Gradient structures interfacing microfluidics and nanofluidics, methods for fabrication and uses thereof
A fluidic chip includes at least one nanochannel array, the nanochannel array including a surface having a nanofluidic area formed in the material of the surface; a microfluidic area on said surface; a gradient interface area having a gradual elevation of height linking the microfluidic area and the nanofluidic area; and a sample reservoir capable of receiving a fluid in fluid communication with the microfluidic area. In another embodiment, a fluidic chip includes at least one nanochannel array, the nanochannel array includes a surface having a nanofluidic area formed in the material of the surface; a microfluidic area on said surface; and a gradient interface area linking the microfluidic area and the nanofluidic area, where the gradient interface area comprises a plurality of gradient structures, and the lateral spacing distance between said gradient structures decreases towards said nanofluidic area; and a sample reservoir capable of receiving a fluid in fluid communication with the microfluidic area.
1. A fluidic chip comprising at least one nanochannel array, said nanochannel array comprising:
a surface having a nanofluidic area formed in the surface;
a microfluidic area on said surface;
a gradient interface area having a gradual elevation of height linking the microfluidic area and the nanofluidic area; and
a sample reservoir capable of receiving a fluid in fluid communication with the microfluidic area.
2. The fluidic chip of claim 1 , wherein said gradient interface area comprises a plurality of gradient structures, and the lateral spacing distance between said gradient structures decreases towards said nanofluidic area.
3. The fluidic chip of claim 2 , wherein said distance between said gradient structures is in the range of from 2 nm to below 500 nanometers.
4. The fluidic chip of claim 2 , wherein said distance between said gradient structures is in the range of from 2 nm to below 10 nm.
5. The fluidic chip of claim 2 , wherein said distance between said gradient structures is as low as 2 nm.
6. The fluidic chip of claim 2 , wherein said gradient structures range in vertical elevation from 2 microns adjacent to said microfluidic area to a vertical elevation ranging from 2 nm to less than 500 nm adjacent to said nanofluidic area.
7. The fluidic chip of claim 2 , wherein said gradient structures are branched channels.
8. The fluidic chip of claim 1 , wherein said gradient interface area decreases in vertical elevation from 2 microns adjacent to said microfluidic area to a vertical elevation ranging from 2 nm to less than 500 nm adjacent to said nanofluidic area.
9. The fluidic chip of claim 1 , wherein the width of the gradient interface area between the nanofluidic area and the micro fluidic area is in the range of from 2 microns to 40 microns.
10. The fluidic chip of claim 1 , wherein the width of the gradient interface area between the nanofluidic area and the micro fluidic area is in the range of from 2 microns to 20 microns.
11. A fluidic chip comprising at least one nanochannel array, said nanochannel array comprising:
a surface having a nanofluidic area formed in the surface;
a microfluidic area on said surface; and
a gradient interface area linking the microfluidic area and the nanofluidic area, wherein said gradient interface area comprises a plurality of gradient structures, and the lateral spacing distance between said gradient structures decreases towards said nanofluidic area; and
a sample reservoir capable of receiving a fluid in fluid communication with the microfluidic area.
12. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein the gradient interface area comprises a gradual elevation of height.
13. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein said distance between said gradient structures is in the range of from 2 nm to below 500 nanometers.
14. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein said distance between said gradient structures is in the range of from 2 nm to below 10 nm.
15. The cart fluidic chip ridge of claim 11 , wherein said distance between said gradient structures is as low as 2 nm.
16. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein said gradient structures range in vertical elevation from 2 microns adjacent to said microfluidic area to a vertical elevation ranging from 2 nm to less than 500 nm adjacent to said nanofluidic area.
17. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein said gradient structures are branched channels.
18. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein said gradient interface area decreases in vertical elevation from 2 microns adjacent to said microfluidic area to a vertical elevation ranging from 2 nm to less than 500 nm adjacent to said nanofluidic area.
19. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein the width of the gradient interface area between the nanofluidic area and the micro fluidic area is in the range of from 2 microns to 40 microns.
20. The fluidic chip of claim 11 , wherein the width of the gradient interface area between the nanofluidic area and the micro fluidic area is in the range of from 2 microns to 20 microns.