Diffusion-aided loading system for microfluidic devices

Abstract

Microfluidic devices having a diffusion-aided system for loading samples into the microfluidic device are provided. Methods of gas-venting a microfluidic device through a non-porous, gas permeable material sealing cover layer, for example, during liquid sample loading, are also provided. The non-porous, gas-permeable material can be, for example, a polysiloxane, for example, polydimethylsiloxane.

1 . A method for venting a gas from a microfluidic device comprising:
 providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising;
 at least one sample-containment region capable of containing a sample; 
 at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug at least partially defining the at least one sample-containment region, and comprising a non-porous, gas-permeable material; 
 an input opening in fluid communication with the sample-containment region; 
   loading a liquid into the microfluidic device; and   venting a gas from the microfluidic device through the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a material having a permeability coefficient at about 35° C. relative to O 2  of at least about 8×10 15 . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polysiloxane material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises at least one member selected from polydimethylsiloxane materials, polydiethylsiloxane materials, polydiphenylsiloxane materials, polymethylethylsiloxane materials, polymethylphenylsiloxane materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydialkylsiloxane material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydimethylsiloxane material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a gas-impermeable membrane to the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device includes a channel in fluid communication with the sample-containment region, and the method further includes interrupting fluid communication through the channel. 
     
     
         9 . A method for venting a gas from a microfluidic device comprising:
 providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising;
 at least one sample-containment region capable of containing a sample; 
 at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer at least partially defining the at least one sample-containment region, and comprising a non-porous, gas-permeable material; 
 an input opening in fluid communication with the sample-containment region; 
   loading a liquid into the microfluidic device; and   venting a gas from the microfluidic device through the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a material having a permeability coefficient at about 35° C. relative to O 2  of at least about 8×10 15 . 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises polysiloxane material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises at least one member selected from polydimethylsiloxane materials, polydiethylsiloxane materials, polydiphenylsiloxane materials, polymethylethylsiloxane materials, polymethylphenylsiloxane materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydialkylsiloxane material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydimethylsiloxane material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising applying a gas-impermeable membrane to the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the microfluidic device includes a channel in fluid communication with the sample-containment region, and the method further includes interrupting fluid communication through the channel. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 providing a microfluidic device including a plurality of sample-containment regions;   loading the plurality of sample-containment regions with a sample to form loaded sample-containment regions; and   sealing the loaded sample-containment regions with a non-porous, gas-permeable material cover layer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 loading a nucleic acid sequence probe or a nucleic acid sequence primer into selected sample-containment regions.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence probe or the nucleic acid sequence primer is loaded into the loaded sample-containment regions. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence probe or the nucleic acid sequence primer is loaded prior to loading the plurality of sample-containment regions with the sample.