OPTICAL ANALYSIS ON DIGITAL MICROFLUIDIC (DMF) CARTRIDGES
Provided herein are digital microfluidic devices, methods and systems for improving absorbance and/or transmission detection in electromagnetic radiation spectroscopy. For example, devices and methods are provided for determining the absorbance and/or transmission of light when analyzing a fluid (e.g., a droplet) including a target analyte of interest.
1 . A digital microfluidic (DMF) cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
a bottom plate, the bottom plate comprising a bottom plate substrate and a plurality of electrodes operable to perform droplet operations;
a top plate, the top plate comprising a top plate substrate;
wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are separated to form a gap; and
wherein the bottom plate substrate and/or the top plate substrate comprise a material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation or wherein the bottom plate substrate and/or top plate substrate comprise a through hole that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
2 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate substrate and/or top plate substrate are made from a material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the bottom plate, the gap and the top plate comprise a transparent pathway through which one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation can be transmitted therethrough.
3 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate substrate is made from a material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation selected from x-ray, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, microwave and any combination thereof.
4 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the top plate substrate is made from a material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation selected from x-ray, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, microwave and any combination thereof.
5 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the top plate substrate and the bottom plate substrate are both transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation selected from x-ray, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, microwave and any combination thereof.
6 . The DMF cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths is selected from quartz, cyclo olefin polymer (COP), Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), a ceramic, a multi-layer flexible PCB transmissible to visible light and any combination thereof.
7 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate substrate is coated with a transparent conductive material.
8 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the top plate substrate is coated with a transparent conductive material.
9 . The DMF cartridge of claim 27 , wherein the transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide (ITO).
10 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate substrate further comprises a material capable of filtering out one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
11 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the top plate substrate further comprises a material capable of filtering out one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
12 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises an actuation grid.
13 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the DMF cartridge has the same dimensions as a standard well plate.
14 . The DMF cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transparency of the bottom plate substrate and/or top plate substrate coincides with the wells of a standard well plate.
15 . A method for analyzing an analyte of interest in a droplet using electromagnetic spectroscopy, the method comprising:
providing a digital microfluidic (DMF) cartridge;
providing an electromagnetic radiation light source arranged to transmit electromagnetic radiation to a droplet disposed in the DMF cartridge;
providing a sensor operable to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted from the droplet;
directing electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation light source to the droplet;
detecting the electromagnetic radiation at the sensor; and
using a processor, analyzing an analyte of interest in the droplet.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the DMF cartridge comprises:
a bottom plate, the bottom plate comprising a bottom plate substrate and a plurality of electrodes operable to perform droplet operations;
a top plate, the top plate comprising a top plate substrate;
wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are separated to form a gap; and
wherein the bottom plate substrate and/or the top plate substrate comprise a material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation or wherein the bottom plate substrate and/or top plate substrate comprise a through hole that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic spectroscopy is selected from ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, Near-InfraRed (NIR) spectroscopy, Microfluidic Modulation spectroscopy (MMS) and terahertz spectroscopy.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation light source is an optical fiber.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sensor is a spectrophotometer.
20 . A system for analyzing an analyte in a droplet, the system comprising:
a digital microfluidic (DMF) cartridge, the DMF cartridge comprising a bottom plate and a top plate, wherein the bottom plate and the top plate are separated to form a gap, and wherein the top plate and/or the bottom plate are made of a material that is transparent to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation; and
an electromagnetic radiation light source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, and
a sensor capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation.
21 .- 86 . (canceled)