Devices and methods for microarray selection
The present invention relates to a device for the specific selection of target molecules, wherein immobilized capture molecules can be organized in a microarray in the form of spots or lines. In a further aspect the present invention relates to a method of specifically selecting target molecules in a reaction zone, as well as the use of such a device for specifically selecting target molecules, e.g. for target enrichment, or microarray based genome selection (MGS).
1. A device for the specific selection of target molecules, comprising:
at least one reaction zone comprising a microarray, wherein the microarray comprises a substrate, on which substrate one or more species of capture molecules are immobilized, wherein the target molecules interact with the capture molecules in the reaction zone, the reaction zone further comprising one or more temperature regulating units for regulating the temperature within the reaction zone;
at least one non-bound zone, wherein non-bound target molecules that did not interact with the capture molecules are reactivated in the non-bound zone, the non-bound zone comprising one or more temperature regulating units for regulating the temperature within the non-bound zone
a fluid connection region, in which the reaction zone is in fluid connection with the non-bound zone;
at least one pump for pumping a fluid through the fluid connection region and between said reaction zone and said non-bound zone, wherein the fluid carries the non-bound target molecules;
mixing structures in the fluid connection region for mixing the fluid;
wherein the reaction zone, the non-bound zone and the pump are arranged in a closed loop so that fluid is pumped between the reaction zone and the non-bound zone; and
wherein the non-bound zone comprises a meandering flow path, wherein at least 40% of the device comprises the meandering flow path, and wherein the meandering flow path has a bifurcation leading to an internal loop having a pump for repetitive passing of the fluid through the meandering flow path.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature regulating units in the non-bound zone are integrated in the non-bound zone.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reaction zone is a hybridizing zone for hybridization of nucleic acids to said capture molecules.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the non-bound zone is a denaturation zone for mediating denaturation of nucleic acids.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said immobilized capture molecules are organized in the microarray in the form of spots, elongated spots or lines.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein said lines are arranged in an angle of between about 20° and 90° with respect to the flow path.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein said lines have a width of between about 300 nm and 30 μm and/or are arranged in an inter-line distance of about 500 nm to 100 μm.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said capture molecules are molecules selected from the group comprising nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, antigens, antibodies, carbohydrates and/or analogs thereof.