Microfluidic cartridge for separating target molecules, and separator and method of separating target molecules using same

1. A microfluidic cartridge comprising:

a sample chamber, which contains a sample including a target material, the sample chamber including a first opening valve on an outlet of the sample chamber;

a capture chamber, which contains nonmagnetic particles which capture the target material on surfaces of the nonmagnetic particles, connected to the sample chamber and including a filter on an outlet of the capture chamber, wherein the filter does not transmit the nonmagnetic particles;

a waste chamber connected to the outlet of the capture chamber and including a first closing valve on an inlet of the waste chamber;

a solution chamber, which contains a solution which separates target molecules from the target material captured on the surfaces of the nonmagnetic particles, including a third opening valve on an outlet of the solution chamber that is connected to the capture chamber; and

a separation material receiving chamber including a fourth opening valve on an inlet that is connected to the capture chamber, and which receives a fluid including the target molecules from the capture chamber,

wherein the microfluidic cartridge is mounted on an adaptor that is rotated by a rotating unit in order to separate the fluid including the target molecules from the nonmagnetic particles by the effect of centrifugal force.

2. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the target material is at least one target molecule selected from a group consisting of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), protein, peptide, antibody, and hormone, or at least one target cell selected from a group consisting of a bacterium and virus.

3. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wash chamber that receives a wash solution, is connected to the capture chamber, and includes a second opening valve on an inlet thereof.

4. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 3 , further comprising:

a second closing valve blocking a remaining sample in the sample chamber and remaining wash solution in the wash chamber induced into the capture chamber.

5. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the target material is a target cell.

6. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the solution chamber is a lysis solution chamber receiving a lysis solution that disrupts a cell membrane of the target cell.

7. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 6 , further comprising:

a particle chip mounted in the capture chamber, wherein the particles are fixed on the particle chip.

8. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the target material is the target molecules.

9. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the solution chamber is an elution solution chamber receiving an elution solution that separates the target molecules from the nonmagnetic particles.

10. The microfluidic cartridge of claim 9 , further comprising:

a fine particle chip mounted in the capture chamber, wherein the fine particles are fixed on the fine particle chip.

11. A target molecule separator comprising:

the microfluidic cartridge of claim 1 ;

an adaptor including one or more mounting portions in which one or more microfluidic cartridges are mounted;

a rotating portion rotating the adaptor; and

an electromagnetic wave generator irradiating electromagnetic waves to valves of the microfluidic cartridge.

12. The target molecule separator of claim 11 ,

wherein the microfluidic cartridge further comprises opening valves, and closing valves;

wherein said target material is contained in a liquid sample;

wherein the electromagnetic wave generator irradiates electromagnetic waves to the opening valves and to the closing valves of the microfluidic cartridge;

wherein the target material comprises target molecules;

wherein the microfluidic cartridge is mounted on the adaptor;

wherein the adaptor is rotated by the rotating portion to separate a fluid including the target molecules from the particles using a centrifugal force; and

wherein the opening valves are opened by irradiation with electromagnetic waves and the closing valves are closed by irradiation with electromagnetic waves in order to control fluid movement.