The present exemplary embodiment relates to instruments or devices for collecting particles or samples, particularly from flowing streams. It finds particular application in conjunction with the detection of biological agents, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
Bio-agents dispersed either in aerosol form or in water are typically in such low concentrations that they are below the limit of detection (LOD) of even the most sensitive detection schemes. Yet, the ingestion of even a single bacterium may lead to fatal consequences. Accordingly, regardless of whether the sample is derived from aerosol or water collection, there exists a need to further concentrate the sample prior to detection.
Aerosol collection schemes typically sample large volumes of air at very high rates (up to 150 kL/min), and use either a cyclone or a virtual impactor design to collect particles having a size in the threat range and capture them in a wet sample of 5-10 mL volume. This hydrosol is then used as the test sample for agent detection. In order to use currently available detection strategies, it would be desirable to further concentrate the hydrosol by another two orders of magnitude. For example, this could be achieved by collecting all the bio-particles in the sample volume within a smaller volume of 50-100 μL.
Contaminants in water are typically treated by several filtration steps to recover the sample for agent testing. After initial pre-filtration to remove larger vegetative matter, the sample is further concentrated by two to three orders of magnitude using ultra-filtration. This method of tangential flow filtration (TFF) is laborious as it requires multiple sequential steps of TFF; each step utilizing a filter of lower molecular weight (MW) cut-off, and recycling of the retentate. The limiting factor for TFF is system loss, where there is a cut-off below which it may not provide any further improvement in concentration. The supernatant at the end is approximately a 50 mL volume to be presented to the detector. It would be particularly desirable to further concentrate the hydrosol by up to another three orders of magnitude.
Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) is a technique that allows the separation of particles of different charge to size ratios (q/d) in a flow channel. This technique is useful in many fields ranging from printing to biomedical and biochemical applications. Separation is achieved because particles with different q/d ratios require different times to move across the flow channel, and therefore travel different distances along the flow channel before arriving at a collection wall. To obtain well-defined and separated bands of species with different q/d values, the particles are typically injected through a narrow inlet from the top of the channel. Total throughput depends on the inlet geometry and flow rate, which in turn affects the q/d resolution of the system.
FFF relies upon the presence of a field perpendicular to the direction of separation to control the migration of particles injected into a flow field. The separated components are eluted one at a time out of the system based on retention times, and are collected in a sequential manner. The separations are performed in a low viscosity liquid, typically an aqueous buffer solution, which is pumped through the separation channel and develops a parabolic velocity profile typical of Poissieulle flow. The process depends on controlling the relative velocity of injected particles by adjusting their spacing from the side walls. Particles with higher electrophoretic mobility or zeta potential will pack closer to the walls and therefore move slower than those that are nearer the center of the channel. In effect, particles move at different rates through the system based on zeta potential and size. Use of different separation mechanisms such as thermal, magnetic, dielectrophoretic, centrifugation, sedimentation, steric, and orthogonal flow has given rise to a family of FFF methods. Although satisfactory in many respects, there remains a need for an improved FFF separation technique.
The present exemplary embodiment contemplates a new and improved bio-enrichment system, device, cells, and related methods which overcome the above-referenced problems and others.
In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a device adapted for collecting particulates from a flowing medium is provided. The device comprises a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and opposing bottom and top walls extending at least partially therebetween and defining an expansion cavity. The cavity includes a collection wall extending from a downstream region of the bottom wall. The device also comprises a traveling wave grid disposed along the bottom wall and adapted to transport particulates proximate to the grid, to the collection wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a bio-enrichment device is provided. The bio-enrichment device comprises a cell body defining an inlet, an outlet, an inlet wall, a collection wall opposite from the inlet wall, a bottom wall extending between the inlet wall and the collection wall, and a top wall extending between the inlet and the outlet and opposite from the bottom wall. The inlet wall, the collection wall, the bottom wall, and the top wall define an expansion cavity. The bio-enrichment device further comprises a first traveling wave grid disposed on the bottom wall. The bio-enrichment device also comprises a second traveling wave grid extending along the collection wall. The cell body further defines at least one sample collection port at a region proximate one of the first traveling wave grid and the second traveling wave grid. Upon operation of the device and admittance of a flowing medium containing bio-agents dispersed therein to the inlet defined in the body, bio-agents are collected at one or more of the sample collection ports.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for collecting and concentrating bio-agents from a flowing medium. The method comprises providing a hybrid flow cell including (i) a body defining an inlet, an outlet, opposing bottom and top walls extending at least partially therebetween and defining an expansion cavity, the cavity including a collection wall extending from a downstream region of the bottom wall, and (ii) a traveling wave grid disposed along the bottom wall and adapted to transport particulates proximate to the grid to a destination location. The method also comprises introducing the flowing medium containing bio-agents to the inlet of the flow cell. The method further comprises activating the traveling wave grid disposed on the bottom wall to thereby collect bio-agents from the flowing medium and transport the collected bio-agents to the destination location. The concentration of bio-agents as measured at the destination location is greater than the concentration of bio-agents as measured at the inlet.
The exemplary embodiment relates to bio-enrichment systems, devices, cells and methods that can perform initial separation (by charge/diameter, herein designated as q/d) of a sample mixture, followed by a concentration step. The exemplary embodiment can serve as either the back-end to collection strategies or the front-end to detection strategies. Specifically, the exemplary embodiment provides a system 100 as shown in
As previously noted, the exemplary embodiment also provides systems for concentrating an aerosol sample. This strategy is also depicted in
The bio-enrichment device of the exemplary embodiment uses field flow fractionation (FFF) to initially deposit bio-matter onto a lower surface patterned with a planar inter-digitated traveling wave electrode grid as a function of q/d. The inter-digitated electrodes are driven in 4-phases (or n phases with n>2) with a traveling wave (TW) of voltage pulses to move the deposited bio-matter to an edge or region on the grid where another orthogonal TW array collapses the edge into a sample well. The resulting concentration is achieved by collecting bio-particles of the same q/d range within a much smaller volume of fluid. This technique will work for all material with a net charge or zeta potential. As a front-end to detection, the separation function increases selectivity, while the concentration function increases sensitivity. The concentrated sample may be transferred by micro-pipette for immunoassay. For compact and potentially autonomous operation, the bio-enrichment cell may be directly connected to a microfluidic channel into which analytes may be selectively metered, sorted, and transported with hydraulic and electro-osmotic flow (EOF) pumps through a series of orthogonal hybrid detectors for interrogation and agent identification.
The term “traveling wave grid” as used herein, collectively refers to a substrate, a plurality of electrodes to which a voltage waveform is applied to generate the traveling wave(s), and one or more busses, vias, and electrical contact pads to distribute the electrical signals (or voltage potentials) throughout the grid. The term also collectively refers to one or more sources of electrical power, which provides the multi-phase electrical signal for operating the grid. The traveling wave grids may be in nearly any form, such as for example a flat planar form, or a non-planar form. The non-planar form can be, for example, in the form of an arcuate region extending along the outer wall of a cylinder. The non-planar grid could be in the form of an annular grid defined within an interior region of a tube. Traveling wave grids, their use, and manufacture are generally described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,351,623; 6,290,342; 6,272,296; 6,246,855; 6,219,515; 6,137,979; 6,134,412; 5,893,015; and 4,896,174, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The bio-enrichment cell uses both field flow fractionation (FFF) and traveling wave (TW) mechanisms. Various aspects of an exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cell are shown in
Specifically, referring to
Referring further to
The configuration of the exemplary embodiment cell 200 provides several significant advantages. Due to the flows through the cell, normal or perpendicular impingement of sample with the TW grid 240 is avoided. The cell 200 achieves generally laminar flow within its interior with negligible in-plane velocity on the TW grid 240. The recessed nature of the expansion region 216, with regard to the inlet 212, serves to reduce velocity of the sample and promote collection of the sample. In addition, the cell 200 enables incremental processing of a partial volume of a greater flow, such as that from which flow A originates.
The bio-particles distributed in the expansion region are sequentially pushed onto a surface, e.g. the collection wall, then collapsed into an edge and finally concentrated into a much smaller volume for sample collection. An estimate of the concentration factor as the particles-undergo these operations is the ratio of the initial volume to the final volume into which most of the bio-particles are collected. Typical initial volumes may be 5-50 mL so if the final volume is 50-100 mL, concentration factors of 100×-1000× are theoretically possible. The limit to the linear volume dimension is backdiffusion to counter electrodynamic drift. A simple estimate is given by E(w/2)=kT/q, where E, w, k, T, q are respectively, E field, width of the final sample volume, Boltzmann constant, temperature, and particle charge, respectively. By increasing the local E field by an order of magnitude, the band may be compacted by up to 10×. The diffusion length, R, over a time, t, is given by R2=(kT/phr)t, where h is viscosity and r is the particle radius. For bio-particles in the 1-10 μm range, the diffusion distance is only a few microns per second. Smaller protein-sized particles may experience more diffusion and therefore require continuous TW operation and the optimal selection of TW pitch to contain the diffusion. Alternatively, small bio-particles can be concentrated into a higher-viscosity medium, such as a gel, to reduce diffusion.
In another exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cell 300, a TW grid moves bio-particles to a collector wall where another orthogonal TW grid as shown in
Specifically, the cell 300 comprises a cell body 310, in which an expansion region is defined between an inlet wall 317, a collection wall 350 which is in the form of a TW grid 352, and a primary TW grid 340 extending along a lower wall 322. It will be understood that the body 310 includes an upper wall (not shown) having an appropriate inlet and outlet. An incoming flow stream D enters the expansion region at which particles in the stream are drawn toward the grid 340 and collected therein. The grid 340 is operated to transport the particles toward the second TW grid 350 which is preferably oriented transversely with respect to the grid 340 and disposed at a location furthest downstream within the expansion cavity. As particles collect on or near the second grid 350, that grid is operated to transport particles to a desired location along the grid 350, such as at location E at which the collected particles can be transported for subsequent detection or analysis. As previously explained with regard to the cell 200, in the cell 300, particles having a relatively high q/d ratio will deposit on the grid 340 closer to the wall 317.
Another exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cell 400 is shown in
Specifically, the cell 400 includes a cell body 410 in which an expansion region is defined between an inlet wall 417, a collection wall 450, and a TW grid 440 extending along a lower wall 422. It will be understood that the body 410 includes an upper wall (not shown) having an appropriate inlet and outlet. An incoming flow stream E enters the expansion region at which particles in the stream are drawn toward the grid 440 and collected thereon. The electrodes of the grid extend parallel to the direction of flow of stream E in contrast to the configuration of the cell 300 in
As will be appreciated, the TW grid extending along the collection wall is generally oriented at right angles to the TW grid disposed on the bottom wall of the cell body. However, the exemplary embodiment includes other configurations in which the TW grids are not transversely oriented. Additionally, the exemplary embodiment includes the use of a point electrode TW grid for either or both grids, and particularly as the TW grid disposed along the bottom wall. The use of a point electrode grid facilitates the passing of traveling waves in nearly any direction or path along the grid.
The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment devices provide excellent front-end processing to optical detection of bio-agents. Extension of sample concentrators to incorporate enrichment capabilities described herein provides a significant step towards allowing reagentless (for example specific binding, tagging, labeling, dyes or stains) identification of bio-agents. The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cell performs sample separation into bands according to q/d to increase selectivity, and can further concentrate the bands into sample wells to increase sensitivity. Interfacing of the sample wells with microfluidic channels further allows sequential interrogation of the sample analyte by a hybrid collection of detection schemes.
Specifically,
The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cell as shown in
A hybrid flow cell of 4.5 mL capacity, designed to handle sample volumes up to a liter, was fabricated using a vertically stacked configuration. Due to the low concentration involved and the slow flow regime, the Navier-Stoke's equation may be simplified to a more tractable viscous Stoke's model for the fluidics with velocity profiles dictated by Poisseuille flow. Bio-particle trajectories subjected to both hydrodynamic and electric forces were predicted. Gravity may be sufficient to maintain the slow velocities, rendering a pump unnecessary.
Table 1 set forth below, shows various parameters assuming a 1 liter sample volume and a handling capacity of 4.5 mL. Clearly parameters may be optimized based on initial specification for sample volume and process time. Inter-dependent parameters, such as for example voltage, range of bio matter q/d or zeta potential, and cell dimension are selected to meet desired specifications. Total process time is the summation of flow separation (tFFF), and concentration (tTW), given by:
tFFF=h2/μVFFF
tTW=Ls/αμVTW
where u is the electrophoretic mobility, h is the FFF cell height, L is the FFF cell length, s is the spacing between TW traces, VFFF is the separation voltage, TW is the TW voltage, and a (˜0.25) is a coefficient to represent the effective tangential E field within a spacing thickness above the plane of the TW traces.
A design for an integrated 3-layer TW module was fabricated and proof of concept was demonstrated by moving Bacillus thurengiensis in tap water. An electro-hydrodynamic particle model has been developed to simulate and predict the performance of the device.
The various exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment devices can perform initial separation (by charge/diameter, i.e. q/d) of a sample mixture, followed by a concentration operation. These various devices can serve as either the back-end to collection schemes or the front-end to detection strategies. These devices fill the niche for sample concentration currently addressed by ultra-filtration, and extends it by further concentrating the retentate by about another 100×-1000×.
The various exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cells utilize a combination of hydrodynamic and electric forces to both separate and concentrate bio-agents (or any charged particles) from a fluid into a small volume element in continuous flow. In certain exemplary embodiments, a TW grid moves bio-particles to a collection wall where another orthogonal TW grid as shown in
The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cells exhibit numerous benefits, features, and advantages. The cells employ step-wise separation and concentration which allows increased flexibility in sample preparation. The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cells are integrable with one or more collection steps to attain about 100×-1000× increases in sensitivity. The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cells are integrable with detection steps to prepare samples with increased selectivity and about 100×-1000× increases in sensitivity. The exemplary embodiment bio-enrichment cells feature no mechanical moving parts, low voltage and power operation, are highly portable, and are easily optimized for prescribed sample volume and process time. The exemplary embodiment devices or cells can be in the form of a compact, low power, port-able device for bio-enrichment. The exemplary embodiment devices or cells provide increased selectivity by initial separation into bands according to q/d range and increased sensitivity with subsequent concentration of the previously separated bands. The devices or cells may be integrated as front-end to detection systems for 100×-1000× increase in sensitivity. The devices or cells may be integrated as back-end to collection systems for 100×-1000× increase in sensitivity. The devices or cells may be operated without flow to concentrate (without separation) a sample volume equal to the cavity size. The devices or cells may be dimensioned for various ranges of sample volume, and extended to re-circulating operation to ensure all biological matter is deposited onto the lower collection plate. Continuous TW operation sets up a compression force against the collection wall of the sample well to prevent back-diffusion of the concentrate and hence prevent band broadening.
The various exemplary embodiments also provide new configurations and layout of the FFF/TW cell to enhance flexibility of the design and enable parallel transfer of bands of bio-particles for subsequent bio-agent detection and identification. In this regard, the exemplary embodiment additionally modifies the traditional use of FFF to (i) allow deposition of separated bands on a side wall; (ii) introduces an expansion chamber to reduce the ratio of fluid to drift velocities so that larger sample volumes may be handled; and (iii) utilizes the use of a fin structure inside the expanding fractionation chamber, together with an electrode at the lower lip of the inlet, for field tailoring to enable higher resolution separation and deposition of narrower bands of similar q/d material. Electrostatic deflection pushes particulates to the upper flow region away from the lower region with most diverging streamlines. The trailing edge of the fin is also designed to allow fully developed parabolic flow with minimal divergence at the trailing edge. The following exemplary embodiment devices exemplify feature (iii).
The exemplary embodiment provides a unique variant strategy for FFF systems by incorporating several modifications to the geometry of a flow cell. Instead of eluting samples as in traditional FFF, the samples are deposited in the vicinity of a side wall within the channel for further processing. The objective is to separate particulates by q/d and deposit them into narrow bands in a distribution along the length of the channel wall. Analogous to mass spectrometry, particulates with higher q/d have shorter time-of-flight and deposit earlier or closer to the inlet. Narrower bands would allow easier discrimination in Aq/d and therefore correspond to increased resolution for detection or particulate identification. Deposited particulates on conducting substrates can be used for detection methods such as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Particulates in the vicinity of the wall where fluid velocity is minimal may also be further transported by other techniques and strategies. A further innovation is the creation of an expansion chamber to handle larger sample volumes and to reduce the ratio of convective flow to electrophoretic flow velocities, thus allowing also for lower voltage use. Typical FFF geometries are straight channels. This expansion introduces divergence of the flow streamlines at the inlet leading to increased concentration dispersion. A fin structure is introduced to reduce this initial particle dispersion by field tailoring of both electrostatic and flow components.
In a straight channel, the flow field and the electric field are always perpendicular to each other, or generally so, leading to orthogonal electrophoretic and drift velocities for the particle. In electroosmotic flow both of these velocities are constant and each particle is traveling in a straight line until it hits the side wall. In more complicated flows such as pressure driven flow, the particle trajectories will be more complicated. In order to achieve separation, particles of different charge to diameter ratio, q/d, released in a certain elevation Δy inside the channel have to make contact with the side wall at a lateral distance Δx. For any system where the fluid flow is always perpendicular to the electric field and the cross-section of the channel does not change, the separability (i.e. the ability to separate two species of different q/d) is independent of the applied field and flow rate, and depends only on the relative height y0/H where the particles enter the channel. However, analytic calculations show that in pressure driven flow separability can be better than for plug flow, if the particles are released close to the top wall of the channel.
A simulation was performed using an exemplary embodiment cell. The inlet was 100 μm high and the FFF cell was 1 mm high and 2 to 4 mm long. The applied bias voltage was 1V, which ensured that particles with q/d<1 pC/cm would reach the cell bottom within the length of channel. At an inlet flow speed of 1 mm/s the flow was laminar and the stream lines expanded immediately into the flow cell. A small vortex formed at the inlet bottom corner of the FFF cell, which increased in size with increasing fluid velocity at the inlet. Microscopic particles that move along the streamlines followed this expansion, and, after being exposed to an electric field, deposited into rather broad bands on the channel floor, as shown in
From the results derived for FFF in straight channels, narrow bands can be achieved. If the particles are injected close to the top wall of the cell very narrow bands can be achieved. Though the particles are initially close to the top wall in the flow cell shown in
Specifically,
In order to keep the incoming particles or sample above the fin, a small force can be applied that urges them away from the streamlines that connect to the lower part of the fin. One strategy for achieving this is to apply a small bias field between the inlet wall of the FFF cell and the top wall (V1 in
Note that for higher bias voltages the particles are pushed towards the top wall and a good anti-adhesion control is necessary to prevent particles from being retained there. If the bias voltage is too low, some or all particles will move below the fin and deposit in a broad peak at the bottom wall.
For a maximum inlet velocity of 1 mm/s and particles in the q/d range about 1.6 pC/cm, a bias voltage of V1=0.5V is optimal, as can be seen from
These modified FFF geometries may be used for in-channel separation and deposition with narrow q/d bands in a closed system using an expansion channel. The use of an expansion chamber allows higher volume handling capacity within a shorter channel length without compromising throughput. Fin structure minimizes diverging flow dispersion. The separated q/d bands are narrower with the use of the fin structure, giving higher separation resolution. The deposited particulates may be in a form ready for SERS detection. Alternatively, the particulates are moved to a region of slow fluid flow where other forces may be used for further sample manipulation. Fin structure serves at least two purposes: (1) minimizes diverging flow dispersion; and (2) in combination with bias field such as V1 in
The shape of the fin can be further optimized to facilitate fabrication. For example, existing streamlines form conforming shapes that approximate cross-sections that may be suitable fin geometries. So larger cross-section shapes may be considered which do not significantly alter the desired fully developed parabolic profile near the trailing edge.
While particular embodiments have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.
This invention was made with Government support under W911NF-04-C-0034 awarded by the U.S. Army. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
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