Multiplexed microfluidic approach for nucleic acid enrichment

1. A system for enhancing a nucleic acid sample, the system comprising:

at least one pump;

at least one denaturing chamber;

at least one microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography device configured for performing hydroxyapatite chromatography on the nucleic acid sample;

at least one sample collector;

one or more tubing fluidically connecting the at least one pump with the at least one denaturing chamber, the at least one microfluidic device, and the at least one sample collector such that the pump may be used to move the nucleic acid sample from the at least one denaturing chamber to the at least one microfluidic device and then to the at least one sample collector; and

a first enclosure surrounding the at least one pump, the at least one denaturing chamber, and the at least one microfluidic device.

2. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a control unit coupled with the at least one pump to control its function.

3. A system as in claim 2 , wherein the control unit is further coupled with at least one valve coupled with one of the one or more tubing to direct the nucleic acid sample in a desired direction within the system.

4. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one pump comprises:

a buffer pump having a first volume;

a sample pump having a second volume smaller than the first volume; and

a tubing connecting the sample pump to the buffer pump.

5. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a conductivity detector disposed between the at least one microfluidic device and the at least one sample collector.

6. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one denaturing chamber comprises a heater comprising four or more reservoirs to accept four or more nucleic acid samples.

7. A system as in claim 6 , wherein the at least one denaturing chamber comprises two heaters, each heater comprising a heater configured to accept four or more sample containers.

8. A system as in claim 7 , wherein each of the heaters comprises:

four or more microfluidic tubes, each tube configured to accept a PCR tube; and

a thermal cover.

9. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one microfluidic device comprises a microfluidic bus configured to hold eight or more microfluidic columns.

10. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the at least one microfluidic device comprises a removable ferrule for forming a seal with the eight or more microfluidic columns.

11. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first elution buffer chamber for holding a first elution buffer for eluting single stranded DNA; and

a second elution buffer chamber for holding a second elution buffer for eluting double stranded DNA,

wherein the first and second elution buffer chambers are each coupled with the one or more tubing, thereby fluidically connecting the first and second elution buffer chamber to the at least one pump, the at least one denaturing chamber, the at least one microfluidic device, and the at least one sample collector.

12. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a heater located in the first enclosure.

13. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a second enclosure surrounding the at least one sample collector.

14. A system as in claim 13 , further comprising a cooling device located in the second enclosure.

15. A system for enhancing a nucleic acid sample, the system comprising:

at least one pump;

at least one denaturing chamber;

at least one microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography device configured for performing hydroxyapatite chromatography on the nucleic acid sample;

at least one sample collector;

at least one elution buffer chamber;

a first, multi-position valve coupled with the at least one pump, the at least one denaturing chamber, the at least one microfluidic device, and the at least one elution buffer chamber;

a first tube connecting the at least one pump to the first valve;

a second tube connecting the first valve with the at least one denaturing chamber;

a second valve disposed on the second tube between the first valve and the at least one denaturing chamber;

a third tube connecting the first valve and the at least one microfluidic device;

a fourth tube connecting the first valve and the at least one elution buffer chamber;

a fifth tube connecting the at least one microfluidic device and the at least one sample collector;

a third valve disposed on the fifth tube between the at least one microfluidic device and the at least one sample collector; and

a conductivity detector disposed between the at least one microfluidic device and the third valve.

16. A method for enriching a nucleic acid sample, the method comprising:

denaturing the nucleic acid sample in a denaturing chamber;

reducing a temperature in the denaturing chamber to allow the sample to at least partially reanneal;

advancing the sample from the denaturing chamber into a microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography device, using a pump connected to the denaturing chamber and the microfluidic device via tubing;

eluting single stranded DNA within the sample captured by the microfluidic device;

monitoring, with a conductivity detector, output from the microfluidic device; and

directing the eluted single stranded DNA into a sample collector.

17. A method as in claim 16 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises a microfluidic bus that holds eight or more microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography columns, and wherein the method comprises enriching eight or more nucleic acid samples using the microfluidic bus.

18. A method as in claim 17 , wherein the steps of denaturing and reducing the temperature are performed in two denaturing chambers comprising heaters, wherein each heater contains four or more of the nucleic acid samples.

19. A method as in claim 17 , further comprising directing the eight or more nucleic acid samples into separate sample containers in the sample collector.

20. A method as in claim 17 , further comprising directing the eight or more nucleic acid samples through a series of tubes connecting the denaturing chamber, the microfluidic device, the pump, and the sample collector.

21. A method as in claim 20 , wherein directing the samples comprises adjusting at least one valve coupled with the series of tubes.

22. A method as in claim 16 , further comprising controlling at least part of the method using a control device.

23. A method as in claim 16 , further comprising:

heating a first enclosure in which at least the denaturing chamber and the microfluidic device are housed; and

cooling a second enclosure in which at least the sample collector is housed.

24. A method for enriching nucleic acid samples using a multiplexed, sample enriching system, the method comprising:

denaturing multiple nucleic acid samples in at least one denaturing chamber of the system by raising a temperature in the at least one denaturing chamber to at least 95 degrees Celsius, wherein the samples are placed within reservoirs located in the at least one denaturing chamber;

reducing the temperature in the at least one denaturing chamber for a sufficient period of time to allow a desired mixture of ssDNA and dsDNA to form;

diluting the samples with buffer by pumping buffer into the reservoirs using a buffer pump of the system;

drawing the samples out of the at least one denaturing chamber and into a holding tube of the system using a sample pump of the system;

advancing the samples into separate columns of a multiplexed hydroxyapatite chromatography microfluidic device of the system, using the sample pump;

advancing a single strand elution buffer through the microfluidic device to elute single stranded DNA within the samples and captured by the microfluidic device;

monitoring, with a conductivity detector of the system, output from the microfluidic device; and

directing the eluted single stranded DNA into separate sample collection chambers of a sample collection device, one chamber for each sample.

25. A method as in claim 24 , further comprising, after advancing the samples into the columns:

filling the sample pump with fresh buffer; and

advancing the fresh buffer through the microfluidic device to flush out non-specifically bound sample.

26. A method as in claim 24 , further comprising:

advancing a double strand elution buffer through the microfluidic device to elute double stranded DNA within the samples and captured by the microfluidic device;

monitoring, with a conductivity detector of the system, output from the microfluidic device; and

directing the eluted double stranded DNA into one or more separate chambers of the sample collection device.

27. A method as in claim 24 , further comprising adjusting at least one valve of the system between at least two of the steps of the method, to direct the samples in a desired direction within the system.

28. A system for enhancing a nucleic acid sample, the system comprising:

at least one pump;

at least one denaturing chamber;

at least one microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography device configured for performing hydroxyapatite chromatography on the nucleic acid sample;

at least one sample collector;

one or more tubing fluidically connecting the at least one pump with the at least one denaturing chamber, the at least one microfluidic device, and the at least one sample collector such that the pump may be used to move the nucleic acid sample from the at least one denaturing chamber to the at least one microfluidic device and then to the at least one sample collector; and

a conductivity detector disposed between the at least one microfluidic device and the at least one sample collector.

29. A method for enriching a nucleic acid sample, the method comprising:

heating a first enclosure in which at least a denaturing chamber and a microfluidic hydroxyapatite chromatography device are housed;

cooling a second enclosure in which at least a sample collector is housed;

denaturing the nucleic acid sample in the denaturing chamber;

reducing a temperature in the denaturing chamber to allow the sample to at least partially reanneal;

advancing the sample from the denaturing chamber into the microfluidic device, using a pump connected to the denaturing chamber and the microfluidic device via tubing;

eluting single stranded DNA within the sample and captured by the microfluidic device; and

directing the eluted single stranded DNA into the sample collector.