COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MICROFLUIDIC INSTRUMENTATION FOR NEXT-GENERATION BIOLOGICAL SIGNALING NETWORK RESEARCH AND DRUG DISCOVERY
A computer-controlled micro-instrumentation biochemical reaction environment system includes an electrically-controllable microfluidic routing system, at least one microreaction chamber, at least one micro-instrumentation device, and at least one electronic microprocessor. The microreaction chamber supports at least one chemical reaction associated with a biological signaling pathway. The micro-instrumentation device measures at least one physical quantity associated with the signaling pathway. The microprocessor transmits electrical control signals, receives electrical measurement signals, and executes at least one software algorithm. The microreaction chamber is connected to the microfluidic routing system to receive and transmit at least a fluid or gas, and the electronic microprocessor receives electrical measurement signals from the micro-instrumentation device via a first electric interface and transmits electrical control signals to electrically-controllable microfluidic routing system via a second electrical interface. The microfluidic routing system can deliver a drug to the microreaction chamber to influence a chemical reaction associated with a biological signaling pathway.
1 . A computer-controlled micro-instrumentation biochemical reaction environment system, the system comprising:
at least one microreaction device comprising a microreaction chamber configured to support at least one chemical reaction associated with a biological signaling pathway;
an electrically-controllable microfluidic routing system configured to control transport of picoliter to nanoliter quantities of at least one fluid, wherein the microfluidic routing system comprises at least a first electrical interface for receiving electrical signals, wherein the microfluidic routing system transports the at least one fluid to and/or from the at least one microreaction chamber;
one or more micro-instrumentation devices associated with a second electrical interface, wherein the one or more micro-instrumentation devices are configured to measure a plurality of physical quantities associated with a plurality of aspects of the biological signaling pathway; and
at least one electronic processor configured to:
transmit, to the first electrical interface, a control signal to control the routing of the at least one fluid provided by the microfluidic routing system,
receive, from at least the second electrical interface, one or more electrical measurement signals associated with the one or more micro-instrumentation devices, and
produce processed measurement data based on information in at least one of the one or more electrical measurement signals; and
wherein the at least one fluid provided by the microfluidic routing system is configured to deliver a drug to the microreaction chamber to influence the at least one chemical reaction associated with the biological signaling pathway.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more micro-instrumentation devices are physically in contact with the at least one fluid in the microreaction chamber.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more micro-instrumentation devices are configured to be physically in contact with contents of a fluid travelling through the microfluidic routing system.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic processor is further electrically connected to an external signal interface.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one electronic processor transmits electrical measurement signals to the external signal interface.
6 . The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one electronic processor receives electrical control signals from the external signal interface.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein an algorithm executing on the at least one electronic processor processes information represented in the at least one electrical measurement signal so as to produce the processed measurement data.
8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one electronic processor transmits the processed measurement data to an external signal interface.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein an algorithm executing on the at least one electronic processor comprises a control algorithm that produces control information used for control of routing of fluids provided by the microfluidic routing system.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more micro-instrumentation devices comprise at least one light emitting diode (LED) used to provide a source of light utilized in operation of the one or more micro-instrumentation devices.
11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one electronic processor generates control signals to control the at least one LED.
12 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface are comprised within a common communications arrangement.
13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms for the monitoring of at least one signaling pathway.
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms for the monitoring of at least metabolic process.
15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms for analysis of operation of at least one signaling pathway.
16 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms for synthesis of a chemical agent for use in affecting at least one signaling pathway.
17 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms for regulation of at least one signaling pathway.
18 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms for regulation of at least one metabolic process.
19 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured for use in living organisms to administer a chemical agent for use in affecting at least one signaling pathway.
20 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured to measure effects of the drug on the at least one signaling pathway.