Methods and devices for micro-isolation, extraction, and/or analysis of microscale components

Abstract

Provided herein are devices and methods for the micro-isolation of biological cellular material. A micro-isolation apparatus described can comprise a photomask that protects regions of interest against DNA-destroying illumination. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise photosensitive material defining access wells following illumination and subsequent developing of the photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise a chambered microfluidic device comprising channels providing access to wells defined in photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can comprise a chambered microfluidic device without access wells defined in photosensitive material where valves control the flow of gases or liquids through the channels of the microfluidic device. Also included are methods for selectively isolating cellular material using the apparatuses described herein, as are methods for biochemical analysis of individual regions of interest of cellular material using the devices described herein. Further included are methods of making masking arrays useful for the methods described herein.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A micro-isolation apparatus comprising
 a support,   a cellular material mounted upon the support, and   a photosensitive material deposited on the cellular material, wherein the photosensitive material comprises an access well positioned to correspond to a region of interest of the cellular material.   
     
     
         9 . The micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising
 a chambered microfluidic device comprising at least one channel that provides access to the access well and is positioned adjacent to a photosensitive material located above the cellular material.   
     
     
         10 . The micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the photosensitive material comprises a plurality of access wells corresponding to a plurality of respective areas of interest of the cellular material. 
     
     
         11 . The micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of access wells are interconnected through a series of channels in the microfluidic device. 
     
     
         12 . The micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the series of channels are connected to one or more inputs and one or more outputs. 
     
     
         13 . A micro-isolation apparatus comprising
 a first photosensitive material deposited on cellular material, adapted to be contained in the apparatus, wherein the first photosensitive material comprises a first access well positioned to correspond to a region of interest of the cellular material,   a first chambered microfluidic device comprising at least one channel that provides access to the first access well and is positioned adjacent to the first photosensitive material,   a second photosensitive material adapted to be deposited on the cellular material opposite to the first photosensitive material, wherein the second photosensitive material comprises a second access well positioned to correspond to an opposing side of the region of interest of the cellular material, and   a second chambered microfluidic device comprising at least one channel that provides access to the second access well and is positioned adjacent to the second photosensitive material.   
     
     
         14 . The micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the channel or channels of the first chambered microfluidic device provide an input to the region of interest of the tissue and/or cells and the channel or channels of the second chambered microfluidic device provide an output from the region of interest of the tissue and/or cells. 
     
     
         15 . The micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the photosensitive material comprises a plurality of access wells corresponding to a plurality of respective areas of interest. 
     
     
         16 . A maskless micro-isolation apparatus comprising
 cellular material,   a first chambered microfluidic device comprising multiple channels, wherein each channel provides access to respective regions of interest of the cellular material, and   a second chambered microfluidic device comprising multiple channels positioned to correspond to the regions of interest of the cellular material that are opposite to the regions of interest corresponding to the first chambered microfluidic device.   
     
     
         17 . The maskless micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the channels comprises valves that control flow of gases or liquids through the channels of the first and second chambered microfluidic devices. 
     
     
         18 . The maskless micro-isolation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second chambered microfluidic device comprise a dense pore matrix. 
     
     
         19 - 43 . (canceled)