An Electrokinetic Matrix Management and Polymerase Chain Reaction Device

Case ID:
UA12-111
Invention:

The following hybrid electrokinetic module allows for sample preparation, PCR, and sensing all on one integrated platform. There are three modules on the platform: the first module isolates targets (cells, bacteria) from high conductivity samples (urine, blood). The second module amplifies nucleic acids through PCR and the third module senses the target.

 

Applications:

  • There are many potential diagnostic applications for this technology, Hybrid electrokinetic module allows for sample preparation, PCR and sensing all on an integrated platform that:
    • allows for large scale volume reduction of sample and isolation of targets (e.g. mammalian cell, bacteria and molecules)
    • isolates pathogens from samples (e.g. urine and blood) without pre-processing and perform PCR amplification on desired targets
    • diagnoses neonatal sepsis

 

Advantages:  

  • This technology is the only microfluidic approach that allows sample preparation, PCR, and sensing on an integrated platform so that there is no sample pre-processing required
  • Companies that specialize in “sample to answer” diagnostics should be interested in the potential of this product because it’s a more cost effective, higher performance and simpler system than standard electrokinetic techniques
Patent Information:
Contact For More Information:
Scott Zentack
Licensing Manager, College of Engr
The University of Arizona
szentack@arizona.edu
Lead Inventor(s):
Pak Kin Wong
Yi Lu
Tingting Liu
Vincent Gau
Keywords:
electrokinetics
matrix management
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
thermal cycler