Device and method for pressure-driven plug transport

Abstract

The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

1 . A microfluidic system comprising:
 a micro channel;   a carrier fluid comprising a fluorinated oil in the microchannel; and   at least one plug comprising a plug fluid in the microchannel.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the plug fluid is an aqueous plug fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one surfactant contained in the carrier fluid and/or the plug fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic system of  claim 3 , wherein at least a first of the at least one surfactant is fluorinated. 
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic system of  claims 3 , wherein the carrier fluid and the plug fluid each comprises at least one surfactant, at least a first of the at least one surfactant contained in the carrier fluid is fluorinated, and the at least one surfactant contained in the plug fluid is not fluorinated. 
     
     
         6 . The microfluidic system of  claims 3 , wherein at least a first of the at least one surfactant comprises a hydrophilic head group. 
     
     
         7 . The microfluidic system of  claims 3 , wherein at least a first of the at least one surfactant comprises a non-ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic system of  claim 7 , wherein at least a first of the at least one surfactant comprises oligoethylene-glycol. 
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic system of  claims 3 , wherein at least a first of the at least one surfactant can be charged by interactions with water. 
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic system of  claims 3 , wherein the carrier fluid contains at least a first of the at least one surfactant that acts to control wetting of a wall of the microchannel, prevent or minimize adhesion or adsorption of unwanted substances or particles to the wall, control or modifying surface chemistry to which one or more reagents in the plug fluid are exposed, and/or avoid destruction of the plug by shear. 
     
     
         11 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is encased by at least one layer of molecules that comprise both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups or moieties. 
     
     
         12 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives contained in the carrier fluid and/or the plug fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated oil comprises a perfluorocarbon. 
     
     
         14 . The microfluidic system of  claim 13 , wherein the perfluorocarbon comprises perfluorodecaline, perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluorohexane, Fluorinert™, perfluoro(methylcyclohexane), perfluoro(1,3-dimethylcyclohexane), perfluoroperhydrofluorene, perfluorotoluene, and/or hexafluorobenzene. 
     
     
         15 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated oil comprises a plurality of fluorinated substances. 
     
     
         16 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug is substantially surrounded by the carrier-fluid.