Photonic crystal sensors with integrated fluid containment structure, sample handling devices incorporating same, and uses thereof for biomolecular interaction analysis
View Patent ↗Photonic crystal (PC) sensors, and sensor arrays and sensing systems incorporating PC sensors are described which have integrated fluid containment and/or fluid handling structures. The PC sensors are further integrated into a sample handling device such as a microwell plate. Sensors and sensing systems of the present disclosure are capable of high throughput sensing of analytes in fluid samples, bulk refractive index detection, and label-free detection of a range of molecules, including biomolecules and therapeutic candidates. The present disclosure also provides a commercially attractive fabrication platform for making photonic crystal sensors and systems wherein an integrated fluid containment structure and a photonic crystal structure are fabricated in a single molding or imprinting processing step amendable to high throughput processing.
1. A photonic crystal biosensor with an integrated fluid containment structure, the biosensor adapted for measurement of a sample, comprising:
a fluid containment structure comprising a microfluidic flow channel;
a photonic crystal sensor comprising a periodic surface grating structure formed in the microfluidic flow channel, wherein said microfluidic flow channel and said periodic surface grating structure of said photonic crystal sensor comprise a integral, monolithic structure; and
a sample handling device for handling the sample,
wherein the microfluidic flow channel and photonic crystal sensor are incorporated into the sample handing device.
2. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the fluid handling device comprises a microplate having a plurality of wells arranged in one or more rows of wells and wherein the fluid containment structure comprises a network of microfluidic flow channels, each of which contains a photonic crystal sensor.
3. The biosensor of claim 2 , wherein one of the wells in a row of said wells comprises a common well for introduction of reagents and/or the sample to the microfluidic fluid flow channels, the common well connected to the remaining wells in the row of wells by the microfluidic flow channels which lead to a common inlet supplying the reagents and/or the sample to the microfluidic flow channels.
4. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein each of the microfluidic fluid channels has a path length L which is substantially the same.
5. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein the microwell device comprises a microplate having M×N wells arranged in M rows and N columns, each row having N wells, and wherein one of the wells in each row is a common well, and wherein each of the common wells are linked to each of the remaining wells in the row by a microfluidic fluid channel having a photonic crystal sensor formed therein.
6. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein the microfluidic flow channels and the common inlet are arranged in a spatial alignment with each other.
7. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein the microwell device comprises a 96-well microplate.
8. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein the microwell device comprises a 384-well microplate.
9. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein the microwell device comprises a 1536-well microplate.
10. The biosensor of claim 2 , further comprising a cover layer covering the microfluidic flow channels, the cover layer having at least one aperture for allowing the sample to pass from a well of the microplate into the microfluidic flow channels.
11. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein said integral, monolithic structure comprises an integral polymer structure comprising an optically clear substrate layer, a cured polymer layer, and a relatively high index of refraction material deposited on the cured polymer layer.