Method to Render Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Compatible with Polymerase Chain Reaction Systems
A method for substantially eliminating a cross-linking element of a pressure sensitive adhesive by heating the pressure sensitive adhesive at a temperature of at least 180° C. for a period of time required to thermally decompose the cross-linking element of the pressure sensitive adhesive.
1 . A method for eliminating a cross-linking element of a pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising:
heating the pressure sensitive adhesive at a temperature of at least 180° C. for a period of time defined by substantial elimination of said cross-linking element.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises any of acrylate and methacrylate adhesives.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the acrylate and methacrylate adhesives comprise, ethylene-ethylacrylate copolymer (EEA) or ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer (EMA); rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesives; styrene copolymers; and silicone adhesives.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the rubber based pressure sensitive adhesives comprise polyurethane, chloroprene, butyl, polybutadiene, isoprene or neoprene.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the styrene copolymers comprise styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer (SIS) and styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS) copolymers.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the silicone adhesives comprise poly(dimethylsiloxane), poloy(methyphenylsiloxane), poly(diphenylsiloxane), and their copolymers.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises a residual cross-linking element.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the residual crosslinking element comprises photo-initiated crosslinkers.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein chemical cross-linking comprises radiation of the adhesive.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the radiation comprises ultra-violet light and electron beam radiation.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein chemical cross-linking comprises inducing free radicals therein by photo or thermal decomposition of organic or organo-metallic compounds.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said organic compounds comprise photo-initiated crosslinkers.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the photo-initiated crosslinkers comprise benzophenone, Michler's ketone, ketocoumarins, benzoin ethers, ethyl 4-(dimethyamino)benzoate, 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyidiphenylphosphine oxide, or combinations thereof.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said organic compounds comprise peroxides, peroxy-esters, peroxydicarbonates, and azo compounds.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said peroxides comprise t-butyl hydroperoxide, benzoyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, and dicumyl peroxide.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said peroxy-esters comprise t-butyl peroxyneodecanoate, and t-butyl peroxybenzoate.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said peroxydicarbonates comprise di(2-ethylhexyl)peroxydicarbonate, bis(4-t-butylcyclohexyl)peroxydicarbonate, and other peroxy compounds.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said azo compounds comprise 2,2′-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrite), 2,2′-azobis[2-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propionamide, and 2,2′-azobis[N-(2-propenyl)-2-methylpropionamid.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the period of time is up to 20 minutes.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the period of time is less than 10 minutes.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the period of time is less than 5 minutes.
22 . A method for rendering a pressure sensitive adhesive compatible with components in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, comprising:
providing an assay support structure and a sealing member for sealing said assay support structure;
introducing an assay into said assay support structure, said assay including a reference dye;
applying a pressure sensitive adhesive to the sealing member, the pressure sensitive adhesive including a residual cross-linking element;
thermally treating the sealing member having the pressure sensitive adhesive at a temperature and for a predetermined time suitable for thermally decomposing a cross-linking element of the pressure sensitive adhesive;
sealing the assay within the assay support structure with the sealing member; and
processing the sealed assay in the PCR system.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the temperature is at least 180° C.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein thermally treating the sealing member is prior to sealing the assay within the assay support structure.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein thermally treating the sealing member is subsequent to sealing the assay within the assay support structure.
26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises a silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive.
27 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the residual cross-linking element comprises benzoyl peroxide.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the residual cross-linking element comprises benzoyl peroxide.
29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the residual crosslinking element comprises photo-initiated crosslinkers.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the photo-initiated crosslinkers comprise benzophenone, Michler's ketone, ketocoumarins, benzoin ethers, ethyl 4-(dimethyamino)benzoate, 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 2 ,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, or combinations thereof.
31 . The method of claim 22 , wherein thermally treating is for a predetermined time defined by substantial elimination of the residual cross-linking element in the pressure sensitive adhesive.
32 . The method of claim 22 , wherein thermally treated pressure sensitive adhesive prevents decay of florescent signal of the reference dye in the sealed assay.
33 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the reference dye comprises 6-carboxy-X-rhodamine.
34 . A method for eliminating a cross-linking element in a pressure sensitive adhesive for use in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, comprising the steps of:
providing an assay support structure and a sealing member for said assay support structure;
introducing an assay into the assay support structure, the assay including a reference dye;
applying a pressure sensitive adhesive to the sealing member;
thermally treating the sealing member having the silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive at a temperature of at least 180° C. for a period of time defined by substantial elimination of the cross-linking element;
sealing the assay within the assay support structure with the cover member; and
processing the sealed assay in the PCR system.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein thermally treating the sealing member is prior to sealing the assay within the assay support structure.
36 . The method of claim 34 , wherein thermally treating the sealing member is subsequent to sealing the assay within the assay support structure.
37 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises a silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the residual cross-linking element comprises benzoyl peroxide.
39 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the residual cross-linking element comprises benzoyl peroxide.
40 . The method of claim 34 , wherein thermally treating is for a predetermined time defined by substantial elimination of the residual cross-linking element in the pressure sensitive adhesive.
41 . The method of claim 34 , wherein thermally treated pressure sensitive adhesive prevents decay of florescent signal of the reference dye in the sealed assay.
42 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the reference dye comprises 6-carboxy-X-rhodamine.
43 . An assay card for use in a polymerase chain reaction system, comprising:
an assay support structure;
a cover member applicable to said assay support structure; and
a thermally treated pressure sensitive adhesive formed on said cover member, said pressure sensitive adhesive being thermally treated at a temperature of at least 180° C. for a predetermined period of time.
44 . The assay card of claim 43 , wherein the thermally treated pressure sensitive is free of a cross-linking component.
45 . The assay card of claim 43 , wherein the predetermined period of time is defined by a time required to thermally decompose a cross-linking component of the pressure sensitive adhesive.
46 . The assay card of claim 43 , wherein thermally treated pressure sensitive adhesive prevents signal decay of a component of the polymerase chain reaction system.