Thermally controlled reagent release

Abstract

An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, each retaining feature in the array of retaining features being to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein;   an array of thermally controlled releasing features, each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponding to a retaining feature in the array of retaining features, each releasing feature being to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule to release the biological reagent, each releasing feature to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell; and   a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature, the controller to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining feature is at least one of a set of pillars, a weir, a mesh, a magnetic portion, a hydrophobic region surrounded by hydrophyllic regions, or dielectrophoreses electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each releasing feature is a resistor to generate the thermal energy when activated. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally degradable shell is formed of a wax or polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one thermocycling portion to cause amplification of a nucleic acid segment, the amplification being facilitated by the biological reagent; and   a detection portion to detect the amplified nucleic acid segment.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is to:
 (a) activate a selected releasing feature in response to release of a nucleic acid segment, wherein the selected releasing feature corresponds to a capsule with a reagent;   (b) pass the nucleic acid segment and the reagent through the thermocycling portion; and   (c) determine whether the detection portion detects amplified nucleic acid segment.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further to:
 sequentially repeat (a)-(c) for additional releasing features.   
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 positioning capsules at a predetermined location of an array of retaining features in a. microfluidic cavity, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein;   causing degradation of the shell of a capsule to release the biological reagent using releasing feature to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell an array of thermally controlled releasing features, each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponding to a retaining feature in the array of retaining features; and   using a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature, selectively activating at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining feature is at least one of a set of pillars, a weir, a mesh, a magnetic portion, a hydrophobic region surrounded by hydrophyllic regions, or dielectrophoreses electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each releasing feature is a resistor to generate the thermal energy when activated. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermally degradable shell is formed of a wax or polymer material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 amplifying a nucleic acid segment at a thermocycling, portion to cause amplification of a nucleic acid segment, wherein amplifying is facilitated by the biological reagent; and   detecting the amplified nucleic acid segment at a detection portion.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using the controller to:
 (a) activate a selected releasing feature in response to release of a nucleic acid segment, wherein the selected releasing feature corresponds to a capsule with a reagent;   (b) pass the nucleic acid segment and the reagent through the thermocycling portion; and   (c) determine whether the detection portion detects amplified nucleic acid segment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using the controller to sequentially repeat (a)-(c) for additional releasing features.