DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESSURE-DRIVEN PLUG TRANSPORT AND REACTION
The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.
1 . A capillary tube comprising a plurality of plugs in an immiscible carrier-fluid, where a cross section of each plug is substantially the same size as a cross section of the capillary tube, said plurality of plugs comprising at least one plug having a crystallized target substance.
2 . The capillary tube of claim 1 , where the crystallization target is a member of the group consisting of protein, peptide, polynucleotide, oligonucleotide, subcellular organelle, subcellular protein complex, drug, small molecule/biological macromolecule complex, virus, colloidal particle, nanoparticle. and combinations thereof.
3 . The capillary tube of 1 , where the crystallization target is a first protein.
4 . The capillary tube of claim 3 , where the first protein is bound to a synthetic molecule or a small molecule.
5 . The capillary tube of claim 3 , where the first protein is bound to a drug.
6 . The capillary tube of claim 3 , where the first protein is bound to a second protein or peptide.
7 . The capillary tube of claim 3 , where the first protein is bound to a member of the group consisting of oligonucleotides, carbohydrates and sugars.
8 . The capillary tube of claim 3 , where the carrier-fluid comprises an oil.
9 . The capillary tube of claim 3 , where the carrier-fluid comprises a fluorinated compound.