Separation and Manipulation of a Chiral Object

Abstract

Among other things, to cause directional motion of chiral objects in a mixture in a chamber, a field is rotated relative to a chamber to cause rotation of the chiral objects. The rotation of the objects causes them to move directionally based on their chirality.

1 . An apparatus comprising
 a chamber to hold a mixture containing one or more chiral objects,   a field source to impose a rotating field across the chamber that is rotating relative to the chamber, to cause rotation of the chiral objects with an axis of rotation lying at least partially within their bodies, causing them to move directionally based on their chirality,   the directional motion of the chiral objects altering their spatial concentration profile in the mixture in the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the chamber comprises or is part of a disposable that may comprise a cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which there is one or more chambers to hold the mixture; with each chamber able to hold one or two or more than two types of chiral objects; has a diameter that is in the millimeter, micrometer or nanometer scale; that has a cross-section that is circular or non-circular; and includes a single or multiple channels, and/or one or more T- or Y-junctions. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which there are two or three or more than three electrodes, arranged about at least one chamber to produce a rotating field whose axis of rotation is co-linear, orthogonal, or a combination to flow direction; that are on an inner wall of the chamber arranged to be in contact or not in contact with the mixture, or on an outer wall of the chamber and not in contact with the mixture; that comprise metal or a semiconductor; that have a circular or non-circular cross-section; that have a symmetric or asymmetric cross-section; that comprise a coil or a continuous or a discrete set of electrodes and/or a waveguide for circularly polarized electromagnetic field; and/or that may be integrated on a board such as a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the chamber comprises a channel device such as a capillary or a microfluidic device; that may be positioned or integrated on a chip or a board; that may comprise glass, quartz, polymer or another material; whose inside surface may or may not be coated; that may be surrounded by electrodes that generate a rotating field whose axis of rotation is co-linear with the length of the channel device; and/or the channel device and the electrodes may be held by a larger tubing that comprises metal or dielectric material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the apparatus may include one or more ports to inject and/or extract the mixture, wherein the ports may comprise fluidic interconnects; a detection zone to monitor the concentration of the mixture; a controller to control and/or monitor environmental parameters such as temperature and/or pressure; and/or a connector that may comprise electrical interconnects to make electrical contact with the electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which a direction of the chiral object's motion is monitored to determine its absolute configuration; in a mixture that is non-pure or enantiopure; wherein the chiral objects have only one or more than one stereocenter; the field is reversed for the same chiral objects to confirm absolute configuration; and/or software is used to calculate or predict the speed or direction of motion for a chiral object. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the apparatus is used as a stand-alone system or as an add-on to another chiral separation instrument such as HPLC; and/or in which the chamber contains a chemical matrix that comprises glass, silica, diatomaceous earth and/or polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which there is one or more chambers to hold the mixture; with each chamber able to hold one or two or more than two types of chiral objects; has a diameter that is in the millimeter, micrometer or nanometer scale; that has a cross-section that is circular or non-circular; and includes a single or multiple channels, and/or one or more T- or Y-junctions. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which there are two or three or more than three electrodes, arranged about at least one chamber to produce a rotating field whose axis of rotation is co-linear, orthogonal, or a combination to flow direction; that are on an inner wall of the chamber arranged to be in contact or not in contact with the mixture, or on an outer wall of the chamber and not in contact with the mixture; that comprise metal or a semiconductor; that have a circular or non-circular cross-section; that have a symmetric or asymmetric cross-section; that comprise a coil or a continuous or a discrete set of electrodes and/or a waveguide for circularly polarized electromagnetic field; and/or that may be integrated on a board such as a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the chamber comprises a channel device such as a capillary or a microfluidic device; that may be positioned or integrated on a chip or a board; that may comprise glass, quartz, polymer or another material; whose inside surface may or may not be coated; that may be surrounded by electrodes that generate a rotating field whose axis of rotation is co-linear with the length of the channel device; and/or the channel device and the electrodes may be held by a larger tubing that comprises metal or dielectric material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the apparatus may include one or more ports to inject and/or extract the mixture, wherein the ports may comprise fluidic interconnects; a detection zone to monitor the concentration of the mixture; a controller to control and/or monitor environmental parameters such as temperature and/or pressure; and/or a connector that may comprise electrical interconnects to make electrical contact with the electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the apparatus is used as a stand-alone system or as an add-on to another chiral separation instrument such as HPLC; and/or in which the chamber contains a chemical matrix that comprises glass, silica, diatomaceous earth and/or polymer.