Microfluidic reaction support having three flow levels and a transparent cover layer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microfluid reaction carrier intended for the purely fluid or light-controlled synthesis or analysis of oligomers or polymers. The reaction carrier comprises a structure of flow channels for the fluids, while supply channels and discharge channels parallel to the latter form an angle relative to the plane of the structure of the flow channels (reaction areas).

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A microfluidic reaction support having a plurality of reaction areas, wherein said reaction support contains a flow channel structure for carrying fluids, and feed channels and discharge channels are connected to one another by connecting channels arranged at an angle to said feed and discharge channels and said connecting channels or else parts of said feed and discharge channels serve as reaction areas, wherein a multiplicity of different receptors is bound to reaction areas of the support, and a building block is introduced between receptor and support, which allows the receptor to be removed by cleavage. 
     
     
         32 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the flow channel structure consists of three flow levels, the feed channels being located parallel to one another in a first flow level and the discharge channels being located parallel to one another in a third flow level and the connecting channels with the reaction areas being located perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to these two flow levels. 
     
     
         33 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that the feed channels of the first flow level cross the discharge channels of the third flow level at an angle in a projection perpendicular to the first and third flow levels. 
     
     
         34 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that each flow channel can individually be charged with fluid and discharged via a valve system. 
     
     
         35 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the fluid of each reaction area is discharged, with said fluid making no contact with the other reaction areas. 
     
     
         36 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the flow channel structure is provided on one side with a transparent cover layer. 
     
     
         37 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the flow channel structure is provided on both sides with a transparent cover layer. 
     
     
         38 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the transparent cover layers consist of glass or plastic and a structure of microlenses is integrated into said cover layers such that the incident light is focused on the reaction areas and the reflected light of a detection reaction is concentrated accordingly. 
     
     
         39 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the transparent cover layers consist of a multiplicity of parallel fused glass fibers which form a transparent honeycomb structure such that the incident light and the reflected light are parallelized and the light is prevented from spreading sideways, due to reflection, in the cover layer. 
     
     
         40 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the walls between the feed channels and the discharge channels are made lightproof. 
     
     
         41 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that the connecting channels consist of a multiplicity of glass fiber bundles fused together from which the glass fiber cores have been etched out, thus resulting in microchannels. 
     
     
         42 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 41 , characterized in that the glass fiber bundles with cores etched out are arranged in the area of the reaction area. 
     
     
         43 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 42 , characterized in that the connecting levels consist of a silicon layer into which a multiplicity of small channels has been etched. 
     
     
         44 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 42 , characterized in that a plurality of flow levels are arranged on top of one another such that the reaction areas in the projection perpendicular to the flow levels are not superimposed and can be photoactivated individually by light and light can be detected, likewise location-specifically, for each of the reaction areas. 
     
     
         45 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that a programmable light source matrix for synthesis and analysis is integrated into the reaction support. 
     
     
         46 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that a detection unit in the form of a CCD matrix is integrated into the reaction support. 
     
     
         47 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the receptors are selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids such as DNA, RNA, nucleic acid analogues such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA), peptides and saccharides. 
     
     
         48 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the receptors have been synthesized on the support from individual synthesis building blocks. 
     
     
         49 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that feed channels and discharge channels are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         50 . The microfluidic reaction support as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that, after the receptor has been removed by cleavage, a functional group is retained on the support which is suitable for synthesis of a new receptor. 
     
     
         51 . Microfluidic reaction support having a flow channel structure for carrying fluids, the flow channel structure comprising reaction areas and, as flow channels, fluid feed channels for feeding fluid to the reaction areas, which feed channels run parallel to one another in a first level of the reaction support, and fluid discharge channels for discharging fluid from the reaction areas, which discharge channels run parallel to one another in a second flow level of the reaction support, the reaction areas being formed by connecting channels which connect fluid feed channels to fluid discharge channels and which are perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the two levels so that fluid can be discharged from each reaction area, bypassing the respective other reaction areas, and the flow channels in each case having their own fluid connections for connection to a valve system so that each flow channel can be charged with fluid or discharged individually via the valve system, characterized in that the fluid feed channels cross the fluid discharge channels at an angle in a projection perpendicular to the first and second levels and that the fluid feed channels and the fluid discharge channels are connected to one another by the respective connecting channels at the intersections. 
     
     
         52 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein the flow channel structure is provided on one side or on both sides with a transparent cover layer. 
     
     
         53 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 52 , wherein the transparent cover layers consist of glass or plastic and a structure of microlenses is integrated into said cover layers such that the incident light is focused on the reaction areas and the reflected light of a detection reaction is concentrated accordingly. 
     
     
         54 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 52 , wherein the transparent cover layers consist of a multiplicity of parallel fused glass fibres which form a transparent honeycomb structure such that the incident light and the reflected light are parallelized and the light is prevented from spreading sideways, due to reflection, in the cover layer. 
     
     
         55 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein the walls between the feed channels and the discharge channels are made lightproof. 
     
     
         56 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein the connecting channels consist of a multiplicity of glass fibre bundles fused together from which the glass fibre cores have been etched out, thus resulting in microchannels. 
     
     
         57 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 56 , wherein the glass fibre bundles with cores etched out are arranged in the area of the reaction areas. 
     
     
         58 . The microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein the levels are located in a respective silicon layer into which a multiplicity of small channels has been etched. 
     
     
         59 . The microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein a plurality of levels with flow channels are arranged on top of one another such that the reaction area in the projection perpendicular to the flow levels are not superimposed and can be photoactivated individually by light and light can be detected, likewise location-specifically, for each of the reaction areas. 
     
     
         60 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein a programmable light source matrix is integrated into the reaction support. 
     
     
         61 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein a detection unit in the form of a CCD matrix is integrated into the reaction support. 
     
     
         62 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 51 , wherein a multiplicity of in each case different receptors is bound to specific areas to the support. 
     
     
         63 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 52 , wherein the receptors are selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids such as DNA, RNA, nucleic acid analogues such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA), peptides and saccharides. 
     
     
         64 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 52 , wherein the receptors have been synthesized on the support from individual synthesis building blocks. 
     
     
         65 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 52 , wherein a building block is introduced between receptor and support, which allows the receptor to be removed by cleavage. 
     
     
         66 . Microfluidic reaction support according to  claim 55 , wherein, after the receptor has been removed by cleavage, a functional group is retained on the support which is suitable for synthesis of a new receptor. 
     
     
         67 . Method of synthesizing oligomers or polymers by using a microfluidic reaction support containing a flow channel structure for directing fluids, wherein the flow channel structure contains reaction areas, fluid feed channels for feeding fluid to the reaction areas and fluid discharge channels for discharging fluid from the reaction areas and in which the reaction areas are formed by connecting channels which connect the fluid feed channels with fluid discharge channels running essentially parallel thereto and which are arranged at an angle to said fluid feed channels and fluid discharge channels such that fluid can be discharged from each reaction area, with circumvention of the particular other reaction areas, and wherein the synthesis of oligomers or polymers is effected by building it from specific building blocks and with a bond to the surface of the reaction areas. 
     
     
         68 . Method according to  claim 67 , wherein oligomeric or polymeric probes such as DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, and others are synthesized by wet chemical synthesis. 
     
     
         69 . Method as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein oligomeric or polymeric probes such as DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA are synthesized by light-controlled synthesis. 
     
     
         70 . Method as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein oligomeric or polymeric probes such as DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, proteins are synthesized by highly parallel combined wet-chemical and light-controlled synthesis. 
     
     
         71 . Method according to  claim 67 , wherein a multiplicity of different receptors is bound to specific reaction areas of the support. 
     
     
         72 . Method according to  claim 61 , wherein the receptors are selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids such as DNA, RNA, nucleic acid analogues such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA); peptides and saccharides. 
     
     
         73 . Method according to  claim 71 , wherein a building block is introduced between receptor and support, which allows the receptor to be removed by cleavage. 
     
     
         74 . Method according to  claim 73 , in which, after the receptor has been removed by cleavage, a functional group is retained on the support which is suitable for synthesis of a new receptor. 
     
     
         75 . Method according to  claim 67 , wherein a microfluidic reaction support is used with covering on both sides of the flow channel structure by transparent cover layers, in which each reaction area is exposed to light of a defined wavelength via a programmable light source matrix and is biochemically functionalized via the light and the supply of fluid and all processes in the reaction support are optically monitored simultaneously via the second transparent cover layer. 
     
     
         76 . Method of synthesizing oligomers or polymers by using a microfluidic reaction support containing a flow channel structure for directing fluids for the synthesis of oligomers or polymers, in which the flow channel structure contains reaction areas, fluid feed channels running essentially parallel to one another in a first level of the reaction support for feeding fluid to the reaction areas and fluid discharge channels running essentially parallel to one another in a second level of the reaction support for discharging fluid from the reaction areas, in which the reaction areas are formed by connecting channels which connect the fluid feed channels with fluid discharge channels and run perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the two levels so that from each reaction area fluid can be discharged with circumvention of the particular other reaction areas, and in which the fluid feed channels cross the fluid discharge channels at an angle in a projection perpendicular to the first and second level, wherein the synthesis of oligomers or polymers is effected by building it from specific building blocks on and with a bond to the surface of the reaction areas.