MICROFLUIDICS

Division of Technology Transfer

Licensing and Research Collaboration

Sample Loading And Injection

SubatmosphericPressure Chamber

Electro-OsmoticPump

Electro-PneumaticDistributor

Small Volume Transport

MicrofluidicDevice

Micro-scale Handling System

Microfluidic Technologies Available for Licensing

Microscale Fluid Handling System A solution for conducting microscale

reactions (digestion, separation etc.) and for efficiently transporting microliter to picoliter samples from a chip to an analytical device and/or a collection device.

Advantages Efficient Sample Transport

Reduces manipulations (e.g.. flushing) Reduces/eliminates problems of sample carryover

Savings Less Sample, Reagent(s), Time

Microscale Fluid Handling System The System

Multiple sample introduction methods Pressure, electrokinetic Injection

Single or multiple channel(s) & channel designs Parallel, circular/ cylindrical, trapezoidal

Multiple sample transfer methods Droplet, spray, or stream

Multiple analytical or collection devices ESI, MALDI, NMR, Fraction Collector, Chip, Multi-well Plate

Sample either liquid or gas License non-exclusively - Currently 5 licensees

Sample Loading and Injection Device A solution for a universal interface device for

transferring samples in series or parallel from sample container (e.g. multi-well plates) into channels of a multi-channel microfluidic device and/or into an analytical device that can be integrated into or separated from a microchip.

Advantages Uses standardized sample plates Variable sample volumes Reusable or disposable device

Sample Loading and Injection Device The System

Sample introduction Pressure, Electrokinetic, Vacuum, etc.

Sample trapped/digested inside loading channels High hydrodynamic resistance

Sample Elution Micro, analytical, and/or collection Device

Sample separation (optional) Electrical potential, etc

License exclusively or non-exclusively

Microchip Integrated Open-Channel Electro-osmotic Pumping System A solution to control fluid dynamics in microfluidic

device by using pump(s) to generate electro-osmotic flow or pressurized flow in the device and/or to perform sample transfer, gradient generation or fraction collection/deposition.

Advantages Easily integrated into existing microchips Its fabrication ensures high manufacturing and

operating reproducibility Simple design

Microchip Integrated Open-Channel Electro-osmotic Pumping System

The System Single or multiplexed pumps The voltage drop for operation of the electro-

osmotic micro pump may vary from a few tens to thousands of volts depending on the length of the pumping channels and desired flow rate and pressure.

License Exclusively or Non-exclusively

Electro-pneumatic Distributor for Multiplexed Myu-Tas Devices The purpose of the distributor is to supply

simultaneous electric current and pressurized gas to control individual channels of a microchip system in an assembly to use with electrospray mass spectrometry.

Advantages Maximizes sample throughput for analyzing samples

Decreases time between sample analysis Eliminates need for flushing of sample Eliminates need for washing sample probe Fast switching times Eliminates/ reduces cross contamination Decreases the number of runs Well plate samples can be used for further studies

Electro-pneumatic Distributor for Multiplexed Myu-Tas Devices

The System The distributor contains a gas channel and an electric

conductor, which supplies an electric current and pressurized gas to the system.

The electrical current forces the sample to flow in a uniform direction, which controls sample flow dynamics.

The pressure created in the system controls fluid dynamics in electric field free regions.

Each sample container/well is connected by an independent microchannel distributor to separate electrospray tip.

License exclusively or non-exclusively

Small Volume Transport A solution for moving small volumes of sample

through the capillary channels or tubing of a microfluidic device, especially long distances.

Advantages Minimal loss or dilution of sample. Minimal cross contamination between samples

Minimal loss of sample to channel walls Washes inserted between samples

Faster sample changes Multiple sample plugs injected at closely spaced intervals

Samples can be transported long distances with high speed to devices, such as an NMR.

Small Volume Transport The System

A sample/wash plug is formed between immiscible liquid plugs and immiscible liquid lining the transport channel walls.

System Characteristics Immiscible carrier – e.g. fluorocarbon Distances – yards Channel walls - fluorine rich surface

Teflon (PTFE, ETFE, FEP, NGFP)

License exclusively or non-exclusively

Subatmospheric,Variable Pressure Delivery Chamber A solution for more efficient sample

transfer from electrophoresis capillary or microchip to a mass spectrometer through an electrospray chamber by controlling pressure to allow fine control of sample flow rate from electrospray needle.

Advantages Minimal sample loss Lower evaporation of droplets Efficient desolvation Minimal power supply source needed

Subatmospheric,Variable Pressure Delivery Chamber

The System Ports for introducing gas into and withdrawing

gas from the chamber. Capillary tube(s) or microchip with a groove or

channel extending into chamber to deliver samples.

Sample moves from the sample delivery device to an electrospray tip in the chamber.

Subatmospheric pressure directs the sample flow from the electrospray tip into an analytical/collective device

License exclusively or non-exclusively

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

Director – Barry KargerBioanalytical instrumentation

capabilitiesState of the art facilities and

advanced methodologies for proteomics research and biomarker identification

http://www.barnett.neu.edu/

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

I. Mass Spectrometry:The Institute operates 16 interfaced massspectrometers; these include: • 1 Thermo Electron LTQ-FT   Hybrid Linear Ion

Trap-Fourier Transform MS • 1 Lab-built, High Throughput LC MALDI-TOF MS (2 kHz Laser).• 1 Applied Biosystems AB 4700 MALDI TOF-TOF MS • 1 Micromass QTOF1 QP TOF MS• 2 Agilent 5973 GC-MS• 1 Applied Biosystems Mariner ESI orthogonal extraction TOF-MS• 1 Applied Biosystems Voyager DESTR TOF-MS• 2 Thermo Electron LTQ Linear Ion Trap • 1 Thermo Electron LCQ Deca XP 3D ion trap MS• 3 Thermo Electron LCQ Classic 3D ion trap MS• 1 Thermo Electron TSQ 700 triple QP MS• 1 Thermo Electron TSQ 7000 triple QP MS• 1 SCIEX API III PLUS triple QP MS

• 1 9-node computer cluster (18 CPU's)

reported as of 4/05.

II. Separation Instrumentation:This includes free-standing devices, listed in the following; other units are integrated both into mass spectrometers and NMR equipment.

• Beckman Proteome Lab 2D LC System• Eksigent nanoLC System• 1 Advion Nanomate 100• 1 Bio-Rad 2D gel electrophoresis system • 2 Agilent 1100 HPLC systems• 2 Agilent 1100 Cap HPLC systems• 1 Agilent G 1602 CE system• 1 Amersham Biosciences MDLC system• 1 Amersham Biosciences AKTA FPLC

• 5 Beckman CE systems• 1 Bischoff HPLC system• 3 Dionex Ultimate nanoLC systems• 2 Thermo Electron Surveyor LC sys

• 4 Agilent  1090 HPLC's• 3 Agilent  1100 LC systems• 1 Shimadzu HPLC system• 2 Thermo Electron Surveyor LC sys

III. NMR and LC-NMR:The James and Faith Waters 500 MHz NMR Facility

500 MHz NMR System (Varian Unity-Inova)• Conventional 5 mm NMR• LC NMR• High-Throughput Flow NMR• Microcoil NMR

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging SystemsAcademic Partners are NU-lead, BU, RPI,

and UPRM. Strategic affiliates include MGH, Lawrence

Livermore and Idaho Nat’l Labs, Woods Hole, and Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr.

Industrial partners include Raytheon, ADI, Textron, Lockheed Martin, Cardiomag Imaging, Mercury, Transtech, GSSI, and Siemens.

Director - Michael Silevitch

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

Advanced optical instrumentation for microscopic characterization

Software algorithms for microfluidic analysis systems http://www.censsis.neu.edu/

$20 million from The Gordon Foundation

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

LEAP – Laboratory for electrochemical advanced power Fuel Cell Concept Laboratories Director – Sanjeev Mukerjee Advanced electrocatalyst capabilities

for proton exchange membrane systems

Micro fuel cell concept characterization and evaluation

http://www.chem.neu.edu/web/faculty/mukerjee.html

Center for advanced nanomaterials for energy conversion and storage

CANECSCANECS

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing Academic Partners

Northeastern University – Lead, U. Mass-Lowell, U New Hampshire, Michigan State U., Museum of Science

Director – Ahmed Busnaina

http://www.nano.neu.edu/index.html

Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research

Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing Kostas Facility for Micro- & Nano-Fabrication of

Microfluidic Devices A core facility for the NSF Center for High Rate

Nanomanufacturing Five thousand feet of Class 10, 1000 and 10000

cleanroom facilities Capabilities for lithography, nanolithography, thin

film deposition, wet chemical processes, etching, milling and characterization

Area for undergraduate and graduate student teams working on projects with corporate partners

Anthony N. Pirri, Ph.DDirector

a.pirri@neu.edu

Susan Riley Keyes, Ph.D., J.D.Technology Transfer Executive

s.keyes@neu.edu

TBDIntellectual Property &

Contract Specialisttbd@neu.edu

Tanya Rose (part-time)Staff Assistant

t.rose@neu.edu

Felicia A JadczakTechnology Transfer Assistant

f.Jadczak@neu.edu

Volunteers, Coop MBA Students, Consultants(617) 373-8810

DIVISION of TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERSTAFF