Barriers for facilitating biological reactions

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems, devices, and methods for performing biological reactions. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of lipophilic, water immiscible, or hydrophobic barriers in sample separation, purification, modification, and analysis processes.

1 . A method for isolating a protein from a sample, comprising:
 placing a sample comprising a protein in a device comprising a first chamber that contains a water-containing solution, a second chamber that contains a water-containing solution, and a water-immiscible substance disposed between the solutions in the first and second chambers to define stationary interfaces between the water-containing solution in each chamber and the water-immiscible material;   applying an external, applied force to the sample in the first chamber, the applied force capable of interacting with the protein or with a component associated with the protein; and   transferring, by relative movement of the applied force with respect to the first chamber, the protein from the solution in first chamber, into and through the stationary interfaces and the immiscible substance, and directly into the solution in the second chamber, whereby the protein is isolated from the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing comprises placing the sample in the device and then depositing the water immiscible substance between the first and second chambers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising placing a solid carrier component in a chamber of the device, the carrier component capable of associating with the protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the solid carrier is at least one magnetic particle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein applying an external, applied force comprises applying an external magnetic force. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein transferring comprises transferring the at least one magnetic particle with the protein associated thereto into and through the water immiscible substance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein is an antibody. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is a HIV antibody. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring comprises moving a sample transport component that generates the force. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a chamber in the device comprises magnetic particles. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-containing solution is a wash solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-containing solution is a water-alcohol solution. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the sample in the device wherein the second chamber comprises an elution medium. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chambers are within a plurality of chambers, and the first chamber is preceded by one or more chambers in the plurality of chambers, and said placing comprises placing the sample comprising a protein in a chamber preceding the first chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a chamber preceding the first chamber comprises a lysis reagent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chamber comprising the lysis reagent additionally comprises magnetic particles as the component to interact with the protein and with the applied force. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a second of the one or more chambers preceding the first chamber comprises a chamber filled with a wash medium. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second chamber comprises an elution medium. 
     
     
         19 . A method for extracting a protein from a sample, comprising:
 providing a device comprising a first chamber comprising magnetic particles and a lysis buffer, a second chamber comprising a water-containing solution, a third chamber comprising a water-containing solution, and a channel connecting the second chamber and the third chamber, the channel comprising a water-immiscible substance to define stationary interfaces between the water-containing solutions and the water-immiscible substance;   introducing a sample comprising a protein into the first chamber;   applying an external force to the sample, the force capable of interacting with the magnetic particles and associated protein; and   moving the magnetic particles and associated protein from the first chamber to the second chamber, and then across the stationary interface into the water-immiscible substance in the channel and then across the stationary interface into the third chamber, said moving by relative movement of the force with respect to the device, whereby said moving extracts the protein from the sample.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the force is a magnetic field. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said moving comprises moving an externally applied force relative to the device thus causing the transfer of the protein. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said moving is automated. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said providing comprises providing a device comprising an additional chamber before the first chamber and an additional chamber downstream of the third chamber, wherein the additional chamber before the first chamber is separated from the first chamber by an air gap. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said placing comprising placing the sample into the additional chamber before the first chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said depositing comprises depositing the water-immiscible material to form a layer of the water-immiscible material over the solution in the second chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said depositing comprises depositing the water-immiscible material to form a layer of the water-immiscible material over the solution in the third chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said placing comprises placing the water-containing solution in the second chamber in an amount to form a pathway of water-containing solution between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein during said moving of the magnetic particles and associated protein, the lysis buffer in the first chamber and the water-containing solutions in the second and third chambers remain stationary. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the protein is an antibody. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the antibody is a HIV antibody. 
     
     
         31 . A device, comprising:
 a first chamber containing a water-containing solution into which a sample comprising a protein can be placed;   a second chamber containing a water-containing solution in communication with the first chamber;   a water-immiscible material disposed between the first and second chambers to form a contiguous barrier between the solutions in the first and second chambers and to define stationary interfaces of water-containing solution—water-immiscible material between the water-containing solution in each chamber and the water-immiscible material; and   a solid phase carrier component disposed in the first chamber, said carrier component movable to the second chamber by an externally, applied force, said solid phase carrier component capable of associating with the protein of interest;   wherein upon application of the external force to the solid phase carrier component it associates with the force and positional movement of the force relative to the first chamber and the second chamber effects transfer of the solid phase carrier component and the associated protein in the first chamber, into and through the water immiscible material and directly into the solution in the second chamber.