Diffusion-aided loading system for microfluidic devices
Microfluidic devices having a diffusion-aided system for loading samples into the microfluidic device are provided. Methods of gas-venting a microfluidic device through a non-porous, gas permeable material sealing cover layer, for example, during liquid sample loading, are also provided. The non-porous, gas-permeable material can be, for example, a polysiloxane, for example, polydimethylsiloxane.
1 . A method for venting a gas from a microfluidic device comprising:
providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising;
at least one sample-containment region capable of containing a sample;
at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug at least partially defining the at least one sample-containment region, and comprising a non-porous, gas-permeable material;
an input opening in fluid communication with the sample-containment region;
loading a liquid into the microfluidic device; and
venting a gas from the microfluidic device through the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a material having a permeability coefficient at about 35° C. relative to O 2 of at least about 8×10 15 .
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polysiloxane material.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises at least one member selected from polydimethylsiloxane materials, polydiethylsiloxane materials, polydiphenylsiloxane materials, polymethylethylsiloxane materials, polymethylphenylsiloxane materials, and combinations thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydialkylsiloxane material.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydimethylsiloxane material.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a gas-impermeable membrane to the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device includes a channel in fluid communication with the sample-containment region, and the method further includes interrupting fluid communication through the channel.
9 . A method for venting a gas from a microfluidic device comprising:
providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising;
at least one sample-containment region capable of containing a sample;
at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer at least partially defining the at least one sample-containment region, and comprising a non-porous, gas-permeable material;
an input opening in fluid communication with the sample-containment region;
loading a liquid into the microfluidic device; and
venting a gas from the microfluidic device through the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a material having a permeability coefficient at about 35° C. relative to O 2 of at least about 8×10 15 .
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises polysiloxane material.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises at least one member selected from polydimethylsiloxane materials, polydiethylsiloxane materials, polydiphenylsiloxane materials, polymethylethylsiloxane materials, polymethylphenylsiloxane materials, and combinations thereof.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydialkylsiloxane material.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydimethylsiloxane material.
15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising applying a gas-impermeable membrane to the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the microfluidic device includes a channel in fluid communication with the sample-containment region, and the method further includes interrupting fluid communication through the channel.
17 . A method comprising:
providing a microfluidic device including a plurality of sample-containment regions;
loading the plurality of sample-containment regions with a sample to form loaded sample-containment regions; and
sealing the loaded sample-containment regions with a non-porous, gas-permeable material cover layer.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
loading a nucleic acid sequence probe or a nucleic acid sequence primer into selected sample-containment regions.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence probe or the nucleic acid sequence primer is loaded into the loaded sample-containment regions.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence probe or the nucleic acid sequence primer is loaded prior to loading the plurality of sample-containment regions with the sample.