Methods and devices for sorting droplets and particles
Devices, systems, and their methods of use, for sorting droplets or particles are provided. A source of acoustic energy can be employed to sort droplets or particles of a desired and predictable property.
1. A device for sorting droplets or particles comprising:
(a) a channel having a first inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet; and
(b) a source of acoustic energy operatively coupled to the channel;
wherein actuation of the source of acoustic energy propagates a resonant acoustic wave in the direction of flow and having one or more nodes in the channel,
wherein the first outlet is aligned with the one or more nodes in the channel, and the second outlet is not aligned with the one or more nodes in the channel so that droplets or particles aligned with the one or more nodes exit via the first outlet.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first droplet or particle source in fluid communication with the first inlet.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first droplet or particle source comprises a first droplet or particle source region.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the source of acoustic energy comprises an interdigitated transducer or a piezoelectric material.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the channel further comprises a second inlet.
6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a second droplet or particle source in fluid communication with the second inlet.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the channel further comprises a third outlet and/or a third inlet.
8. A method for sorting droplets or particles comprising:
(a) providing the device of claim 1 :
(b) allowing a mixture of droplets or particles to enter the channel; and
(c) actuating the source of acoustic energy of the device to propagate the resonant acoustic wave in the direction of flow and having one or more nodes in the channel; wherein a first subset of the droplets or particles preferentially aligns with the one or more nodes to produce a first population enriched in the first subset; and
(d) allowing the first population to exit via the first outlet.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
(i) step (c) produces a second population enriched in a second subset of the droplets or particles that do not preferentially align with the one or more nodes, and the second population exits via the second outlet;
(ii) the droplets or particles preferentially align based on size; or
(iii) at least a portion of the droplets comprise a particle.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the droplets that comprise a particle comprises a biological particle, a bead, or a combination thereof.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the biological particle comprises a cell or one or more constituents of a cell.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first population is enriched in droplets comprising a particle and the second population is enriched in droplets comprising no particles.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first population is enriched in droplets comprising a single particle, droplets comprising more than one particle, or a combination thereof, and the second population is enriched in droplets comprising no particles.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the channel further comprises a third outlet, wherein the first outlet is positioned between the second outlet and the third outlet, and step (c) produces a third population enriched in a third subset of the droplets or particles that do not preferentially align with the one or more nodes, and the third population exits via the third outlet.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the channel further comprises second and third inlets, wherein the second inlet is positioned between the first and third inlets, wherein the mixture enters the channel via the first and third inlets and a fluid not containing the droplets or particles enters the channel via the second inlet.
16. A system for sorting droplets or particles comprising:
(a) a device comprising a channel having a first inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet; and
(b) a source of acoustic energy operatively coupled to the channel;
wherein actuation of the source of acoustic energy propagates a resonant acoustic wave in the direction of flow and having one or more nodes in the channel,
wherein the first outlet is aligned with the one or more nodes in the channel, and the second outlet is not aligned with the one or more nodes in the channel so that droplets or particles aligned with the n or more nodes exit via the first outlet.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a first droplet or particle source in fluid communication with the first inlet.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the channel further comprises a second inlet.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a second droplet or particle source in fluid communication with the second inlet.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the channel further comprises a third outlet and/or a third inlet.