WO2021093962A1

WO2021093962A1 - Device and method for storing and processing sensitive substances

Info

Publication number: WO2021093962A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/081399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harald Quintel; Konstantin Lutze
Original assignee: Hombrechtikon Systems Engineering Ag
Priority date: 2019-11-14
Filing date: 2019-11-14
Publication date: 2021-05-20

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier (1) for storing sensitive substances, comprising a carrier wall (11) and a heat-conductive element (2). The carrier wall (11) comprises a surface (12) for receiving the sensitive substances, and the heat-conductive element (2) is arranged so as to be in contact with the surface (12) in a heat-conductive manner such that the surface (12) can be controlled to a specifiable temperature by dissipating or supplying heat from/to the heat conductive element (2). The carrier (1) is characterized in that the heat-conductive element comprises a phase-change material (PCM) with a phase-change temperature TPC. The invention additionally relates to a carrier (1) with a gas container (43) for storing sensitive substances.

Description

Device and method for storing and processing sensitive substances

The invention relates to carriers for storing sensitive substances according to the preamble of the independent claims. The invention further relates to a device for the automated processing of sensitive substances, as well as a method for the processing of sensitive substances according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Many substances and reagents are known that react sensitively to various temperature influences, including contact with other substances in the environment, that is, they may decompose. Many substances and reagents can be oxidized by ambient oxygen or decompose on contact with water. Such substances can, for example, be stored in an inert gas atmosphere or by means of active cooling.

Substances such as biomolecules can sometimes be stored for years at -70 ° C or even -20 ° C without loss of activity, but other biomolecules can only be stored for a short time (days or hours) before they irreversibly precipitate out of a solution or theirs Lose activity. Generally speaking, a biomolecule has a half-life in solution a low temperature prolongs. When storing and processing biomolecules, such as proteins, it is therefore important to control and stabilize the temperature so that no phase separation can occur within the suspension.

In the prior art, active cooling is used for storage and processes, in particular for fully automated processes, or external protective gas circuits are required, which cool the containers with the substances to a predeterminable temperature and protect them from oxidation, for example by means of inert gas, so that the substances do not lose their function and specific activity.

The main disadvantages of the prior art are that the known systems, on the one hand, consume a great deal of space and energy. On the other hand, hardly any device can be retrofitted with the active cooling systems.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device and a method for processing and storing sensitive substances which avoid the disadvantageous effects known from the prior art.

The object is achieved by a carrier for storing sensitive substances with the features of the independent claims, a device for the automated processing of sensitive substances, and a method for processing sensitive substances with the features of the independent claims.

The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention, a carrier for storing sensitive substances comprises a carrier wall and a heat-conducting element suggested. The support wall has a surface for receiving the sensitive substances, the heat-conducting element being arranged in thermally conductive contact with the surface in such a way that the surface can be tempered to a predetermined temperature by dissipating or supplying heat to or from the heat-conducting element. The carrier is characterized in that the heat-conducting element comprises a phase change material with a phase change temperature TPC.

Phase change materials (also latent heat storage materials) are known and are referred to below as phase change material or PCM. In principle, the heat-conducting element can be designed as a heat-dissipating element, which is arranged in heat-conducting contact with the surface in such a way that the surface can be cooled to a predeterminable temperature by dissipating heat to the heat-dissipating element, or it can be designed as a heat-dissipating element which is in this is arranged in a thermally conductive contact with the surface, so that the surface can be heated to a predeterminable temperature by supplying heat from the heat-supplying element.

Phase change materials in the context of this invention are materials that, during their phase change, depend on the respective phase change temperature TPC (e.g. melting point) and the

Can emit or absorb ambient temperature, heat or cold.

Phase change materials can change their physical state from liquid to gaseous, solid to liquid or their crystallization state from solid to solid in a defined temperature range, i.e. at the phase change temperature

T _PC , change (phase change or phase transition). This process is reversible (reproducible phase transition) and can be used thermally. The Phase change temperature TPC can therefore in particular also correspond to a temperature range. The phase transition from solid to liquid is preferably used. From a technical point of view, this phase transition is more manageable than a transition from liquid to gaseous. An amount of energy stored in the temperature range of the phase transition is significantly greater than an energy consumption in an equally large temperature interval during "normal" heating (specific heat capacity). The specific heat that escapes from a material during 'normal' heating is also called sensible heat and brings about an increase in temperature. During the

Phase transition stored, hidden (latent) transition heat of the phase change material, this does not happen.

This is explained in more detail below using the solid / liquid phase transition. If the phase change material is heated and the temperature approaches the melting point, ambient heat (including the heat from the surface) is used to carry out the phase transition. There is therefore no change in temperature during this phase transition from solid to liquid. Only when the phase change material is completely liquid does the phase change material and thus the surface heat up further.

If the liquid phase change material is now cooled again, it begins to solidify. The energy or the ambient heat that was previously absorbed is released again. The reason for this is that a liquid state is a higher energy state. In the liquid state, energy is therefore stored and can be released again in a completely reversible manner by solidifying. In the context of this invention, the term sensitive substances, substances such as DNA, RNA, nucleic acids, proteins, cells and cell components, monomers or chemical substances are to be understood. Chemical substances can in particular also be reagents for tandem mass labeling, in particular amine-reactive, cyste-in-reactive or carbonyl-reactive reagents for tandem mass labeling. These substances should preferably be heated or cooled by the phase change material in such a way that they do not decompose.

The phase change material according to the invention is preferably used to store cold, so that the surface for receiving the sensitive substances can be cooled to the specifiable temperature by dissipating the heat to the heat-dissipating element. Thus, a sensitive substance located on the surface can be cooled to the prescribable temperature and this for a prescribable time interval. The temperature of the sensitive substances is thus stabilized so that the sensitive substances do not denature and / or decompose. The phase change material should therefore be selected in such a way that the phase change temperature is below a critical temperature of the sensitive substances at which they denature and / or decompose. Alternatively, the phase change material according to the invention can be used to store heat so that the surface for receiving the sensitive substances can be heated to the predeterminable temperature by supplying the heat from the heat-supplying element. In principle, no temperature change has to take place, but the surface can simply be tempered to an essentially constant temperature, in particular heated to a temperature above an ambient temperature or cooled below the ambient temperature. The phase change material according to the invention can be an organic and / or inorganic phase change material. The phase change material according to the invention can in particular be a clathrate and / or salt and / or a salt hydrate and / or a paraffin. In particular, the phase change material can be sodium acetate trihydrate or paraffin Rubitherm® RT58, RT2HC, RT5HC or RT-9HC.

In addition, the phase change material can be pure and / or encapsulated and / or bound. The encapsulated and / or bound phase change materials are preferably designed as a PCM composite which is a material that contains the phase change material.

The combination of phase change material and at least one further material can add a new or changed property to the phase change material.

An encapsulated phase change material can be understood as a phase change material which has been introduced into open / porous particles. The composite material can be a PCM-filled metal composite material, in particular a PCM-filled copper composite material. Openly porous metal moldings can be filled with selected phase change material. The porosity of the metal molding creates an insulating effect, so that the surface is thermally insulated from an environment, so that the surface can be more effectively cooled to the predeterminable temperature for receiving the sensitive substances.

A bound phase change material can be understood as a phase change material which comprises an inorganic support structure. The phase change material is located in the support structure and a change in volume of the phase change material during the phase transition remains hidden within the support structure. The particles and the support structure can serve as a type of sponge for the phase change material. In the solid as well as in the liquid state, the phase change material is thus firmly bound. This facilitates the use of the solid / liquid phase change material, since the phase change material is bound in the particle / carrier body and can therefore be used simply and “dry” even in the liquid state. The shape and material integrity of the PCM composite are therefore retained even in the molten / liquid state of the phase change material.

In practice, the support wall can be designed as a hollow wall with a wall interior. The heat-conducting element with the phase change material is then preferably arranged in the wall interior of the support wall. The surface for receiving the sensitive substances is in the heat-conducting contact with the heat-dissipating element via the carrier wall, so that the phase change material can absorb the heat from the surface and can thus cool the surface to the specified temperature, or is via the carrier wall with the heat-supplying element in the heat-conducting contact, so that the phase change material can give off the heat to the surface and can thus heat the surface to the predeterminable temperature. In addition, the carrier wall can comprise the heat-conducting element (and thus also the phase change material) or consist of the phase change material. In this way, the heat-conducting element and thus also the phase change material can be in direct contact with the sensitive substances. In an embodiment of the invention, the heat-dissipating element can comprise a first phase change material and a second phase change material, as well as a first area arranged on the surface and a second area arranged on the first area. Here is the first Phase change material, which has a lower phase change temperature than the second phase change material, arranged in the first area and thus closer to the surface. Such a cascade-like arrangement of different phase change materials with different phase change temperatures can produce a longer cooling of the surface, since first the outer phase change material (located further away from the surface) must complete the phase transition before the inner phase change material (located closer to the surface) Phase transition can complete. In the simplest case, the carrier is designed as a plate, on the surface of which the sensitive substances can be applied. However, the carrier is preferably designed as a container with a recess for receiving the sensitive substances, the recess surface of which corresponds to the surface to be cooled. The surface is designed in the form of the recess as a volume for receiving the sensitive substances. Of course, the container can also have a large number of depressions. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the container can be a multiwell plate, in particular a microtitration plate, with several wells. In addition, tubes with the sensitive substances can be inserted into the wells.

The wall interior can comprise a multiplicity of flea spaces in which the phase change material is arranged. Furthermore, the phase change material in the solid and / or liquid state can fill less than 80% of a volume of the wall interior, in particular 25 to 75%, especially 50 to 75%, so that the volume change of the phase change material can take place during the phase transition in the volume of the wall interior. However, this is not absolutely necessary, so the interior of the wall can also be completely filled, since most phase change materials have the Have the advantage over water that they do not expand when crystallizing.

In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the carrier can comprise a cover which is arranged on the surface in such a way that a cover space is formed between the surface and the cover. The cover can simply be an attached edge, which does not completely close off the cover space. Alternatively, the cover can also be closed and close off the cover space from the surroundings. In addition, the carrier can include a gas supply, which is flow-connected to the cover space in such a way that a gas, in particular an inert gas, can be supplied to the cover space. On the one hand, oxidation can be avoided during processing of the sensitive substances if an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen is used and, on the other hand, if a dry gas is used, a liquid such as water can be prevented from getting on the surface and thus on the sensitive Substances condensed on and contaminated them. The cover can seal the cover space or the cover can have an opening so that the surface and in particular the depressions remain accessible, but is still sealed off from the ambient air by the gas, in particular the inert gas.

The gas supply can be flow-connected to a gas container for supplying the gas, in particular flow-connected to an exchangeable and / or refillable gas container. The gas container can be designed as a gas cartridge and either refilled or used as a consumable.

In addition, a valve can be arranged on the gas cartridge / gas container in such a way that an outflow of the gas from the gas cartridge / gas container can be controlled, in particular at a predeterminable rate Outflow speed is adjustable. In this way, when using the carrier, it can be ensured that the sensitive substances are exposed to a sufficient amount of gas. In practice, a gas sensor can be arranged on the gas container and / or the gas supply in such a way that a pressure in the gas container and / or a gas flow out of the

Gas container can be represented (can be made visible), in particular is measurable. This measure is also used to determine whether the sensitive substances are exposed to a sufficient amount of gas, or whether the gas container is filled with sufficient gas. Furthermore, a temperature sensor can be arranged on the carrier in such a way that a temperature of the phase change material can be determined. The measured pressure and also the temperature of the phase change material can be output via a display.

According to the invention, a device for the automated processing of sensitive substances with a carrier according to the invention, as well as a holder for the carrier and a dispensing device for automatically supplying and removing a substance (for example a liquid or a reagent) is proposed. The carrier is arranged in the holder in such a way that the dispensing device can supply and remove the substance from the surface of the carrier or the depressions of the container. To cool the phase change material, the container can be removed from the device and introduced into the cooling device. If the container comprises the lid, this can also have an opening through which the dispensing device can supply and remove the substances. According to the invention, a method for processing sensitive substances is also proposed, which comprises the following steps. Providing the heat-conducting element which comprises the phase change material with the phase change temperature TPC. Providing the carrier with the surface for receiving the sensitive substances. Delivering the sensitive substances to the surface of the support. Tempering the sensitive substances to the predetermined temperature by means of the heat-conducting element. The carrier according to the invention is therefore suitable both for storing and for processing the sensitive substances. As already described above, the heat-conducting element can be designed as a heat-dissipating element for cooling and as a heat-supplying element for heating.

If the carrier is designed as a container with several wells, the sensitive substances can also be fed to the container by inserting tubes with the sensitive substances into the wells.

The phase change material according to the invention is selected taking into account the sensitive substances to be preserved and their stability range. The phase change material is preferably selected in such a way that the phase change temperature (or the temperature range) keeps the sensitive substances at a temperature at which they do not denature and / or decompose.

The phase change temperature can preferably be in a range from -100 ° C to 30 ° C, in particular -50 ° C to 10 ° C, in particular -30 ° C to 5 ° C. For example, it can be mentioned above

Phase change materials are used which have a phase change temperature of -10 ° C to -9 ° C or 2 ° C to 3 ° C. The phase change temperature can also correspond to the critical temperature of the sensitive substances or be at least 1 ° C. to 30 ° C., in particular 5 ° C. to 20 ° C. below the critical temperature of the sensitive substances. In practice, the phase change temperature is preferably in a range from -25 ° C. to 25 ° C., in particular around or at 0 ° C. In this range from -25 ° C. to 25 ° C., in particular around 0 ° C., various phase change materials such as paraffins, clathrates, salt hydrates and aqueous salt solutions come into consideration.

Before use, the phase change material can be cooled by placing the carrier with the heat dissipating element in a cooling device such as a refrigerator or a freezer, which cooling device has a cooling temperature that is lower than the phase change temperature of the phase change material, in particular 1 ° C to 10 ° C lower, in particular about 5 ° C lower. If the phase change material is a solid / liquid phase change material, it is converted into the solid state by the cooling (is charged) and can then be used in the method according to the invention. The phase change material can be heated in a water bath, for example.

In the method according to the invention, the sensitive substances can be processed in a liquid. In the context of the invention, a liquid can be a solution, in particular a reaction mixture of sensitive substances and / or reagents and / or impurities and / or solvents. Substances are reagents and / or impurities and / or solvents and / or liquids. According to the invention there is also a carrier for storing sensitive items

Substances comprising a depression for receiving the sensitive substances are proposed, the carrier comprising a gas container which is flow-connected to the depression in such a way that a gas, in particular an inert gas, can be fed to the depression. The carrier is referred to below as the carrier with the gas container in order to distinguish it from the carrier with the heat-conducting element, although the carrier with the gas container in an embodiment of the invention can in principle include the additional features of the carrier with the heat-conducting element. The carrier with the gas container can in principle be viewed as a container which encompasses the gas container and in the recess of which the sensitive substances are received. The recess basically forms a volume for receiving the sensitive substances. Of course, the carrier with the gas container can also have a large number of depressions. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the carrier with the gas container can be a multiwell plate, in particular a microtitration plate, with several wells. In addition, tubes with the sensitive substances can be inserted into the wells. The carrier with the gas container does not require an external gas supply, but includes a self-sufficient gas supply through the gas container, which is filled with the gas, so that the carrier can be used flexibly in all possible devices and processes, with the sensitive substances always being protected Gas / inert gas from the gas container is guaranteed.

In the volume of the recess (or a volume of the tube) and at least partially above the recess, the device according to the invention can generate a gas ballast by gas, in particular inert gas such as nitrogen, argon or carbon dioxide, from the gas container, which is sufficient in order to prevent or largely avoid air penetration into the depressions and the sensitive substances.

The carrier with the gas container can comprise a carrier base, which carrier base is arranged separately from a recess base of the recesses, the gas container between the recess base and the

Carrier base is arranged. For this purpose, the carrier can include an extra inner cavity for the gas container. Of course, the gas container does not have to be between the carrier base and the recess base (i.e. in a Inside the container), but can also be arranged outside on the container.

The gas container can in particular be a gas cartridge, which is in particular an exchangeable and / or refillable gas cartridge, which is particularly preferably screwed into the carrier with the gas container. In practice, the gas container can be flow-connected to the recess via a line.

The carrier with the gas container can in practice comprise a cover which is arranged on the recess in such a way that a cover space is formed between the recess and the cover. The cover can in particular comprise an opening. The cover can simply be an attached edge which does not completely close off the cover space. Alternatively, the cover can also be closed and close off the cover space from the surroundings. In addition, the carrier with the gas container can include the line which fluidly connects the cover space with the gas container so that the gas, in particular the inert gas, can be supplied to the cover space, so that the gas ballast is generated in and above the depressions.

In practice, a valve, in particular a regulating valve, can be arranged on the gas container in such a way that an outflow of the gas from the gas container can be controlled, in particular to a predeterminable one

Outflow speed is adjustable. To enable a continuous gas flow, the gas container or the carrier with the gas container can also comprise a gas sensor which is arranged on the gas container and / or the line in such a way that a pressure in the gas container and / or a gas flow from the gas container can be displayed , in particular is measurable. The carrier with the gas container can comprise an active cooling and / or a passive cooling, which is arranged in a thermally conductive contact with the recess in such a way that the recess can be cooled to a predeterminable temperature by dissipating heat. With active cooling, the heat is removed from the component to be cooled (the recess) with the help of a fan or a pump. The fan / pump usually deliver a cooling fluid for this purpose.

The heat-dissipating element described above, which is arranged with the recess in a heat-conducting contact, can be used as passive cooling. In particular, the carrier with the gas container can comprise a carrier wall which is designed as a hollow wall with a wall interior, wherein the heat-conducting element can be arranged in the wall interior of the carrier wall. Alternatively or additionally, the carrier wall can also be designed as the hollow wall with the wall interior, the gas container being arranged in the wall interior in a space-saving manner.

According to the invention, the device for the automated processing of sensitive substances can alternatively also comprise the carrier with the gas container. The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a schematic representation of a carrier according to the invention for processing sensitive substances;

2 shows a schematic representation of a container according to the invention with a plurality of depressions; 3 shows a schematic representation of an inventive

Device for the automated processing of sensitive substances with a lid;

4 shows a schematic representation of a carrier according to the invention according to FIG. 1 with two different phase change materials;

5 shows a schematic representation of a carrier according to the invention with a gas container;

6 shows a further schematic representation of a device according to the invention

Carrier with gas tank. 1 shows a schematic representation of a carrier 1 according to the invention for processing sensitive substances.

The carrier 1 comprises a carrier wall 11 and a heat-conducting element 2, the carrier wall 11 having a surface 12 for receiving the sensitive substances. Here, the carrier 1 is designed as a container 1 with a recess 10 in which a liquid with sensitive substances is arranged.

The carrier wall 11 is designed as a fluted wall 11 with a wall interior 110 and the heat-conducting element 2 is arranged in the wall interior 110. Here, the heat-conducting element 2 is in heat-conducting contact with the surface 12 via the flea wall 11.

The heat-conducting element 2 here comprises a phase change material PCM with a phase change temperature TPC, to which heat from the surface 12 is dissipated, so that the surface 12 has a predeterminable temperature Temperature can be cooled. The heat-conducting element 2 is thus designed as a heat-dissipating element, but can of course also be designed as a heat-conducting element.

The sensitive substances are thus stabilized because the sensitive substances are not heated in such a way that they denature and / or decompose.

The phase change material PCM is in a solid state and fills approximately 80% of a volume of the wall interior 110. The phase change material PCM cools the liquid with the sensitive substances to a (largely) constant temperature until a phase transition to a liquid state occurs .

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a container 1 with a plurality of depressions 10 in which the liquid with the sensitive substances is arranged. The heat-dissipating element 2 is in heat-conducting contact with the depressions 10 (that is, with a volume formed by the depression), so that the surface 12 can be cooled in that the heat from the surface 12 is given off to the heat-dissipating element 2.

The carrier wall 11 is designed as a fluted wall 11 with a wall interior 110 and the heat-dissipating element 2 is arranged in the wall interior 110.

The phase change material PCM of the heat-dissipating element 2 is in the solid state and cools the surface at least until the phase transition to the liquid state. The sensitive substances are thus stabilized because the sensitive substances are not heated in such a way that they decompose.

The phase change material PCM is in the solid state and fills approximately 80% of a volume of the wall interior 110. The phase change material PCM cools the liquid with the sensitive ones

Substances until the phase transition to the liquid state takes place.

According to the method according to the invention, the heat-dissipating element 2 with the phase change material PCM and the container with the surface 12 for receiving sensitive substances are thus provided. The sensitive substances were supplied in a liquid to the surface 12, that is, into the depressions 10, and are cooled to a predeterminable temperature by the phase change material PCM.

For this purpose, the wall interior 110 comprises a multiplicity of flea spaces 111 in which the phase change material PCM is arranged. The flea spaces 111 can be designed as encapsulated phase change materials, the flea spaces 111 being open / porous particles into which the phase change material PCM has been introduced. The flea spaces 111 can be openly porous metal moldings which are filled with a paraffin as phase change material PCM. A thermal insulation effect is generated by flea spaces 111, which in particular insulates the surface 12 from external temperature influences.

3 shows a schematic representation of a device 100 for the automated processing of sensitive substances with a lid 3.

The device 100 for automated processing comprises the container 1 with a plurality of depressions 10 in which the liquid with the sensitive substances is arranged. The heat-dissipating element 2 is in thermally conductive contact with the recesses 10 (recess surfaces), so that the surface 12 can be cooled by the heat from the surface 12 being given off to the heat-dissipating element 2. The heat-dissipating element 2 is arranged in the wall interior 110 of the hollow wall 11. The phase change material PCM of the heat-dissipating element 2 is in the solid state and fills approximately 75% of the volume of the wall interior 110 (as long as it is in the solid state, a change in volume can take place during the phase transition). The device 100 also comprises a holder 5 for the container 1 and a dispensing device 6 for the automatic supply and removal of a substance, the container 1 being arranged in the holder 5 in such a way that the dispensing device 6 takes the substance of the surface 12, i.e. into the Wells 10 can feed and discharge. The container 1 comprises the lid 3, which is arranged on the surface 12 via the hinge 7 in such a way that a lid space 30 is formed between the surface 12 and the lid 3. The cover can be opened in the direction of arrow A via the hinge 7

In addition, the container 1 comprises a gas supply 4 which is flow-connected to the cover space 30 in such a way that an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen can be supplied to the cover space 30.

For this purpose, the gas supply 4 comprises a gas container 43 which is designed as a gas capsule 43 or gas cartridge 43 which is filled with the inert gas, a control valve 41 for regulating the inert gas flow and a line 42 which connects the gas capsule 43 and the control valve 41. In this way, on the one hand, oxidation can be avoided during processing or storage of the sensitive substances and, on the other hand, a liquid can be prevented such as, for example, water condenses on the surface 12 and thus on the sensitive substances and contaminates them.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a carrier 1 according to the invention according to FIG. 1 with two phase change materials.

In contrast to FIG. 1, the carrier 1 according to FIG. 4 comprises the heat-dissipating element 2, which contains a first phase change material PCM1 and a second phase change material PCM2, as well as a first area B1 arranged on the surface 12 and a second area B2 arranged on the first area B1 includes. The first phase change material PCM1 has a lower phase change temperature, in particular a phase change temperature which is 10 ° C. lower than the second phase change material PCM2

The first phase change material PCM1 is arranged in the first region B1 and thus closer to the surface 12. Such a cascade arrangement of different

Phase change materials with different phase change temperatures can achieve extended cooling of the surface 12, since the outer phase change material PCM2 (located further away from the surface) must first complete the phase transition before the inner phase change material PCM1 (located closer to the surface) complete the phase transition.

5 shows a schematic representation of a carrier 1 according to the invention with a gas container 43. The carrier 1 with the gas container 43 comprises several depressions 10 for receiving the sensitive substances. The gas container 43 is flow-connected to the depressions 10 in such a way that a gas, in particular an inert gas, can be fed to the depressions 10 in an operating state.

The carrier 1 with gas container 43 comprises a carrier base 13, which carrier base 13 is arranged separately from a recess base 14 of the recesses 10, the gas container 43 being arranged between the recess base 14 and the carrier base 13.

The gas container 43 is designed as a gas cartridge 43 which, in particular, can be exchanged and / or re-filled. The gas cartridge can be screwed in between the recess base 14 and the carrier base 13. The gas container 43 is flow-connected to the recess 10 via a line 42. The line 42 leads to a valve 41, which is in particular a control valve. An outflow of the gas from the gas container 43 can be controlled by the valve 41, in particular it can be set to a predeterminable outflow velocity. It is advantageous here if a continuous gas flow to the depressions is set when the container is used.

In FIG. 5, the valve 41 is arranged at the end of the line 42 and forms the outlet to the depressions. The valve can of course also be arranged at another suitable point on the gas container or the line.

In principle, the carrier can comprise a multiplicity of lines and / or valves which lead from the gas container to the depressions. In addition, the carrier could also comprise a multiplicity of gas containers.

Through the inventive carrier 1 with the gas container 43, on the one hand, during processing or storage of the sensitive Oxidation of the substances can be avoided and, in addition, a liquid such as water can be prevented from condensing in the depressions and thus on the sensitive substances and contaminating them. In the volume of the recess 10 (or a volume of a tube which can be inserted into the recess) and at least partially above the recess, the device according to the invention can generate a gas ballast by gas (preferably inert gas) from the gas container 43, which is sufficient in order to prevent or largely avoid the penetration of air into the depressions 10 and the sensitive substances.

The carrier 1 with the gas container 43 can comprise an active cooling and / or a passive cooling, which is arranged in a thermally conductive contact with the recess in such a way that the recess can be cooled to a predeterminable temperature by dissipating heat. The gas ballast can prevent water (e.g. from air humidity) from freezing on the cooled sensitive substances.

FIG. 6 shows a further schematic illustration of a carrier 1 according to the invention with a gas container 43, which essentially corresponds to the structure of FIG. 5.

The carrier 1 according to FIG. 6 additionally comprises a cover 3, which is arranged on the recess 10 in such a way that a cover space 30 is formed between the recesses 10 and the cover 3. The lid can close off the lid space 30 or include an opening so that substances can be supplied (pipetted) to the wells. The gas ballast can be increased through the cover space 30.

The carrier further comprises a gas sensor which is integrated in the gas container 43 in order to measure a pressure in the gas container 43 and / or a gas flow from the Represent gas container 43, in particular to measure. Alternatively, the gas sensor could also be arranged on the gas supply 42.

The cover 3 is fastened to the carrier 1 via a hinge 7. The cover can be opened via the hinge 7.

Claims

1. Carrier for storing sensitive substances comprising a carrier wall (11) and a heat-conducting element (2), wherein the carrier wall (11) has a surface (12) for receiving the sensitive

Comprises substances and the heat-conducting element (2) is arranged in heat-conducting contact with the surface (12) in such a way that the surface (12) can be tempered to a predeterminable temperature by dissipating or supplying heat to or from the heat-dissipating element (2) , characterized in that the heat-conducting element comprises a phase change material (PCM) with a phase change temperature TPC.

2. Carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier wall (11) comprises the heat-conducting element (2).

3. Carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier wall (11) is designed as a hollow wall (11) with a wall interior (110) and the heat-conducting element (2) is arranged in the wall interior (110) of the carrier wall (11) .

4. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-conducting element (2) has a first phase change material (PCM1) and a second phase change material (PCM2), as well as a first area (B1) arranged on the surface (12) and a second area (B1) on the first area (B1) arranged area (B2) comprises, wherein the first phase change material (PCM1) is a smaller one Has phase change temperature than the second phase change material (PCM2), and the first phase change material (PCM1) is arranged in the first area (B1) and thus closer to the surface (12).

5. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (1) is designed as a container (1) with a recess (10) for receiving the sensitive substances, and the surface (12) thus comprises the recess (10) that the well comprises a volume for receiving the sensitive substances.

6. Carrier according to claim 5, comprising a plurality of depressions (10).

7. Carrier according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the wall interior (110) comprises a plurality of cavities (111) in which the phase change material (PCM) is arranged.

8. Carrier according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the

Phase change material (PCM) less than 80% of a volume of the wall interior (110), in particular 25 to 75%, in particular 50 to 75% filled.

9. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a

The temperature sensor is arranged on the carrier (1) in such a way that a temperature of the phase change material (PCM) can be determined.

10. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cover (3) which is arranged on the surface (12) in such a way that a cover space (30) is formed between the surface (12) and the cover (3) and the cover in particular comprises an opening.

11. Carrier according to claim 10 comprising a gas supply (4) which is flow-connected to the cover space (30) in such a way that a gas, in particular an inert gas, can be fed to the cover space (30).

12. Device for the automated processing of sensitive

Substances comprising a carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, as well as a holder (5) for the carrier (1) and a dispensing device (6) for the automatic supply and removal of a substance, the carrier (1) such is arranged in the holder (5) so that the dispensing device (6) can supply and remove the substance of the surface (12) of the carrier (1).

13. A method for processing sensitive substances comprising the following steps a) providing a heat-conducting element (2) which comprises a phase change material (PCM) with a phase change temperature TPC. b) providing a carrier (1) with a surface (12) for receiving sensitive substances; c) supplying the sensitive substances to the surface (12) of the carrier (1); d) Tempering the sensitive to a predeterminable temperature by means of the heat-conducting element (2).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sensitive substances are cooled to a substantially constant temperature for a period of processing.

15. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein the carrier (1) is a carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

16. Carrier for storing sensitive substances comprising a recess (10) for receiving the sensitive substances, characterized in that the carrier (1) comprises a gas container (43) which is flow-connected to the recess (10) in such a way that the recess (10) a gas, in particular an inert gas, can be supplied.

17. Carrier according to claim 16, comprising a carrier base (13), which carrier base (13) is arranged separately from a recess base (14) of the recesses (10), the gas container (43) between the recess base (14) and the carrier base (13 ) is arranged.

18. Carrier according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the gas container (43) is designed as a gas cartridge (43), in particular as an exchangeable and / or refillable gas cartridge (43) which is especially screwed into the carrier (1).

19. Carrier according to claim 16 to 18 comprising a cover (3) which is arranged on the recess (12) in such a way that a cover space (30) is formed between the recess (12) and the cover (3).

20. Carrier according to one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the gas container (43) is flow-connected to the recess (10) via a line (42).

21. Carrier according to claim 16 to 20, wherein a valve (41), in particular a control valve, is arranged on the gas container (43) in such a way that an outflow of the gas from the gas container (43) is controllable, in particular adjustable to a predeterminable outflow velocity .

22. Carrier according to one of claims 16 to 21, wherein a gas sensor is arranged on the gas container (43) and / or the line (42) in such a way that a pressure in the gas container (43) and / or a gas flow from the gas container ( 43) can be represented, in particular can be measured.

23. A carrier according to any one of claims 16 to 22 comprising an active one

Cooling and / or passive cooling, which is arranged in a thermally conductive contact with the recess (10) in such a way that the recess (10) can be cooled to a predeterminable temperature by dissipating heat.