Patent EP-1860060-A1 (EP)
Inventor: SIEBEN ULRICH DR RER NAT
IPC: B81B7/00
Filed: 2006-05-22
Abstract: The method for mixing of micro-droplets (2a, 2b), comprises supplying two carriers (3a, 3b), each of whose surfaces (4a, 4b) is structured in such a manner that a hydrophilic surface area is surrounded by a hydrophobic surface area. On a hydrophilic surface area of a first carrier, a first micro-droplet is arranged and on a hydrophilic surface area of a second carrier, a second micro-droplet is arranged. The surface of a first carrier is structured in such a manner that closely-lying hydrophilic surface areas are separated by the hydrophobic surface area. The method for mixing of micro-droplets (2a, 2b), comprises supplying two carriers (3a, 3b), each of whose surfaces (4a, 4b) is structured in such a manner that a hydrophilic surface area is surrounded by a hydrophobic surface area. On a hydrophilic surface area of a first carrier, a first micro-droplet is arranged and on a hydrophilic surface area of a second carrier, a second micro-droplet is arranged. The surface of a first carrier is structured in such a manner that closely-lying hydrophilic surface areas are separated by the hydrophobic surface area. The surface of a first carrier is provided with a matrix-shaped surface structure, which has many hydrophilic surface areas that are separated from one another by a hydrophobic surface area. The carriers with the first and the second hydrophilic surfaces are placed so closely adjacent to one another by moving them towards one another in such a manner that the micro-droplets are contacted with one another. The surface of a second carrier is provided with a surface structure that is suitable to the surface structure of the first carrier, that a micro-droplet is applied on each of the individual hydrophilic surface areas. The carriers with the surface structures placed adjacent to one another by moving them towards one another in such a manner that the micro-droplets of the hydrophilic surface areas that correspond to one another. Each of the hydrophilic surface areas is brought in contact with a micro-droplet. A second carrier is positioned relative to the hydrophilic surface areas in such a manner that the micro-droplets are contacted with one another as well as with the second carrier. The second hydrophilic surface area covers a region of the first hydrophobic surface area that is present between the first hydrophilic surface areas, and the three micro-droplets are contacted with one another. For the purpose of application of the micro-droplets on the hydrophilic surface area(s), one of the carriers is dipped into the liquid and then removed out of the liquid preferably at a speed in the range of 0.1-10 mm/s. A first micro-droplet contains enzymes and a second micro-droplet contains a DNA molecule, a primer and a nucleoside triphosphate at a concentration that is sufficient for a polymerase chain reaction. A carrier is provided as a metal oxide or semi metal oxide substrate, and that the substrate is coated at the sites meant for the hydrophilic surface areas with a polymer having a reactive group. The first micro-droplet contains hydrogen peroxide and a second micro-droplet contains luminol. An independent claim is included for a device for mixing of micro-droplets.