with the targets, reagents and substrate being flown over by the different pumps .
  • element 1815 includes a gate adapted to form a passageway for gas and a barrier for liquid
  • the actuator unit 1801 may comprise a collapsible enclosure with a fluid (in this case a liquid) so that this element is adapted to actuate the fluid conduit system to manipulate the fluids by manual actuation, e.g. it may be finger-actuated, for instance by finger pressure.
  • the unit with a vent hole 1802 includes a shunt conduit with downstream a gas-permeable liquid-sealed vent hole (e.g. unit with vent hole).
  • gas-permeable liquid-sealed vent hole can include a hydrophobic material containing cavities for gas passage be sealed against aqueous liquids, for instance a hydrophobic paper.
  • such hydrophobic paper had been made from a filter paper, Whatman filter paper, Grade 43 of Merck by impregnation with fluorinated compounds.
  • the technical effect of such element is that this element provides a passage for gas fluid, but it is not a passageway for aqueous fluids.
  • Systems with such gates have a more robust actuation. Gasses will find a passage or will be conveyed into a neighboring fluid conduits.
  • a capillary pump 1807 includes a solid sorbent enclosed in a chamber with entry and outlet access engaged with the fluid conduit system.
  • Vent- holes 1117 for releasing fluid into the external or ambient environment of said the device are included, similarly to the vent-holes 107 of Figure 2 or in Figure 11, for example.
  • Inlet 1803 may include a liquid reservoir that with liquid passage port is engaged with the fluid conduit web and eventually (as here is the case) with an intermittent conduit shunt between the fluid conduit web and the reservoir.
  • the reservoir can receive or contain a working fluid to engage in fluid manipulation, as is the case in inlet 1803c.
  • There reservoir can receive or contain a fluid with reagent as is the case in the inlets 1803a and 1803b.
  • the illustration shows the inlets 1803 with sealed reservoir so that it forms an enclosure.
  • Such reservoir can be provided with a seal that is openable or closeable, for instance with a seal that can be in a closed or open position. Or it can be foreseen with a seal that is removable, openable or closable to open or close reservoir.
  • Such reservoir can thus contain a working fluid to engage in the fluid manipulation.
  • Such reservoir can contain an analyte, a ligand, a biological active molecule, a chemical reactive molecule or a physical reactive molecule.
  • Element 1811 is an intake port adapted to receive a liquid comprising a ligand to be analyzed. This intake port can be engaged with a reservoir. This intake port can be sealed from gas intake by way of sufficient liquid on it, whereby this liquid can be under ambient pressure.
  • This intake port can also be sealed from gas intake by the fact that it is submersed in fluid, for instance an external fluid for sampling and analysing.
  • the fluid conduit web comprises a conduit shunt connected with a port for sampling fluid, for instance from an external environment or from an ambient fluid environment.
  • the fluid conduit web comprises a conduit shunt physically or functionally connected with a port for sampling fluid, for instance from an external environment or from an ambient fluid environment.
  • Hydrophobic barrier 1 1815 separates the analytical part of the chip (upstream) from the pumping part (downstream) so that the trigger liquid cannot go in the analytical part during prefilling and so that a fluorogenic substrate or reagents 1813, 1814 (prefilled downstream the propulsion pumps) are pushed only over the analytical part.
  • DeltaX define the volume of sample (i.e. body fluids, buffer solutions, functionalized microbeads) that will be pulled into the system. In fact, from the moment the trigger liquid
  • the trigger liquid serves also as working liquid to activate the propulsion pump 1807a activation trigger. This is made of: a trigger porous material which absorbs the trigger liquid and a hydrophobic barrier 1815b which separates the propulsion pump working liquid 1817 from the trigger porous material (e.g. forming the trigger capillary pump 1807a).
  • the air expelled by the triggers porous material pushes the propulsion pump working liquid in contact with the propulsion pump porous material and from the moment the propulsion pump working liquid overcome the hydrophobic valve 1802b (FIG 24c), the propulsion pump becomes independent from the rest of the circuit and pushes the Fluorogenic substrate or reagent 1814 in the analytical part.
  • the volume of air pushed out from the trigger porous material (for instance included in its capillary pump 1807a) must be larger than the volume of working liquid 1817 between the hydrophobic barrier 1815b and the hydrophobic valve (unit with vent hole 1802b), thus the volume in the first conduit zone 1804, so the back end of the working liquid 1817 can surpass the unit with vent hole 1802b, which in turn must be larger than the volume of air between the propulsion pump 1807b porous material and the propulsion pump working liquid 1817 front, thus the volume in the third conduit zone 1806, to ensure that the working liquid
  • the distance between the front of the trigger liquid and the interface with the trigger porous material define the delay between the activation of the Suction pump and the activation of the first propulsion pump (for a fixed flowrate). This is also related to the incubation time of the sample (i.e. beads, analyte) on the analytical zone.
  • the trigger liquid should be enough to trigger the activation of all the propulsion pumps present (in this case two 1807a, 1807c) and the suction pump 1807e is designed to pull the trigger liquid 1816 sufficiently to activate all the propulsion pumps.
  • the delay between the activation of the propulsion pumps 1807a, 1807c is determined by the distance between them, which can be tailored under the assumption that the trigger liquid 1816 is being pulled at a constant rate by the suction pump 1807e.
  • Figure 25 is a graphic display of a functionally engaged suction pump and propulsion pump integrated into a fluid conduit web or microfluidic network moreover comprising an enclosure hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic (HIH) microtube or microwell grids array in said the fluid conduit system.
  • Such array 1812 is also shown in Figure 24a
  • Figure 26 is a graphic that demonstrates an embodiment with a suction pump and propulsion pump series with engagement of a hydrophobic valve (HV) .
  • A) Initiation: outlet liquid (OL), trigger liquid (TL), working liquid 1 and 2 (WL 1, WL 2) are preloaded in the respective chambers while a droplet of sample (S) is placed on the inlet of analytical channel (AC).
  • Porous material 1 (PM 1) chamber is connected to TL chamber which is then connected to WL 2 chamber.
  • a hydrophobic valve (HV) is placed between the trigger liquid (TL) and a second working liquid (WL 2) which is more downstream of a first working liquid (WL 1).
  • the technical effect of the hydrophobic valve (HV) with its entry access pore or gate physically and operationally connected to the guidance that is downstream of a working liquid (herein trigger liquid) is that this trigger liquid that is pushed for instance from a pressure build up from air escaping from the output of the enclosure of a upstream propulsion pump into a gas filled guidance that is after the valve intermittent with a working fluid filled guidance, will not move this downstream working before this trigger liquid reaches the valve.
  • the technical effect is of such design is a delay.
  • the valve has a role in both the activation of the pump and also to delay and trigger the activation of one pump by another.
  • Suction pump Suction pump is activated and the WL 1 is absorbed by the PM 1.
  • Operation i) Suction pump: a reduced pressure in the AC draws the S in the channel. At the same time the air expelled from the PM 1 pushes the TL forward. The air pushed by the TL does not act on the propulsion pump circuit downstream since it can exit the circuit through the HV.
  • the volume of TL which pushes the WL2 should be large enough to make the WL2 reach the PM2.
  • the (i) Suction pump is terminated.
  • E) propulsion pump operation the air expelled from the PM 2 pushes the OL towards the outlet.
  • the HV lets the air enter in the WL 2 chamber to replace the WL 2 absorbed by the PM 2.
  • Such delay between the activation of the suction pump and the activation of the propulsion pump circuit depends on the volume between the TL front and the HV. However, this volume cannot exceed the maximum volume that can be pushed by the (i) suction pump. If the PM 2 chamber is directly connected to the end of the AC (without prefilling of OL), the same system can be used to push back and forth the S in the A
  • Figure 27 Schematic work flow for the fabrication of the microwell array grounding plate, using both an Parylene-C shadow mask and an aluminium hard mask. Fabrication of 62,500 femtoliter-sized HIH microwells on glass plate through dry lift-off method: a) deposition of the thin layer of Al, b) deposition of Teflon-AF, c) deposition of parylene C, d) deposition of the Al hard mask, e) UV exposure of the photoresist, f) development of the photoresist and wet etching, g) reactive ion etching, h) dry peel-off method and i) finalization of HIH microwell array.
  • Figure 28 Microfluidic set-up: outlet connected to a syringe pump, magnet underneath the array and 10 ⁇ L ⁇ droplet of the buffer solution on the inlet.
  • Figure 29 Overview of the suction pump: i) part of the filter paper, ii) working liquid channel with activation button, and iii) analytical channel with sample inlet.
  • Figure 30 Design Suction Pump: a) PSA middle layer with channel design, b) top PVC layer with vent- holes and prefilling hole, and c) bottom PVC part with inlet.
  • Figure 31 Microfluidic set-up with well-known volume marks in the PSA layer, outlet of array connected to a prefilled Suction Pump.
  • Figure 32 Microfluidic set-up of prefilled activated Suction Pump connected with the outlet of the microwell array.
  • the microwell array chip is clamped onto the 3D printed magnet holder.
  • Figure 33 The plug flow is pushing and seeding the aggregate of beads above the array.
  • the volume of beads solution should be limited (it can be seen as a continuous flow of a long plug). In fact part of the seeding it is achieved thanks to the back meniscus of the plug at the air liquid interface. This interface collect all the beads that are not seeded yet but attracted on the surface of the channel by the magnet and it swipe them over the array into the wells.
  • Figure 34 Fitted results of I-optimal full factorial blocked design of seeding efficiencies at different magnet to array distances with flow rate varied between 1, 5 and 10 ⁇ L/min.
  • Figure 35 Overview microscope images for the three different distances: a) immobilization of the beads above the array due to too high magnetic attraction (distance of 1.75 mm), b) good seeding (distance of 2.4 mm), and c) low seeding due to low magnetic attraction (distance of 3.5 mm).
  • Figure 36 Fitted results of the two level full factorial block DOE of seeding efficiencies with flow rate of 5 and 10 ⁇ L/min and a bead concentration of 2.5 and 5 x 10 ⁇ 7 beads/mL.
  • Figure 37 Predicton profiler set at maximal seeding efficiency in which a seeding efficiency of 91.55% is predicted at settings of 5 ⁇ L/min and 5x10 ⁇ 7 beads/mL.
  • Figure 38 Brightfield images of seeded beads into the microwell array using the suction pump as pumping mechanism: a) brightfield pictures taken of one array with 15x objective, and b) pictures taken of second array with some defaults with 40x objective both showing seeding over 92%.
  • Figure 39 A) iSIMPLE pump during the operation. Marks on the side of the outlet channel define equal sections of the outlet channel, each 2.3 ⁇ L. B) The graph depicts the flow rate of the outlet liquid in the different sections for different filter papers. Each point represents the average flow rate values obtained from three independent experiments (error bars represent one standard deviation).
  • Figure 40 A) Terumo Nanopass 34 G microneedle with internal (i.e. within the plastic housing) and external (i.e. outside the plastic housing) needle dimensions. B) Modified needle housing where PSA and PVC layers were used to fill the void space and provide a flat interface. C) iSIMPLE chip used for drug delivery experiments with the connection ring made of PSA attached on the outlet hole. D) Ready-to-use iSIMPLE chip with the integrated microneedle
  • Figure 41 The graph shows the volume ejected at the corresponding time during the pump operation. Each point represents the average ejected volume obtained from four independent experiments (error bars represent one standard deviation). More than 150 ⁇ L ⁇ was ejected in 5 min before the pump stopped due to saturation of the porous material with working liquid.
  • Figure 42 Viscosity test with iSIMPLE. The chart presents the flow rate for different glycerol concentrations ejected from 34 G microneedle with iSIMPLE. Each bar represents the average flow rate over section 1 to 5 of the iSIMPLE outlet channel, obtained from three independent experiments (error bars represent one standard deviation). Bars labelled with A and B are statistically different at alfa ⁇ 0.0001.
  • Figure 43 Overview of injecting different glycerol concentrations (0 and 40 %) in different agarose matrices (1 and 2.65 %) with iSIMPLE.
  • magnification of the microneedle and agarose (top) and iSIMPLE pump operation (bottom) are displayed when the outlet liquid reached sections SI, S3, S5 marked on the outside of the outlet channel (as described in Figure 4A).
  • 15 ⁇ L ⁇ of outlet liquid was injected in the agarose matrix in each experiment.
  • Scale bars represent 2 mm.
  • Figure 44 illustrates the Injection in chicken breast with iSIMPLE.
  • the iSIMPLE operation is shown right after activation, when the outlet liquid reached section 1 (SI), half way operation, corresponding to section 3 (S3), and at the end of the pumping, when the outlet liquid reached the last section (S5).
  • Top view of the chicken cube after the injection indicating the point of needle insertion. The cube was sliced in half in correspondence of the injection point and the injection depth (2 mm) is indicated.
  • Figure 45 illustrates the burst pressure characterization of hydrophobic barrier.
  • Figure 46 illustrates the water contact angle measurements of hydrophobic filter paper.
  • the average contact angle value is displayed based on measuring four water droplets per each sample (treatment 1, 2 and 3) and the reference Whatman IPS filter paper. Error bars represent one standard deviation.
  • Figure 47 illustrates the results of burst pressure characterization of hydrophobic valve used as hydrophobic barrier (e.g. a patch including hydrophobic material used as barrier). Each bar represents the average burst pressure, obtained from three independent experiments for each treatment of Whatman 43 with different amounts of Aquapel. Whatman IPS was used as benchmark. Error bars represent one standard deviation.
  • Figure 48 illustrates the use of a hydrophobic vent to improve the iSIMPLE activation robustness. In this example, a case in point of failure of activation is shown in a device with no hydrophobic valve.
  • VI represents the volume of WL in the activation zone, which must be larger than the volume of air between the WL and the porous material (V2).
  • ii pump activation step where a pressure with a finger is applied on the activation zone of the WL chamber, putting in contact the WL with the porous material, iii: example of failed activation due to improper activation movement, pressure or duration.
  • FIG. 49 illustrates SIMPLE-based chip for sample splitting towards multichannel analysis, in stages A) - E).
  • SIMPLE 1 activated SIMPLE 2 through a trigger system made of hydrophobic vent (e.g. including a hydrophobic vent), PB and hydrophobic barrier.
  • a trigger system made of hydrophobic vent (e.g. including a hydrophobic vent), PB and hydrophobic barrier.
  • SIMPLE 1 While SIMPLE 1 continued to pull the S into the AC 1, SIMPLE 2 also drew the S in the AC 2.
  • SIMPLE 1 and 2 stopped. Scale bars represent 5 mm.
  • Figure 50 illustrates a combination of SIMPLE and iSIMPLE with hydrophobic vent, hydrophobic barrier and PB for shuttling of liquid on chip.
  • the forward and backwards movement of the liquid sample S is explained with reference to steps A) to G).
  • Figure 51 Safe disposal, needle disable feature.
  • the fold line 5201 provides that the (micro)needles 5203 are embedded in a needle absorbing layer 5202 upon folding of the patch device along the fold line.
  • the needle absorbing layer 5202 accommodates or otherwise sequesters the microneedles 5203 and secures them in place.
  • the needle absorbing layer 5202 is designed such that the height of the needle absorbing layer relative to the surface of the device matches or slightly exceeds the height of the corresponding needle or microneedle array 5203 that is to be sequestered.
  • the needle absorbing layer may be composed of any of the suitable polymer materials that are soft enough to be pierced by the sharp ends of needle or microneedle array.
  • the needle absorbing layer may additionally be coated with an adhesive layer, such that contact to the needle or microneedle array results in a physical bond between the needle absorbing layer and the needle or microneedle array.
  • Figure 52 Multi-chamber design / one-step reconstitution on the device.
  • the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump allows for the implementation of one-step, on-device reconstitution of active pharmaceutical ingredients, whereby at least one of the components of the active pharmaceutical ingredient or vaccine is a liquid component and at least one other ingredient is a solid component such as a lyophilized vaccine or drug. Due to the ability of the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump to generate high pressures in microfluidic channels and chambers, the design of a multi-chamber device is enabled.
  • At least one chamber 5301 contains a liquid component
  • this said chamber is connected by an adjacent channel to at least one other chamber 5302 that contains a liquid or solid component that together with the first said liquid component constitute an active pharmaceutical ingredient or vaccine.
  • the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump 1700 Upon activation of the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump 1700, the first liquid component is propelled under pressure through a connecting channel to a second liquid or solid component.
  • the first and the second components mix, or otherwise the second solid component is dissolved in the first liquid component and the resulting reconstituted mixture is further propelled along a channel connected to a needle or microneedle array 5303.
  • a "mixing zone" 5304 may be included in the channel connecting the second component and the microneedle array 5303.
  • Figure 53 Barcoding/compliance/traceability system Monitoring of pump function/ termination of injection feature is possible via a passive indicator to inform the user on the successful completion of operation of the pumping mechanism of the disposable patch device 5400.
  • this is achieved by adding a visible color dye to the working liquid, and providing a transparent layer 5401 in part of the device, such that the transparent layer is positioned on top of a channel that houses the working liquid, and makes visible the passage of the working liquid in the said channel.
  • the user is informed of the termination of the working of pumping mechanism, and thereby the successful completion of the working operation of the device when the working liquid completely passes the channel visible through the transparent layer.
  • the porous material (or a portion 5402 thereof) that comprises either the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump or the (SIMPLE) capillary pump can be printed with a suitable reactive substance that in an anhydrous form is white or colorless, but that produces a color reaction upon contact with the aqueous working liquid.
  • a suitable reactive substance can be anhydrous copper sulfate.
  • the reactive substance Upon saturation of the porous material, the reactive substance turns a visible color.
  • the printed reactive substance can be applied in a pattern that would be unique to each disposable chip. Such pattern can be in the form of a barcode, a dot code or any other form of 2 dimensional matrix symbol codes.
  • the reactive substance Upon hydration of the porous material and the printed reactive substance, the reactive substance can develop into a unique readable code as a priori assigned during the printing process of the reactive substance on the porous material.
  • a transparent layer can then be positioned on top of the porous material containing the printed code to be made visible to the user or be read-off by image acquisition and processing systems.
  • the image acquisition and processing system that reads-off the unique code such as a smart phone, can then send the result of the read-off to a central information storage and processing system, such as a cloud based ICT system.
  • the result of the read-off can be accessed through the central information storage system by for example medical professionals to confirm that the device has been used as intended.
  • Such a system can, for example, be used to monitor patient compliance to prescribed medications.
  • Figure 54 A pump activation and (micro)needle application "button".
  • the (iSIMPLE) microneedle drug or vaccine delivery device is designed such that the physical force, such as a finger push, that is applied used to activate the propulsion pump is also useful to provide the mechanical force to push or insert the needle or microneedle array into the skin. This can be achieved by positioning the activation button for initiation of the population pump on top on of the needle or microneedle array. Such button could be configured to be “activatable” only through sufficient force, to prevent premature activation and to allow positioning of the device on skin prior to activation.
  • the activation button could be a domed diaphragm that is depressible only when a certain sufficient force is applied, by for example, finger pressure.
  • the embodiments shown in figures 51, 52, 53 and 54 may further include a unit with a vent hole, e.g. a hydrophobic valve, according to embodiments of the present invention, placed along the conduit, in order to provide robust actuation.
  • these embodiments may include a hydrophobic valve 1706 as shown in Figure 17.
  • Example 1 fabrication of a propulsion pump according to the present invention using double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive and filter paper as solid sorbent
  • Double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape 200MP 7956MP
  • adhesive transfer tape (467MP) were acquired from 3M (USA).
  • Two different thickness of PVC transparent foils 180 ⁇ m or 300 ⁇ m) were tested.
  • Filter papers with different pore sizes (0.22 - 13 ⁇ m) (413, VWR, Belgium; SSWP, RAWP, HATF, HVLP, GSTF, Merck Millipore, Belgium) were used.
  • Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plate 2mm thick, was shaped with laser cutter.
  • a digital tabletop craft cutter (Cameo, Silhouette, USA) was used to cut all the PSA, filter paper and PVC foil elements of the microfluidic device.
  • a digital camera D3200, Nikon, Japan
  • a zoom lens AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II, Nikon, Japan
  • microfluidic device was fabricated according to the low-cost and rapid prototyping method presented in Yuen et al. and Kokalj et al. 1 ' 8
  • a digital craft cutter was used to obtain the microfluidic channel in the PSA layer.
  • Microfluidic channel height was determined by the PSA thickness, in our case 6 mils (around 152 ⁇ m).
  • the PSA layer was sandwiched between a bottom and a top PVC layers, where the top layer was designed with inlet, outlet and vent-holes. Filter paper, shaped with the digital craft cutter, was inserted into the porous material chamber during the fabrication.
  • the devices were prefilled for an immediate use or long-term storage.
  • the working liquid and the outlet liquid were injected in the respective chambers manually or with a syringe pump (PHD2000, Harvard Apparatus, USA).
  • a Teflon tube was connected to one side of the syringe via HPLC connector (Peak Finger Tight Fitting, Perkin Elmer, Belgium) and to the other side to a custom made PMMA adapter which was pressed onto the injection channel opening for precise filling of the chamber ( Figure 4 C,D). Blue and red food color dyes were diluted in distilled water and used respectively as working liquid and outlet liquid in our experiments.
  • a vent-hole connected to the porous material chamber was needed to inject the outlet liquid in its channel.
  • Example 2 operation of an embodiment of a propulsion pump fabricated according to example 1
  • the porous material used as solid sorbents such as a filter paper have a given wherein the pores are filled with a gas, typically air. If the porous material is placed between the inlet and outlet of a microfluidic system, when a liquid present in the inlet side of the circuit, namely working liquid, gets in contact with the porous material, the working liquid is absorbed. At the same time, it pushes the air out of the porous material into the outlet channel. If the outlet channel is prefilled with an outlet liquid, the latter is pushed by the air towards the outlet of the microfluidic device.
  • Figure 5 provides a step by step illustration of a propulsion pump according the present invention.
  • Example 3 Flow rate of the forward pumped fluid in a propulsion pump system according to Example 2 in relation to the geometry and/or pore size of the filter paper
  • the device was designed and prepared as described above with the overall size of the device being slightly bigger than a standard microscopy slide (35 x 80 mm).
  • the size of the filter paper was constant (surface of 144.3 mm 2 ) in all the experiments and was selected to ensure enough air volume for pushing forward the outlet liquid, assuming a 70 % porosity.
  • flow rate is influenced by paper geometry; for instance, a circular sector with wider angle leads to an higher flow rate than with a more acute angle.
  • a diamond shape one particular shape of the filter paper, namely a diamond shape, as it has been shown previously that flow rate is influenced by paper geometry.
  • the diamond shape can be seen as the combination of two specular circular sectors that provide a constant flow in the first expanding part and, in the second restriction part, ensuring a smooth transition to the outlet channel without trapping air bubbles in the porous material chamber.
  • the inlet channel was 1 mm wide with an expanded section that facilitates the activation of the pump with the finger.
  • Example 4 Testing the pressure generation in a pump according to embodiments of the present invention
  • POC microfluidic applications i.e. drug delivery, insulin injection
  • a sufficient pressure is generated to overcome the resistance of a barrier, for instance the skin.
  • microfluidic pumps still require external power supply (up to hundreds of volts) to reach a limited pressure (up to few tens of kPa). Obviously these specifications do not fit the requirements of a POC device.
  • the device presented in Figure 6 was developed.
  • a porous material with small (i.e. 0.45 ⁇ m) pore size HVLP, see Table 1
  • the liquid plug was as close as possible to the porous material to minimize the air volume between the two elements. In fact, this volume can be compressed during the iSIMPLE operation resulting in an underestimation of the real pressure generated.
  • An excess of working liquid was added on the inlet opening. When the porous material started absorbing the working liquid, the liquid plug was pushed towards the closed end of the measuring channel compressing the air in that part of the channel.
  • the porous material chamber was positioned just after the inlet opening and further physically or functionally connected to the measuring channel where a liquid plug between 0.5 and 1 ⁇ l, was preloaded. After the activation of the device by adding a drop of working liquid on the inlet opening, the porous material started absorbing the working liquid and the liquid plug was pushed towards the close end of the measuring channel. This caused an increased pressure between the liquid plug and the end of the measuring channel. In this experiment, the filter paper was squeezed between two layers of transfer tape to ensure a proper sealing with the PVC top and bottom layers in the porous material chamber.
  • Example 5 A microfluidic system comprising a suction pump and a propulsion pump according to the present invention
  • the microfluidic system was prepared using PVC foils, filter paper and a PSA layer as explained in Example 1.
  • the Microfluidic system comprises a propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention having a wing-shaped solid sorbent (filter paper) operably connected to a suction pump wherein said suction pump serves as an activation means or actuator for said propulsion pump.
  • the microfluidic system Before its activation (Figure 8A), the microfluidic system comprises a SIMPLE 1 suction pump comprising an enclosed filter paper PMl in the shape of a circle sector.
  • the enclosure of said filter paper comprises several vent-holes and an opening, which connects via a channel to a reservoir having a flexible or depressible wall.
  • Said channel and reservoir comprise a working liquid and are operably connected to the propulsion pump via a channel comprising an analyte inlet (analytical zone).
  • a droplet of a first liquid analyte Al is placed on the inlet of the analytical channel.
  • the enclosure of the wing-shaped filter paper PM2 of the propulsion pump comprises a first opening connecting said enclosure to the analytical channel and a second opening connecting to an outlet channel.
  • the outlet channel is physically or functionally connected to an analyte storage channel, which connects to the analytical channel.
  • the analyte storage channel is preloaded with a second liquid analyte A2.
  • the suction pump is activated by compressing the reservoir comprising the working liquid ( Figure 8B), such that the working liquid is brought into contact with the filter paper PMl initiating the absorption of the working liquid by the filter paper PM 1.
  • the absorption of the working liquid by the filter paper PMl results in a reduced pressure in the analytical channel whereby the droplet of the first liquid analyte Al is drawn into in the analytical channel.
  • the first liquid analyte Al contacts the enclosed wing-shaped filter paper PM2 of the propulsion pump, it is absorbed and expulses the air from the filter paper pores into the outlet channel. This inflow of the air in the outlet channel pushes the second liquid analyte A2 from the analyte storage channel into the analytical channel.
  • the action of the suction pump terminates when all working liquid is absorbed into the filter paper PM1 or when the filter paper PM1 is saturated by the working liquid.
  • the operation of the propulsion pump according to embodiments of the present invention terminates either when all first liquid analyte Al is absorbed into the wing-shaped filter paper PM2 or when the wing-shaped filter paper PM2 is saturated by the first liquid analyte Al .
  • Example 6 A microfluidic system comprising a suction pump simultaneously activating propulsion pumps according to the present invention
  • a microfluidic system was prepared according to the general scheme of Figure 9 using the material and methods of Example 1.
  • Example 7 A microfluidic system comprising a suction pump sequentially activating propulsion pump according to the present invention
  • a microfluidic system was prepared according to the general scheme of figure 10 using the material and methods of Example 1.
  • Example 8 A microfluidic system comprising a suction pump being activated by a propulsion pump according to the present invention wherein said activating pump simultaneously acts as a suction pump
  • a microfluidic system was prepared according to the general scheme of Figure 11 using the material and methods of Example 1.
  • Example 9 Microfluidic system comprising two propulsion pumps according to the present invention wherein one propulsion pump activates the other and wherein said activating pump also acts as a suction pump.
  • a microfluidic system was prepared according to the general scheme of Figure 12 using the material and methods of Example 1.
  • Example 10 Microfluidic assay system comprising two propulsion pumps according to the present invention combined with a suction pump.
  • a microfluidic assay system was prepared according to the general scheme of Figure 13 using the material and methods of Example 1.
  • the microfluidic assay system of this Example 10 involves a detection system comprising silver enhancement of captured gold coated nanoparticles as previously described.
  • the reference DZ, S, WB, R1, R2, WB, MZ as used below refer to the corresponding items in Figure 13.
  • the goal of this bioassay is to capture gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with streptavidin contained in a sample (S) on a surface (detection zone, DZ) pre-functionalized with biotinylated antibodies.
  • a silver enhancement was performed.
  • Silver solution (made of mixed reagent 1 (Rl) and reagent 2 (R2)) is brought over the detection zone (DZ), and catalyzed by the AuNPs, it forms an opaque dark layer.
  • an electrical circuit comprising a LED, a photodiode and a microcontroller is used ( Figure 14) to measure the intensity loss of LED light due to reflection of the silver layer. Only the light that pass through was picked up by a photodiode and this information was processed by the microcontroller, which then displayed the result of the test on an LCD screen. So the less light the photodiode receive, the darker and thicker the silver layer is, due to higher concentration of AuNPs.
  • a washing step was performed between the Strep-AuNPs incubation (15 minutes) and the Silver mix incubation (30 minutes), by pumping a washing buffer (WB) that was prefilled in the mixing zone (MZ) of the microfluidic assay system, to remove unbounded AuNPs from the detection zone.
  • WB washing buffer
  • MZ mixing zone
  • Example 11 Microfluidic assay system comprising two propulsion pumps according to the present invention combined with a suction pump.
  • a microfluidic assay system was prepared according to the general scheme of Figure 15 using the material and methods of Example 1 and as further specified in the legend to Figure 15.
  • the goal was to detect the presence of creatinine in plasma with an enzymatic reaction and a spectrophotometric readout.
  • a plasma sample S comprising spiked creatinine was mixed with reagents (Rl and R2) during the microfluidic assay procedure.
  • Rl and R2 comprise a creatinine probe, creatinase, creatininase and creatinine enzyme mix as available in the Sigma Aldrich creatinine assay kit (Catalog number: MAK080).
  • the sample S was diluted in the reagents Rl and R2 in a 1 :8 ratio and was subsequently mixed with said reagents by passage through the mixing zone MZ.
  • the height of the detection zone DZ of a microfluidic device according to this example is preferably higher than that of the other parts of the microfluidic system, for instance through the use of multiple stacked layers of double side tape, in order to obtain an increased path length facilitating spectrophotometric detection.
  • the microfluidic network other than the DZ had a height of 254 ⁇ m, while the height of detection zone was 508 ⁇ m.
  • both the top and bottom layer enclosing the detection zone are transparent or translucent.
  • Example 12 Microfluidic capillary propulsion pumps and capillary suction pump injection device for delivering of bioactive molecules
  • Nanopass 34 G microneedles were acquired from Terumo (Belgium). Glycerol bidistilled 99.5 % and agarose powder were acquired from VWR (Belgium) and Melford (UK), respectively. Chicken breast was acquired at the local butcher.
  • a microneedle was connected to the iSIMPLE.
  • Nanopass 34 G (Terumo, Belgium) microneedle was selected since it is the smallest microneedle available on the market (external length (i.e. length outside the plastic housing): 4 mm, eternal outer diameter (OD): 0.18 mm, external inner diameter: 0.08 mm).
  • the plastic housing of a microneedle was first modified. Briefly, the void space between the larger part of the needle and the plastic housing was filled with multiple PSA and PVC layers and everything was sealed with super glue.
  • This modification provided a flat surface which was connected to the outlet hole on the iSIMPLE via a connection ring made of PSA ( Figure 41).
  • This connection provided a fast and easy but robust and leakage free sealing between the microfluidic chip and the microneedle.
  • iSIMPLE capillary propulsion pump
  • This iSIMPLE 7000 was provided with hydrophobic valve (as displayed in figure 17 A-D).
  • WL working liquid
  • OL outlet liquid
  • PM porous material
  • a hydrophobic valve comprising a filter paper treated to become hydrophobic, was positioned on a side of the WL chamber, for example in a cavity with a vent hole, forming the gas-permeable liquid- sealed unit with vent hole and connected to the WL chamber via a shunt conduit, after the WL prefilling point.
  • the other side of the HV is open to the air.
  • a needle or microneedle is coupled to the outlet of the outlet channel. The system was activation by pushing on the activation zone, the WL gets in contact with the PM and overcome the HV interface. During operation the WL is absorbed into the PM, it pushes out the air present in the PM. This air pushes the OL out of the needle/microneedle.
  • the HV lets the air enter in the WL reservoir to replace the WL absorbed by the PM.
  • the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) is terminated either when all WL is absorbed into the PM or when the PM is saturated by the WL.
  • the needle/microneedle was connection to the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip.
  • the device is shown on side view: i) bottom layer, ii) outlet channel (OC) cut in PSA, iii) top layer with outlet hole.
  • a connection ring (CR) made of PSA is used to connect the outlet of the propulsion pump (so called iSIMPLE) chip with the inlet of the needle/microneedle.
  • the pressure was calculated (using Hagen-Poiseuille law) needed to eject a liquid with different viscosity (0 - 100% glycerol concentrations) through a needle of different diameter (i.e. 26 and 34G) at 20°C using a flow rate of 0.8 ⁇ L/ ⁇
  • Example 13 a method of seeding according to the present invention
  • Lodestar superparamagnetic beads (2.7 mm diameter) functionalized with streptavidin were purchased from Agilent Technologies (USA).
  • PBS Phosphate-buffered saline
  • Tween 20 Biochemica, UK
  • superblock buffer ThermoFisher, Belgium
  • All buffers were prepared with deionized water.
  • Double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape 200MP-7945MP was provided by 3M (USA).
  • PVC transparent foils 180 ⁇
  • COC foils PE 135 X, Tekniplex, Belgium
  • Whatman qualitative filter paper grade 40 was acquired from The Merck group - Sigma Aldrich (Belgium) Bright filed microscope images were taken with Nikon Ti Eclipse inverted fluorescent microscope (Nikon, Japan). The microfluidic designs were done in the CAD software Inkscape and they were cut using a digital table top craft cutter KLIC-N-KUT MAXX Air (KNK, USA). Videos of the microfluidic operations were taken with Logitech c920 webcam and analyzed with the software tracker (AAPT, USA). The PHD 2000 syringe pump (Harvard Apparatus, USA) was used. A 2 mm diameter permanent neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, purchased from Supermagnete (Belgium), with a magnet strength of 1.3 T were used. Microwell array fabrication
  • Prototypes with microwell arrays were fabricated in a cleanroom following the protocol briefly presented in Figure 27.
  • This fabrication process resulted in 62,500 femtoliter-sized microwells of 4.5 ⁇ m diameter and 3 ⁇ m depth with an 8 ⁇ m centre-to-centre spacing, in a square patch of 2 x 2 mm 2 .
  • the volume of each microwell is around 38 fL.
  • the femtoliter-sized HIH microwells on a glass plate was achieved through a dry lift-off method resulting in a very hydrophobic Teflon- AF as top layer.
  • This hydrophobic layer has ideal flow properties, keeps the water based fluosubstrate in the wells to create microchamber reactions.
  • Other materials such as PVC, PMMA, COC and OSTE which can reduce the complexity and the cost of the fabrication process can be used as well.
  • microfluidic channel was designed using the CAD software Inkscape and was cut with a digital craft cutter in a PS A foil and attached to the bottom layer with the HIH wells array.
  • the microfluidic channel was sealed with a top layer of COC which contains inlet and outlet holes.
  • the outlet of the microfluidic chip is connected to the suction system (i.e. syringe pump or suction pump, SIMPLE) in order to precisely control the flow rate in the channels.
  • the suction system i.e. syringe pump or suction pump, SIMPLE
  • a 2x1 mm NdFeB cylindric permanent magnet was integrated in a 3D printed holder to ensure the proper distance between the magnet and the chip and ensure the correct alignment of the magnet with the array ( Figure 28).
  • the technical aspect of the distance between the magnet and the array is as follows, if the magnet is too close to the array, this results in clustering of beads on the array, if it is positioned too far seeding is suboptimal. The optimal distance was calculated and experimentally determined.
  • the sample i.e. 10 ⁇ L
  • suction system i.e. syringe pump or suction pump, SIMPLE. Optimization magnet distance
  • the seeding efficiency is calculated by analyzing bright field microscope images with a 10x objective resulting in +27,000 microwells visualized. Two pictures were taken in every experiment, one before the seeding to count the total number of wells and check the presence of leftover beads from previous experiments, and one after to count the total number of seeded wells. Images where more than 85% seeding was achieved are considered as 'good' .
  • An I-optimal full factorial design (Table 2) was set up with two factors and three levels, one of which being the center point on which to investigate the effect of the magnetic distance on the seeding efficiency. Running the full complement of all possible factor combinations means that the main effects, interaction effects and even possible quadratic effects can be estimated.
  • Table 2 I-optimal full factorial DOE of the optimization magnet distance experiment.
  • the concentration of the beads concentration needs to be balanced based on the magnet distance and flowrate.
  • the number of beads must be larger than the number of wells in the array.
  • the flow rate of the pump needs to be balanced based on the magnet distance, if the flowrate is too high beads do not have "time" to reach the array, if the rate is too slow aggregation might occur.
  • concentrations of beads were tested, 2.5 and 5xl0 7 beads/mL because these concentrations are commonly used in digital assay protocols. Respectively, 5 and 10 ⁇ L of the beads stock solution were diluted by adding 155 ⁇ L SBT after two washing steps.
  • the suction pump platform ( Figure 29) is an innovative self-powered, robust, disposable and easy to use microfluidic pumping system. It consists of a porous material (e.g. filter paper), a working liquid chamber and an analytical channel through which a sample can flow. It uses the advantage of paper microfluidics, i.e. no energy input needed to pull liquid, combined with traditional channel based microfluidic, where the sample does not get in contact with the porous material.
  • the working liquid is first prefilled in its chamber and the sample is placed on the sample inlet. After that, the suction pump is activated by applying pressure (i.e. finger press) on the working liquid chamber in order to bring the working liquid in contact with the porous material, which starts to absorb the working liquid due to capillary forces.
  • pressure i.e. finger press
  • the microfluidic channel should be designed to ensure a proper flow of the beads without bubble formation and should accommodate the entire array. At the same time the width of the channel shouldn't be too large than the array width to make sure that most of the bead in solution must go over the array.
  • the surfaces properties of the array and bottom channel should be such that they do not show affinity to the microbeads to avoid unwanted aggregation/immobilization of beads in the channel or over the array.
  • the microfluidic design of the suction pump chip used is shown in Figure 30.
  • the microfluidic channel was cut in the PSA layer and was sandwiched between a bottom and a top PVC layer. The top layer was designed with outlet and the bottom layer was designed with inlet.
  • the flow rate of the suction pump is characterized and tuned to match the one found in the optimization phase with the syringe pump.
  • the suction pump was fabricated as presented in Figure 30 using as porous material a 60° circular sector of Whatman grade 40 filter paper .
  • the suction pump was then connected with the outlet of the microfluidic chip with the microwell array.
  • the middle layer of the microfluidic chip (PSA layer) is marked in well-known volumes to determine the flow rate (volume in function of time) ( Figure 31).
  • the pump is activated and colored liquid is pipetted on the inlet.
  • the experiments were recorded with a webcam and the videos were analyzed using the software tracker.
  • Table 4 The result of I-optimal full factorial blocked design of seeding efficiencies at different distances with flow rate varied between 1, 5 and 10 ⁇ L/min.
  • Table 5 Parameter estimates of all main, interaction and quadratic effects of the full factorial I-optimal design with standard error and probability values.
  • the optimal magnet distance was estimated at 2.2 mm and a holder was made at this distance in order to continue with experiments and reduce the variability between the experiments. Due to limits in the 3D- printer the distance of the holder turned out to be 1.95 mm. The model predicts a seeding efficiency of 80.4% which lies in between the RMSE interval of + 2.3%. In fact, no immobilization was observed in future experiments which only indicates a closer distance and thus a higher magnet force which ensure higher seeding efficiencies. Besides the magnet distance, two other important parameters were considered being the bead concentration (2.5 and 5 x 10 7 beads/mL) and the flow rate (5 and 10 ⁇ L/min ). The two level full factorial block DOE results with replication are shown in Table 6.
  • Table 6 The results of the two level full factorial block DOE of seeding efficiencies with flow rates of 5 and 10 ⁇ L/min and a bead concentration of 2.5 and 5 x 10 7 beads/mL.
  • Table 6 shows immediately that the chosen factor levels are already a good estimation of good efficiencies, even 90%+ being common. By fitting the mean of the results of Table 6 the maximum set of conditions can be nicely visualized along with the standard deviation (Figure 36).
  • Table 7 Comparison between experimental derived predictive model, the validation experiment and scaling to the maximum of the model.
  • the fabrication and flow rate of the Suction Pump platform is investigated and tuned to match the requirement of a flow rate of 5 ⁇ L/min.
  • the Suction Pump will be used to replace the syringe pump as microfluidic tool to manipulate the beads on chip.
  • the optimized conditions found in the previous examples were implemented in the Suction Pump powered chip.
  • the magnet was set at a distance 1.95 mm, and the beads (5xl0 7 beads/mL) were flown over the array with the Suction Pump characterized previously (average flow rate of 6.59 ⁇ L/min ).
  • a flow rate of 6.59 ⁇ L/min with a bead concentration of 5xl0 7 beads/mL at optimal magnetic distance should give a seeding efficiency of 89.9% and because the RSME is 4.1 % and the maximal prediction is 91.6 % the design of the Suction Pump can be kept.
  • Table 8 Seeding efficiencies of seeding with the Suction Pump using the optimized conditions.
  • Example 17 Seeding in combination with a propulsion pump
  • Example 18 Ejection of a large volume of liquid with iSIMPLE
  • Microfluidic pumps need to be versatile in handling a range of liquid volumes in order to adapt to different applications.
  • a small volume of liquid (9 ⁇ L) was successfully pushed in a reproducible way using the iSIMPLE pump.
  • the four tested pumps demonstrated a high reproducibility (CV ⁇ 3 %) of the ejected volume during operation (0 min - 4.5 min).
  • the pumps stopped at slightly different times, reaching different ejected volumes, which led to an increased error from 5 min onwards, however, still with a CV ⁇ 6 % (data not shown).
  • Example 19 Ejection of viscous liquids through microneedle with a propulsion pump
  • drugs and vaccines show even higher viscosity ranging between 20 and 40 cP when containing proteins or therapeutic antibodies (i.e. Infliximab, Adalimumab, IgGi monoclonal antibodies, at concentrations ranging between 100 and 200 mg/mL).
  • proteins or therapeutic antibodies i.e. Infliximab, Adalimumab, IgGi monoclonal antibodies, at concentrations ranging between 100 and 200 mg/mL.
  • we diluted glycerol in water to achieve five different concentrations, namely 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 % (v/v) corresponding to 0.93, 1.66, 3.68, 10.53, 55.88 cP, respectively.
  • ⁇ [Pa s] is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid
  • Q is the average volumetric flow rate [m 3 /s]
  • L 1 and L 2 [m] are the length of the internal (10 mm) and external part (4 mm) of the needle, respectively
  • R 1 and R 2 [m] are the radii of the internal (0.09 mm) and external part (0.04 mm) of the needle, respectively.
  • Table 9 shows the pressure needed to eject each glycerol concentration at its specific flow rate at the experimental temperature.
  • Table 9 Theoretical pressure needed to eject different glycerol concentrations at specific flow rate and temperature through a 34 G microneedle with the iSIMPLE platform.
  • Foley et al. reported that a pressure of 3.5 kPa was sufficient to inject a dye into a mice brain while in the work of Gupta et al., a pressure around 13 kPa was needed to inject a large volume (100 ⁇ L) into a human forearm at high flow rate (300 ⁇ L/min). Even though this pressure was successfully reached by the iSIMPLE (see previous two paragraphs), in order to fully demonstrate its potential for drug delivery applications, we tested here the injection of a different glycerol concentrations in a skin-mimicking matrix. Agarose was chosen as skin model system since it is widely reported in literature as one of the best synthetic models for human skin. Moreover, its partial transparency allows a visual inspection of the liquid injection.
  • agarose substrate was prepared starting from the agarose powder (Melford, UK) that was added to distilled water to reach the proper concentration (i.e. 1 % w/v, 2.65 % w/v). The solution was heated on a hot plate with magnetic stirring until the agarose powder was completely dissolved. The solution was then poured into a petri dish and cooled down at RT. Several agarose parallelepipeds (15 x 15 x 10 mm) were cut and used as skin mimicking matrix for the experiment.
  • glycerol concentrations i.e. 0 and 40 % were selected here for testing since there was no significant difference in the flow rate between 0 and 20 % or among 40, 60 and 80 %.
  • the microneedle was inserted for approximately 2 mm in an agarose matrix. The same iSIMPLE design was used in these experiments as described in the previous paragraph.
  • Example 21 Drug delivery in ex vivo skin model system with iSIMPLE
  • Whatman quantitative filter papers grade 40 and 43 and Whatman IPS phase separator filter paper were acquired from The Merck group - Sigma Aldrich (Belgium). Double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape (200MP 7956MP) from 3M (USA) and PVC transparent foils 0.18 mm thick (Delbo, Belgium) were utilized. Aquapel solution was bought from Aquapel (USA). A digital webcam (C920, Logitech, Switzerland) was used to video record the experiments. The images extracted from the videos were modified with Adobe Lightroom to enhance contrast and saturation. For the pressure burst characterization of the hydrophobic barrier, the recorded videos were used to monitor the displacement of the measuring plug based on the markings cut on the side of the channels.
  • a microfluidic chip was designed similarly to previous works.28 Briefly, a measuring channel was connected on one side to a syringe pump (PHD 2000, Harvard Apparatus, US) and on the other side to an open outlet. A measuring plug (blue liquid, 0.4 ⁇ L) and sample (red liquid, 0.7 ⁇ L) were prefilled in the channel separated by a known volume of air ( Figure 45A). The sample was prefilled until it reached the hydrophobic barrier, which was inserted during the fabrication in the microfluidic network to serve as a physical barrier for the sample and positioned before the outlet. When the measuring plug was pushed at a constant flow rate (i.e.
  • Example 23 microfluidic chips fabrication
  • the SIMPLE and iSIMPLE microfluidic devices were fabricated according to the low-cost and rapid prototyping method presented in Yuen et al. Lab Chip 2010 and Dal Dosso et al. Anal. Chim. Acta 2017
  • the microfluidic channels were cut in the PSA layer by using a digital tabletop craft cutter (Maxx Air 24", KNK, USA).
  • Microfluidic channel height was determined by the PSA thickness, in this case being 0.153 mm.
  • the PSA layer was sandwiched between a bottom and top PVC layer, with the latter one featuring the necessary inlet, outlet, prefilling and vent- holes.
  • Porous materials i.e.
  • filter papers were cut with a digital craft cutter (Cameo, Silhouette, USA) and inserted into their respective chambers during the assembly.
  • the number of porous materials and their type was determined by the application. In particular, Whatman grade 40 was used as porous material for the SIMPLE/iSIMPLE pumps while Whatman grade 43 was used for the hydrophobic vent (e.g. for the hydrophobic material in a hydrophobic valve including a vent) and hydrophobic barrier.
  • Each microfluidic chip was then prefilled with different liquids based on the specific design.
  • filter paper i.e. Whatman 43
  • a fluorinated compound i.e. Aquapel
  • the substrate maintained its porous structure to allow gas flow, but became impermeable to liquid.
  • gas permeability and liquid impermeability makes this approach distinct from other methods, like wax patterning commonly used in paper based microfluidic, since the latter would make the filter paper hydrophobic but not gas permeable due to complete sealing of the paper pores by the wax (Gerbers, et al. Lab Chip 2014; Cate, et al. Anal. Chem. 2015; Hitzbleck and Delamarche. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013).
  • our one step method does not require any special equipment or trained operator, and consists of simply applying sufficient amount of Aquapel on the paper substrate and waiting until it dries.
  • our hydrophobic valves maintained the same hydrophobicity over time, with a shelf -life at room temperature of at least six months after the fabrication (data not shown).
  • a second crucial parameter for a microfluidic valve e.g. for a hydrophobic material or patch thereof, in particular if used as a hydrophobic barrier (i.e. a physical barrier for a liquid in microfluidic channel), is the maximum pressure bearable before breaking.
  • passive hydrophobic valve can resist pressures ranging from 0.5 to 4 kPa.(Feng, et al. Sensors Actuators A Phys. 2003; Riegger, et al. J. Micromechanics Microengineering 2010; Andersson, et al. Sensors Actuators B Chem. 2001) These valves rely on hydrophobic zone created on the channel walls of the microfluidic network to delay or stop the liquid flow.
  • hydrophobic valves for channel-based microfluidic systems were exploited by integrating them with the SIMPLE and iSIMPLE platform.
  • Three different cases were investigated where hydrophobic valves were used for: i) improving the iSIMPLE activation system, ii) allowing the splitting of a sample in two independent channels operated by two SIMPLE pumps, and finally iii) enabling the shuttling of a liquid by joining the SIMPLE and iSIMPLE pumping concepts in a single platform.
  • Example 26 Hydrophobic valve improves the robustness of iSIMPLE activation
  • Previously described iSIMPLE chip27 was activated by a single finger press on the activation zone (i.e. enlargement of the WL channel connected to the inlet hole, Figure 48 A), which drives a WL in contact with a porous material (in this case Whatman 40).
  • a porous material in this case Whatman 40.
  • the absorption of the WL pushes the air present in the pores of the porous material into the outlet channel where the prefilled outlet liquid is eventually pushed forward by the pressurized air.
  • the chip activation was often failing as it was subjected to a proper user activation. In other words, when we tested three different activation movements (each at least three times), the activation was successful at the first attempt only in 40 % of the cases.
  • a short ( ⁇ 1 s) or long (> 3 s) pressure in the center of the activation zone needed two or more activation attempts before effectively activating the chip. Only a rolling movement led to a successful activation but cannot be considered user-friendly and robust since consists of four steps: i) closing the inlet hole, ii) pushing the WL, iii) opening the inlet hole, and finally iv) removing the pressure from the WL.
  • VI > V2 > V3 respectively representing the air volume of the activation zone, the volume of WL before the hydrophobic vent, and the volume of air between the WL and the porous material (magnification of Figure 48B-i).
  • VI > V2 results in the back front of the WL surpassing the hydrophobic vent interface (hydrophobic vent in open configuration, e.g. a valve with its vent open) and becoming the air source for the pump operation. If VI ⁇ V3, the WL is not pushed far enough to reach the porous material, whereas if V2 ⁇ V3, the WL surpasses the hydrophobic vent before it gets in contact with the porous material.
  • Example 27 Hydrophobic valves allow combining two SIMPLE pumps to enable sample splitting important for multiplexing analysis
  • SIMPLE-based chip was developed to split a sample in two independent channels with a single user activation.
  • the chip featured two SIMPLE pumps in addition to one hydrophobic vent and three hydrophobic barrier, as depicted in Figure 49.
  • SIMPLE 1 was made of an analytical channel 1 (AC 1), a prefilled working liquid 1 (WL 1), a hydrophobic barrier 1 inserted between the AC 1 and the WL 1 chamber, and a porous material 1 (PM 1).
  • SIMPLE 2 consisted of an analytical channel 2 (AC 2), a prefilled working liquid 2 (WL 2) and a porous material 2 (PM 2) ( Figure 49 A).
  • AC 1 and AC 2 merged at the inlet of the chip where a droplet of sample (S) was deposited before activation.
  • SIMPLE 1 and SIMPLE 2 should be activated one after the other.
  • a trigger system that enables the activation of SIMPLE 2 by SIMPLE 1 was developed and was made of: i) a trigger liquid (TL) prefilled between the PM 1 chamber and WL 2 chamber, ii) a hydrophobic vent positioned on a side of the TL chamber and blocked by the TL, iii) a porous barrier (PB) made of untreated Whatman 43 filter paper and hydrophobic barrier 2 inserted between the TL front and the WL 2 chamber, iv) a hydrophobic barrier 3 positioned between the AC 2 and the WL 2 chamber ( Figure 49 A).
  • TL trigger liquid
  • PB porous barrier
  • the combination of a PB and hydrophobic barrier 2 ensured that SIMPLE 2 pulled only the sample and not the TL since the latter was absorbed and blocked by the PB and the hydrophobic barrier 2, respectively.
  • the essential role of the hydrophobic vent can be appreciated here: the hydrophobic vent served as vent for the air expelled during the SIMPLE 1 operation after the TL back front surpassed its interface ( Figure 49E).
  • the two SIMPLE pumps stopped ( Figure 49F).
  • SIMPLE 1 was terminated when the sample reached the hydrophobic barrier 1.
  • the SIMPLE 1 was not connected to an air intake anymore and an excessive under pressure was created in the WL 1 chamber. This pulled back the WL 1 that lost contact with the PM 1.
  • the SIMPLE 2 was terminated when all WL 2 was absorbed into the PM 2.
  • this concept is versatile and can be adapted to specific application requirements.
  • every channel is governed by a SIMPLE that could be designed to pump different volumes of sample at different flow rates by changing type, shape or dimension of the porous materials, as previously shown.26
  • the design can be expanded with more than two pumps in order to split the sample in three or more independent channels, increasing even more the multiplexing capability of this platform.
  • the only requirement to respect in the presented design is the relationship between the volumes (V2 > VI > V3 > V4) indicated in Figure 49A.
  • the rationale behind the importance of respecting these design guidelines is presented in Supplementary Information (section S2).
  • hydrophobic barrier 1 Another important role of the hydrophobic barrier 1 , hydrophobic barrier 2, and hydrophobic barrier 3 was ensuring a successful prefilling of the two working liquids. In fact, during the prefilling step, the hydrophobic barrier 1 ensured that the WL 1 flew in its chamber and not towards the AC 1. Similarly, the hydrophobic barrier 2 and hydrophobic barrier 3 were necessary to prevent the flowing of the WL 2 into the TL chamber and AC 2, respectively.
  • the chip presented here has the potential to be used for sample (i.e. blood, urine, saliva) splitting in two (or more) parallel channels, enabling the possibility to perform multiplexing analysis in a self-powered POC device. This would overcome one of the biggest drawbacks of the current self-powered POC devices that are limited in the liquid manipulation capability making the implementation of complex bioassay protocols difficult.
  • Example 28 SIMPLE and iSIMPLE combined with hydrophobic valves for shuttling of liquid on chip
  • the chip shown in Figure 50 is made of one SIMPLE that initially pulls the S into the AC, an iSIMPLE which eventually pushes the sample back and one hydrophobic vent, one hydrophobic barrier and one PB that allow the proper timing of the operations.
  • SIMPLE was made of an AC, a prefilled WL 1, a porous barrier (PB) and hydrophobic barrier (HB) inserted between the AC and the WL 1 chamber, and a PM 1.
  • iSIMPLE consisted of a prefilled WL 2 and a PM 2. In order to shuttle the S in the AC and operate the chip with a single user activation step, the iSIMPLE should be automatically activated after the SIMPLE pulled the S in the AC.
  • a trigger system similar to the one presented in paragraph 3.4, that enables the activation of iSIMPLE by SIMPLE was developed and was made of: i) a TL prefilled between the PM 1 chamber and WL 2 chamber and ii) a hydrophobic vent in open configuration positioned on a side of the TL chamber after the TL front and before the WL 2.
  • a stopping system was also integrated on this chip and consisted of: i) a stop liquid (SL) prefilled after the PM 2 and before the insertion of the iSIMPLE circuit into the AC and ii) a PB and hydrophobic barrier inserted one after the other in the AC between the iSIMPLE insertion and the WL 1 chamber ( Figure 50A).
  • iSIMPLE acted only on the AC (thanks to the PB and hydrophobic barrier) and pushed the S back along the AC ( Figure 50E). After the S was pushed back to the inlet, iSIMPLE terminated due to complete absorption of WL 2 into PM 2 ( Figure 50F).
  • the two pumps are independent from each other, which allows for a tailored design for each of them.
  • the PM 1 of SIMPLE was designed as a 90° circular sector, which resulted in a faster flow rate then the 10° diamond shaped PM 2 of iSIMPLE.
  • the volume handled by the two pumps can also be different, expanding even more the flexibility of this platform.
  • the delay between the activation of SIMPLE and the activation of iSIMPLE circuit can be tuned by varying the initial volume (V3) between the TL front and the hydrophobic vent.
  • Example 29 Safe disposal, needle disable feature.
  • a fold-line in the disposable patch to enable the user to fold or bend the patch over the needle or microneedle array thereby sequestering the sharp end(s) of the needle or microneedle array within the patch device (Figure 51).
  • the fold line provides that the (micro)needles are embedded in a needle absorbing layer upon folding of the patch device along the fold line.
  • the needle absorbing layer accommodates or otherwise sequesters the microneedles and secures them in place.
  • the needle absorbing layer is designed such that the height of the needle absorbing layer relative to the surface of the device matches or slightly exceeds the height of the corresponding needle or microneedle array that is to be sequestered.
  • the needle absorbing layer may be composed of any of the suitable polymer materials that are soft enough to be pierced by the sharp ends of needle or microneedle array.
  • the needle absorbing layer may additionally be coated with an adhesive layer, such that contact to the needle or microneedle array results in the a physical bond between the needle absorbing layer and the needle or microneedle array.
  • Example 30 Multi-chamber design I one-step reconstitution on the device.
  • the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump allows for the implementation of one-step, on- device reconstitution of active pharmaceutical ingredients, whereby at least one of the components of the active pharmaceutical ingredient or vaccine is a liquid component and at least one other ingredient is a solid component such as a lyophilized vaccine or drug ( Figure 52).
  • the design of a multi- chamber device is enabled. In this design, at least one chamber contains a liquid component, this said chamber is connected by an adjacent channel to at least one other chamber that contains a liquid or solid component that together with the first said liquid component constitute an active pharmaceutical ingredient or vaccine.
  • the first liquid component is propelled under pressure through a connecting channel to a second liquid or solid component.
  • the first and the second components mix, or otherwise the second solid component is dissolved in the first liquid component and the resulting reconstituted mixture is further propelled along a channel connected to a needle or microneedle array.
  • a "mixing zone" may be included in the channel connecting the second component and the mixing zone.
  • a passive indicator to inform the user on the successful completion of operation of the pumping mechanism of the disposable patch device is achieved by adding a visible color dye to the working liquid, and providing a transparent layer in part of the device, such that the transparent layer is positioned on top of a channel that houses the working liquid, and makes visible the passage of the working liquid in the said channel ( Figure 53). The user is informed of the termination of the working of pumping mechanism, and thereby the successful completion of the working operation of the device when the working liquid completely passes the channel visible through the transparent layer.
  • the porous material that comprises either the (iSIMPLE) propulsion pump or the (SIMPLE) capillary pump can be printed with a suitable reactive substance that in an anhydrous form is white or colorless, but that produces a color reaction upon contact with the aqueous working liquid.
  • a suitable reactive substance can be anhydrous copper sulfate.
  • the reactive substance Upon saturation of the porous material, the reactive substance turns a visible color.
  • the printed reactive substance can be applied in a pattern that would be unique to each disposable chip. Such pattern can be in the form of a barcode, a dot code or any other form of 2 dimensional matrix symbol codes.
  • the reactive substance Upon hydration of the porous material and the printed reactive substance, the reactive substance can develop into a unique readable code as a priori assigned during the printing process of the reactive substance on the porous material.
  • a transparent layer can then be positioned on top of the porous material containing the printed code to be made visible to the user or be read-off by image acquisition and processing systems (( Figure 53).
  • the image acquisition and processing system that reads-off the unique code such as a smart phone, can then send the result of the read-off to a central information storage and processing system, such as a cloud based ICT system.
  • the result of the read-off can be accessed through the central information storage system by for example medical professionals to confirm that the device has been used as intended.
  • Such a system can, for example, be used to monitor patient compliance to prescribed medications.
  • Example 32 A pump activation and (micro)needle application "button”.
  • the (iSIMPLE) microneedle drug or vaccine delivery device is designed such that the physical force, such as a finger push, that is applied used to activate the propulsion pump is also useful to provide the mechanical force to push or insert the needle or microneedle array into the skin.
  • This can be achieved by positioning the activation button for initiation of the population pump on top on of the needle or microneedle array ( Figure 54).
  • Such button could be configured to be “activatable” only through sufficient force, to prevent premature activation and to allow positioning of the device on skin prior to activation.
  • the activation button could be a domed diaphragm that is depressible only when a certain sufficient force is applied, by for example, finger pressure.
  • Examples 29 to 32 may include a hydrophobic valve according to embodiments of the present invention, for example as shown in Example 12 (with reference to Figure 17).

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
EP18753355.9A 2017-08-04 2018-08-06 Mikrofluidische systeme mit kapillarpumpen Active EP3661649B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1712562.6A GB201712562D0 (en) 2017-08-04 2017-08-04 Seeding device
GBGB1712561.8A GB201712561D0 (en) 2017-08-04 2017-08-04 Delivery system
GBGB1712564.2A GB201712564D0 (en) 2017-08-04 2017-08-04 Valves
GBGB1721699.5A GB201721699D0 (en) 2017-12-22 2017-12-22 Delivery system
PCT/EP2018/071271 WO2019025630A1 (en) 2017-08-04 2018-08-06 MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS EQUIPPED WITH CAPILLARY PUMPS

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CN111250183B (zh) * 2020-02-17 2021-04-09 北京中科生仪科技有限公司 一种微流控系统用注液泵驱动装置
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