MICROFLUIDICS SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
A droplet manipulation device comprising, which may, for example, include (a) a first substrate having a first layer comprising a first array of electrowetting electrodes, and a second layer atop a region of the first layer comprising a second array of electrowetting electrodes; and (b) a second substrate separated from the first substrate forming a droplet operations gap between the first and second substrates.
1 . A droplet manipulation device comprising:
a) a first substrate comprising:
i) a first layer comprising a first array of electrowetting electrodes and a printed circuit board; and
ii) a second layer superior to a region of the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a second array of electrowetting electrodes and a semiconductor layer; and
b) a second substrate separated from the first substrate, forming a droplet operations gap between the first substrate and the second substrate.
2 . (canceled)
3 . (canceled)
4 . (canceled)
5 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a CMOS layer.
6 . (canceled)
7 . (canceled)
8 . (canceled)
9 . (canceled)
10 . (canceled)
11 . (canceled)
12 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 1 , wherein the first array of electrowetting electrodes is larger than the second array of electrowetting electrodes.
13 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 12 , wherein the first array of electrowetting electrodes is at least about 1.5 times larger than the second array of electrowetting electrodes.
14 . (canceled)
15 . (canceled)
16 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 1 , wherein the first array of electrowetting electrodes comprises thin-film transistors.
17 . (canceled)
18 . (canceled)
19 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 5 , wherein the CMOS layer comprises an array of nanofeatures.
20 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein the nanofeatures of the array of nanofeatures are selected from the group consisting of indentations, wells, protrusions, domes, posts, beads, beads-in-wells, spots, hydrophilic spots, and any combination thereof.
21 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein the nanofeatures of the array of nanofeatures comprises nanowells.
22 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein the nanofeatures of the array of nanofeatures comprises nanoposts overlapping an array of nanowells.
23 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 22 , wherein the array of nanofeatures comprises one or more hydrophilic guiding features or hydrophilic wicking features arranged to assist in transporting aqueous media from the array of nanowells.
24 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein the array of nanofeatures comprises at least 1,000 nanofeatures.
25 . (canceled)
26 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein the array of nanofeatures comprises at least 100,000 nanofeatures.
27 . (canceled)
28 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein
the array of nanofeatures comprises wells, wherein
each of the wells is capable of holding from about one femtoliter to about 10 picoliters of liquid.
29 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein a nanofeature of the array of nanofeatures is associated with a sensor, wherein the sensor is fabricated in the second layer.
30 . The droplet manipulation device of claim 19 , wherein
a nanofeature of the array of nanofeatures comprises a well, wherein
the well is associated with a sensor, wherein a sensor is fabricated in the second layer.
31 . (canceled)
32 . (canceled)
33 . (canceled)
34 . (canceled)
35 . (canceled)
36 . (canceled)
37 . (canceled)
38 . (canceled)
39 . A molecular sensor for direct detection of a single molecule target, the molecular sensor comprising a substrate surface comprising:
a) a first contact electrically coupled to a first electrode; and
b) a second contact electrically coupled to a second electrode;
wherein (i) the first and second electrodes are separated by a sensor gap, and (ii) the sensor gap is spanned by a bridge molecule such that interaction of the bridge molecule with the single molecule target generates a detectable electrical signal, and
wherein the substrate surface comprises a digital microfluidic device.
40 . (canceled)
41 . (canceled)
42 . (canceled)
43 . (canceled)
44 . (canceled)
45 . The molecular sensor of claim 39 , wherein the bridge molecule comprises a protein, wherein the protein comprises an alpha helix protein, and wherein the protein is attached to the first and second contacts through an antigen-antibody linkage or through a streptavidin-biotin linkage.
46 . (canceled)
47 . (canceled)
48 . (canceled)
49 . The molecular sensor of claim 39 , wherein the bridge molecule comprises a biopolymer, wherein the biopolymer comprises double-stranded DNA, and wherein the double-stranded DNA is attached to the first and second contacts through a thiol-gold linkage.
50 . (canceled)
51 . (canceled)
52 . The molecular sensor of claim 39 , wherein the bridge molecule comprises a probe molecule that is specific for the single molecule target and wherein the probe molecule comprises a molecule that exhibits a change in physical, chemical, and/or electrical properties in response to binding the single molecule target.
53 . (canceled)
54 . (canceled)
55 . The molecular sensor of claim 52 , wherein the probe molecule is a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule, and wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a DNA molecule.
56 . (canceled)
57 . (canceled)
58 . (canceled)
59 . (canceled)
60 . (canceled)
61 . (canceled)
62 . (canceled)
63 . (canceled)
64 . (canceled)
65 . (canceled)
66 . (canceled)
67 . (canceled)