Fluidic devices, systems, and methods for encapsulating and partitioning reagents, and applications of same

Abstract

The disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for the generation of encapsulated reagents and the partitioning of encapsulated reagents for use in subsequent analyses and/or processing, such as in the field of biological analyses and characterization.

1 .- 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A device for generating a droplet comprising a single bead of a plurality of beads, comprising:
 (i) a first channel connected to a first end of a flow regulator, wherein said first channel is configured to receive a first fluid comprising said plurality of beads, wherein said beads of said first fluid flow at an irregular frequency in said first channel;   (ii) a droplet generation junction configured to bring a second fluid that is immiscible with said first fluid in contact with said first fluid; and   (iii) a second channel connected to a second end of said flow regulator and to said droplet generation junction, wherein said flow regulator comprises a broadened channel region at said first end and a funneling channel region ending at said second end, wherein said flow regulator is configured to (a) allow beads of said plurality of beads from said first channel to gather in said broadened channel region, and (b) allow said beads gathered in said broadened channel region to flow through said funneling channel region and into said second channel at a regular flow frequency, wherein said second channel is configured to bring said beads in contact with said second fluid to generate a droplet comprising said single bead from said beads of said plurality of beads.   
     
     
         4 . A microfluidic system, comprising:
 a first fluid source fluidly connected to a first channel and comprising a first fluid that comprises an aqueous fluid and a plurality of beads;   a droplet generation junction configured to bring said first fluid in contact with a second fluid from a second fluid source, wherein said second fluid is immiscible with said first fluid;   a flow regulator fluidly connected to the first channel and a second channel, wherein the flow regulator (1) accepts beads from the plurality of beads from the first channel and (2) provides the beads in the second channel, wherein the flow regulator has a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of the first channel such that the beads flow at a flow frequency that is substantially regular in the second channel as determined by a number of beads that flow past a given point in the second channel within a one second period of time; and   a flow control system that: (i) subjects the first fluid from the first fluid source to flow along the first channel, through the flow regulator, and into the second channel, such that the beads from the plurality of beads flow at the flow frequency that is substantially regular in the second channel as determined by the number of beads that flow past the given point in the second channel within the one second period of time, and (ii) subjects the first fluid to flow along said second channel towards said droplet generation junction, such that the beads and the second fluid meet at the droplet generation junction to generate a plurality of droplets comprising the beads from the plurality of beads.   
     
     
         5 . A method for partitioning beads, comprising:
 (a) providing a partitioning system comprising: (i) a first channel comprising a plurality of filtering structures that is configured to receive a first fluid comprising a plurality of beads, and (ii) a droplet generation junction connected to the first channel, wherein the droplet generation junction is configured to bring the first fluid in contact with a second fluid that is immiscible with the first fluid; and   (b) in the partitioning system, (i) subjecting the first fluid to flow along the first channel and through the plurality of filtering structures such that the first fluid is filtered and beads of the plurality of beads flow along the first channel to the droplet generation junction, and (ii) at the droplet generation junction, bringing the first fluid comprising the plurality of beads in contact with the second fluid to generate a plurality of droplets comprising the beads of the plurality of beads.