阅读说明：本技术 液滴的形成方法、生物分子分析方法及生物分子分析试剂盒 (method for forming liquid droplet, method for analyzing biomolecule, and biomolecule analysis kit ) 是由 牧野洋一 国富朋子 于 2015-02-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及液滴的形成方法、生物分子分析方法及生物分子分析试剂盒,本发明的液滴的形成方法具有：在具有多个孔的反应容器中,将用于生物分子分析的试剂送液至所述反应容器,使所述试剂填充于多个所述孔的试剂送液工序,和将油性密封液送液至所述反应容器,利用所述油性密封液将多个所述孔内的所述试剂密封,从而形成多个独立的反应容器的密封工序；其中,所述试剂中含有防吸附剂。(The present invention relates to a method for forming droplets, a method for analyzing biomolecules, and a biomolecule analysis kit, the method for forming droplets of the present invention comprises: a reagent feeding step of feeding a reagent for biomolecule analysis to a reaction vessel having a plurality of wells to fill the plurality of wells with the reagent, and a sealing step of feeding an oil-based sealing liquid to the reaction vessel to seal the reagent in the plurality of wells with the oil-based sealing liquid to form a plurality of independent reaction vessels; wherein the reagent contains an anti-adsorption agent.)

1. A method of forming droplets, comprising:

In a reaction vessel having a plurality of wells,

A reagent liquid feeding step of feeding a reagent for biomolecule analysis to the reaction vessel and filling the plurality of wells with the reagent, and

A sealing step of feeding an oil-based sealing liquid to the reaction vessel and sealing the reagent in the plurality of wells with the oil-based sealing liquid to form a plurality of independent reaction vessels;

Wherein the reagent contains an anti-adsorption agent.

2. The method of forming droplets according to claim 1,

The anti-adsorption agent is a surfactant.

3. The method of forming droplets according to claim 1 or 2,

The reaction vessel has a base portion having a base portion,

a plurality of the holes are provided in the base portion,

The base portion has a hydrophobic surface at a portion of a surface of the base portion located between the plurality of holes.

4. The method of forming droplets according to claim 1 or 2,

The anti-adsorption agent is adsorbed on the inner surface of the reaction vessel.

5. The method of forming droplets according to claim 1 or 2,

A low adsorption structure is formed in a region of the reaction vessel between the adjacent holes.

6. The method of forming droplets according to claim 1 or 2,

The reaction vessel has a flow path, and the reagent and the sealing liquid are transferred to the reaction vessel by being transferred to the flow path.

7. The method of forming droplets according to claim 1 or 2,

The reagent contains a substance to be analyzed.

8. A method of forming droplets, comprising:

In a reaction vessel having a plurality of wells,

The reaction vessel is pre-filled with a buffer,

a reagent liquid feeding step of feeding a reagent for biomolecule analysis to the reaction vessel and replacing at least a part of the buffer solution in each of the plurality of wells with the reagent, and

A sealing step of feeding an oil-based sealing liquid to the reaction vessel and sealing the reagent in the plurality of wells with the oil-based sealing liquid to form a plurality of independent reaction vessels;

Wherein at least one of the reagent or buffer comprises an anti-adsorption agent.

9. the method of forming droplets according to claim 8,

The reaction vessel is filled with the buffer solution by transferring the buffer solution to the reaction vessel.

10. The method of forming droplets according to claim 9,

The reaction vessel has a flow path, and the buffer solution, the reagent, and the sealing liquid are transferred to the reaction vessel by being transferred to the flow path.

11. The method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

The anti-adsorption agent is a surfactant.

12. the method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

The reaction vessel has a base portion having a base portion,

A plurality of the holes are provided in the base portion,

The base portion has a hydrophobic surface at a portion of a surface of the base portion located between the plurality of holes.

13. the method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

The buffer solution contains the anti-adsorption agent, and the reagent does not contain the anti-adsorption agent.

14. The method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

within each of the plurality of wells, the buffer is mixed with the reagent and the reagent diffuses.

15. The method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

The anti-adsorption agent is adsorbed on the inner surface of the reaction vessel.

16. The method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

A low adsorption structure is formed in a region of the reaction vessel between the adjacent holes.

17. The method of forming droplets according to claim 8 or 9,

The reagent contains a substance to be analyzed.

18. A method for analyzing a biological molecule, which comprises the steps of,

Forming a droplet in the hole by the method of forming a droplet according to any one of claims 1 to 17,

The reagent contains a detection reaction reagent containing an enzyme,

Performing an enzymatic reaction with the reaction target substance in the well,

Detecting said signal by amplification of said enzyme reaction signal.

19. The biomolecule analysis method of claim 18,

The substance to be analyzed is any one of DNA, RNA, miRNA, mRNA, and protein.

20. The biomolecule analysis method of claim 18,

the substance to be analyzed is a nucleic acid, and the enzymatic reaction is an invader reaction.

21. The biomolecule analysis method of claim 18,

Counting the number of wells in which the signal is detected.

22. A biomolecule analysis kit for carrying out the biomolecule analysis method of any one of claims 18 to 21, comprising at least the reaction vessel, the reagent and the oil-based sealing liquid.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a biomolecule analysis kit and a biomolecule analysis method.

This application claims priority based on Japanese patent application No. 2014-017942, filed in Japan on 31/1/2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Background

It is known to perform disease or health state diagnosis (physical constitution diagnosis) by analyzing biomolecules. For example, there are health state diagnosis by Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis, judgment of anticancer drug administration by somatic mutation analysis, and countermeasure against infectious diseases by analysis of viral proteins or DNA.

Recently, a sequence of about 31 hundred million base pairs has been clarified by worldwide human genome analysis, and the number of human genes is about 3 to 4 ten thousand. Human beings have a difference in base sequence between individuals, and a difference in base sequence occurring at a frequency of 1% or more in a population of a specific population is called a genotype. It is suggested that SNPs have relevance to a variety of diseases.

For example, with respect to human genetic diseases, SNPs in one gene are considered to be causative factors of illness. Further, SNPs in a plurality of genes are also considered to have an effect on diseases associated with living habits, cancers, and the like. Therefore, it is considered that the analysis of SNP is extremely effective in drug development such as search of drug targets and prediction of side effects. Therefore, the analysis of SNPs is advancing as a huge worldwide project.

One of the causes of individual differences in drug effects or side effects is differences in the group of enzymes involved in drug metabolism of each individual. Recently, it has been clarified that the difference is caused by a slight difference in a gene such as SNP.

in recent years, a method of administering a drug to a patient by previously analyzing genes of the patient to select the most suitable drug has been considered. In addition, the significance of gene diagnosis is rapidly increasing not only in monogenic genetic diseases but also in multifactorial diseases. Further, the effect of drugs targeting pathogenic bacteria or viruses may be the same species, and may be different for each individual, which is often caused by a minute difference in gene for each individual. It is expected that the genetic diagnosis of pathogenic bacteria or viruses as foreign factors will be surely increased as a test subject in the future.

In this way, in medical treatment in the post-genome era, it is important to be able to analyze minute differences in genes of human or pathogenic microorganisms, particularly SNP, and the importance thereof is expected to increase in the future.

Various methods for analyzing a slight difference in base sequence, particularly a SNP, have been studied (see non-patent documents 1 to 2). For practical analysis, it is required to be excellent in terms of low cost, simplicity of the method, length of signal detection time, accuracy of detection results, and the like. However, a method satisfying all the above requirements has not been known so far.

When SNPs are analyzed, the target gene fragment is generally contained in a sample only in a small amount. In this case, the target gene needs to be amplified in advance by any method. The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method has been known as a rapid and highly reproducible gene amplification method.

Generally, in order to detect a difference of one base in a target gene, the following two steps are required: a gene amplification step using a PCR method or the like; and a stage of examining the difference of one base of the amplified gene (see non-patent document 3). However, in the method requiring two steps, the number of steps is large, and thus the treatment becomes complicated. In addition, since the PCR method requires temperature elevation, it is necessary to make efforts to increase the size of the apparatus and prevent evaporation of heat-resistant reaction vessels and reaction solutions.

As a SNP detection method which does not require a two-stage reaction, there is an invader method. The invader method does not require PCR amplification, and can promote the reaction isothermally, so that the apparatus can be miniaturized. However, in the invader method, since the step of amplifying a gene is not included, signal amplification is slow, and a reaction time of several hours is required for detection and determination. The invader method is a detection method using an enzyme reaction. Among them, in signal amplification using an enzyme, a method of reacting in a minute space is considered as a method of shortening the time until the signal concentration reaches saturation.

When the invasion reaction is carried out in a minute space, the number of molecules to be analyzed contained in 1 well can be 1 or less, and the molecules to be analyzed are apparently concentrated, so that the time for the signal to reach saturation can be shortened. In addition, since the number of detection molecules that enter 1 well is 1 or less, the concentration of the detection molecules can be accurately examined by counting the wells from which signals are obtained.

For example, patent document 1 shows that gene detection can be performed by performing an enzyme reaction in a minute space having a volume of 1pl or less.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

that is, in the case of using PCR in SNP analysis, detection can be performed in a short time, but the machine configuration becomes complicated and the steps become complicated. In an isothermal reaction not using PCR, the time required until the end of SNP analysis is long, and the reactivity is low. Therefore, these prior methods are not practical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a biomolecule analysis kit and a biomolecule analysis method capable of analyzing biomolecules quickly and quantitatively and improving reactivity.

means for solving the problems

The biomolecule analysis kit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is constituted as follows: a reaction vessel for performing an enzyme reaction, the reaction vessel including a base body portion having a vessel-shaped portion and a low adsorption structure portion provided on at least an inner surface of the vessel-shaped portion, the low adsorption structure portion having a lower adsorption rate with respect to at least one of a sample to be analyzed and a reagent for the enzyme reaction than that of the base body portion; detecting a signal generated by an enzymatic reaction while the enzymatic reaction is performed in the reaction vessel.

The low adsorption structure portion has a lower adsorption rate for the sample than the base portion, and the background during the signal detection can be lower than when the base portion is exposed in the reaction vessel.

The adsorption rate of the low adsorption structure portion to the sample is lower than that of the base portion, and the signal intensity at the time of signal detection can be higher than that in the case where the base portion is exposed in the reaction vessel.

In order to lower the adsorption rate than the base body portion, the reaction vessel may further include a modified portion in which the surface of the base body portion is modified on the inner surface of the vessel-shaped portion, and the vessel-shaped portion may have a bottomed cylindrical shape having a substantially circular opening with a diameter of 5 μm or less.

In order to make the adsorption rate lower than the base body portion, the reaction vessel may further have a low-adsorbent material layer laminated on the base body portion on an inner surface of the vessel-shaped portion, and the vessel-shaped portion may have a bottomed cylindrical shape having a substantially circular opening portion with a diameter of 5 μm or less.

The biomolecule analysis kit according to the second embodiment of the present invention is constituted as follows: a reaction vessel having a vessel-shaped portion capable of supplying a sample to be analyzed and a base portion on which the vessel-shaped portion is formed, and a reagent capable of being supplied to the reaction vessel and used for the enzymatic reaction; the reagent contains an adsorption inhibitor for reducing an adsorption rate of at least one of the sample and the reagent to the base portion, and detects a signal generated by the enzyme reaction when the enzyme reaction is performed in the reaction vessel.

The enzymatic reaction may be an isothermal reaction.

The sample to be analyzed may contain any of DNA, RNA, miRNA, mRNA, and protein, and the substance to be analyzed may be any of DNA, RNA, miRNA, mRNA, and protein.

The substance to be analyzed may be a nucleic acid, and the enzymatic reaction may be an invader reaction.

The agent may generate a signal by any of fluorescence, luminescence, pH, absorbance, potential.

The anti-adsorption agent may be a surfactant.

The surfactant may be a nonionic surfactant.

The nonionic surfactant may be Tween 20.

The nonionic surfactant can be Triton-100.

The concentration of the surfactant may be 0.0005% or more and 5% or less.

The method for analyzing a biomolecule according to the third aspect of the present invention uses the biomolecule analysis kit according to the first or second aspect.

the biomolecule analysis kit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is constituted as follows: a reaction vessel having a vessel-shaped portion capable of supplying a sample through a channel and a base portion on which the vessel-shaped portion is formed, and a reagent capable of being supplied to the reaction vessel and used for the enzyme reaction; the reagent contains a surfactant for reducing the surface tension of the reagent, and detects a fluorescent or chromophoric signal generated by an enzymatic reaction when the enzymatic reaction is performed in the reaction vessel.

A biomolecule analysis method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: in a reaction vessel having a flow path and a plurality of vessel-shaped portions, feeding a reagent to the flow path, filling the reagent into the plurality of wells, feeding an oil-based sealing liquid to the flow path, and sealing the reagent in the plurality of wells with the oil-based sealing liquid to form the plurality of wells into a plurality of independent nucleic acid detection reaction vessels; wherein either one of the reagent and the oily sealing liquid contains a surfactant.

the method for analyzing a biomolecule according to the fifth aspect of the present invention may further comprise a step of filling the plurality of container-shaped portions with a buffer solution for washing through the flow path before filling the plurality of wells with the reagent.

A biomolecule analysis method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a biomolecule analysis method using the biomolecule analysis kit according to the first, second, or fourth aspect, wherein the reagent is supplied to the container-shaped portion after the buffer solution for washing is supplied to the container-shaped portion.

Effects of the invention

According to the above aspect of the present invention, a biomolecule analysis method and a biomolecule analysis kit that can analyze a biomolecule quickly and quantitatively and improve reactivity can be provided.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a biomolecule analysis kit to which a biomolecule analysis method according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a biomolecule analysis method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fluorescence image showing the results of the fluorescence measurement test according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the results of the fluorescence intensity measurement test according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a table showing the results of the reaction time measurement test of the first example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a biomolecule analysis kit to which a biomolecule analysis method according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a biomolecule analysis kit to which a biomolecule analysis method according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a biomolecule analysis kit to which a biomolecule analysis method according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a biomolecule analysis method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a photomicrograph showing a well according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11B is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.0005% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11C is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.001% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11D is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.005% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11E is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.05% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11F is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.5% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11G is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 5% and a heating time of 10 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11H is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.0005% and a heating time of 20 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11I is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.001% and a heating time of 20 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11J is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.005% and a heating time of 20 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11K is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.05% and a heating time of 20 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11L is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 0.5% and a heating time of 20 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 11M is a fluorescence image showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test under the conditions of a Tween20 concentration of 5% and a heating time of 20 minutes in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the results of a fluorescence intensity measurement test according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the effects of the method for analyzing biomolecules according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14A is a fluorescence image diagram showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test of sample 1 according to the third example of the present invention.

Fig. 14B is a fluorescence image diagram showing the results of the fluorescence amount measurement test of sample 2 according to the third example of the present invention.

Fig. 14C is a fluorescence image diagram showing the results of the fluorescence amount measurement test of sample 3 according to the third example of the present invention.

Fig. 14D is a fluorescence image diagram showing the results of the fluorescence amount measurement test of sample 4 according to the third example of the present invention.

Fig. 14E is a fluorescence image diagram showing the results of the fluorescence amount measurement test of sample 5 according to the third example of the present invention.

Fig. 14F is a fluorescence image diagram showing the results of a fluorescence amount measurement test of sample 6 according to the third example of the present invention.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

The biomolecule analysis kit and the biomolecule analysis method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a biomolecule analysis kit to which the biomolecule analysis method of the present embodiment can be applied. In the biomolecule analysis kit of the present embodiment, any one of DNA, RNA, miRNA, mRNA (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as RNA species), and protein is selected as a biomolecule to be analyzed.

As shown in fig. 1, the biomolecule analysis kit 100 includes a flexible flat plate 12 and a glass substrate 14 constituting a reaction container 10, and a cover glass 13 capable of sealing the reaction container 10.

The reaction vessel 10 has: a base body 2 formed to have a bottomed cylindrical minute space 11 (container-shaped portion) having one end open, and a low-adsorption structure portion 3 disposed on the surface of the base body 2.

The reaction chamber 10 is formed by imprinting a flexible flat plate 12 made of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form a minute space 11.

The minute space 11 constituting the reaction vessel 10 is a bottomed cylindrical space having an opening at one end. The minute space 11 has, for example, a diameter L1 of 5 μm and a depth L2 of 5 μm. For example, the capacity of the minute space 11 is about 100 femtoliters (fl). The reaction vessel 10 has an array of a plurality of minute spaces 11 formed therein. That is, the minute spaces 11 are arranged in a row in the reaction container 10.

for example, the minute spaces 11 are arranged in a lattice shape along each side of a rectangular surface having a vertical and horizontal dimension of 5mm in the flexible flat plate 12. The size of the gap between the minute spaces 11 is set in each minute space 11 according to the resolution capability that enables independent signal detection.

The volume of the minute space 11 can be set as appropriate, but when the volume of the minute space 11 is small, the reaction time until the signal can be detected can be shortened. For example, the volume of the minute space 11 is 100 picoliters (pl) or less.

Specifically, in order to shorten the time required for generating a sufficient signal by saturating the signal, the volume of the minute space 11 is set according to the amount of liquid in which the molecules to be analyzed are 1 or less in 1 well.

The flexible flat plate 12 is formed on a glass substrate 14, for example. The thickness of the glass substrate 14 is appropriately set in consideration of the problem that the soft flat plate 12 is used as a material and has sufficient strength in the process of forming the plurality of minute spaces 11 by imprinting.

In the present embodiment, the low adsorption structure portion 3 has the following configuration, for example.

(constitution example 1)

The low adsorption structure portion 3 has water repellency in a region of the surface of the base portion 2 located on the inner surface of the minute space 11 of the reaction vessel 10. For example, the low adsorption structure portion 3 has a modified portion 4 formed by modifying the surface of the base portion 2 to be hydrophobic.

(constitution example 2)

The low adsorption structure portion 3 has a low adsorbed substance layer 4A in a region located on the inner surface of the reaction vessel 10 among the surfaces of the base portion 2. The low-adsorbate layer 4A is formed of a material having a low adsorption rate of a sample or an analytical reagent thereof to be analyzed using the biomolecule analysis kit 100 of the present embodiment. For example, the low-adsorbate layer 4A is a hydrophobic coating.

Another example of the low-adsorbate layer 4A is a polymer coating having a molecular structure that is impermeable to fluorescent substances. The polymer coating preferably has a molecular structure denser than that of PDMS, and exhibits an effect of preventing a decrease in signal intensity by suppressing the transmission of a fluorescent substance. In addition to PDMS, a polymer coating having a molecular structure capable of preventing the permeation of a reagent may be selected according to the molecular structure of a substance to be a material of the base portion 2. These polymer coatings can suppress the decrease in signal intensity.

The polymer coating of the low adsorption structure portion 3 is not limited to a coating that inhibits the transmission of a fluorescent substance, and a coating that inhibits the transmission of a substance involved in an enzymatic reaction may be appropriately selected depending on the reagent used.

next, the composition of the reagent that can be preferably applied to the biomolecule analysis kit 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, by including an adsorption inhibitor in each reagent, adsorption of the constituent components of the reagent to the inner surface of the reaction vessel 10 of the biomolecule analysis kit 100 can be prevented.

The composition of the anti-adsorption agent is, for example, a composition containing at least 1 of a surfactant, a phospholipid, and another polymer compound, and any material may be used in combination. Examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants. Examples of the nonionic surfactant include Tween, glycerol, Triton-X100, and the like. Examples of the polymer compound include polyethylene glycol (PEG), DNA, and protein.

Further, as the anti-adsorption agent mixed with 2 or more kinds of materials, for example, an anti-adsorption agent mixed with phospholipid phosphate and PEG is exemplified.

When a nonionic surfactant is used as the surfactant, the concentration of the nonionic surfactant contained in the reagent is preferably 5% or less. When Tween20 is used, the concentration of Tween20 contained in the reagent is preferably in the range of 0.0005% to 5%, particularly preferably in the range of 0.001% to 0.5%. When the concentration of Tween20 is 0.0005% or more, the reaction in the plurality of minute spaces 11 can be independently detected, and the fluorescence of the minute spaces 11 can be accurately measured. When the concentration of Tween20 is 5% or less, a sufficient enzyme reaction can be obtained.

These anti-adsorption agents may be substances that are adsorbed to the inner surface of the minute space 11 of the reaction vessel 10. The adsorption of the anti-adsorption agent to the inner surface of the reaction vessel 10 is performed by supplying the reagent containing the anti-adsorption agent into the reaction vessel 10. As a result, the inner surface of the reaction vessel 10 is less likely to be adsorbed by an enzyme used for an enzyme reaction, a nucleic acid or protein to be analyzed, a labeling substance used for signal detection, and the like, than in the case where the adsorbent preventing agent is not included.

In addition, when oil is added to the minute space 11, the above-mentioned adsorption preventing agent may be further added to the oil.

It is preferable that at least any one of the reagents that come into contact with the inside of the reaction vessel 10 contains an anti-adsorption agent during a period from the start of supply of at least 1 of the enzyme used in the enzyme reaction, the nucleic acid or protein to be analyzed, and the labeling substance used for signal detection to the end of signal detection to the inside of the reaction vessel 10. For example, the anti-adsorption agent may be mixed with a solvent such as a buffer solution for diluting the reagent to a predetermined concentration.

All reagents in contact with the inside of the reaction vessel 10 may contain an adsorbent during a period from the start of supply of at least 1 of an enzyme used in an enzymatic reaction, a nucleic acid or protein to be analyzed, a labeling substance used for signal detection, and the like to the end of signal detection to the inside of the reaction vessel 10.

The anti-adsorption agent is preferably a substance that does not inhibit the enzymatic reaction or the signal amplification reaction.

Next, a biomolecule analysis method using the biomolecule analysis kit 100 of the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the biomolecule analysis method according to the present embodiment.

first, a reagent containing a substance to be analyzed (for example, DNA in the present embodiment) is dropped into the minute space 11 of the reaction vessel 10 (step S101 shown in FIG. 2). Specifically, the reagent to be added dropwise in this embodiment contains an Invader reagent (1. mu.M Allle Probe, 0.4. mu.M Invader Oligo, 1. mu.M FAM Labelling Arm, 20mM MOPSpH 7.5, 15mM NaCl, 6.25mM MgCl)₂50U/. mu.L of Cleacase) and DNA.

the amount of the reagent to be dropped into the minute space 11 of the reaction vessel 10 can be appropriately set according to the number of the minute spaces 11. The amount of the reagent to be added dropwise to the minute space 11 of the reaction vessel 10 and the concentration thereof were adjusted so that 1 DNA was added to 1 minute space 11. For example, in the present embodiment, the total amount of the reagent added dropwise to the minute spaces 11 of the reaction vessel 10 is 0.5. mu.L, and 0.5. mu.L of the reagent is distributed to the plurality of minute spaces 11.

Next, the minute space 11 of the reaction vessel 10 is covered with the cover glass 13 (step S102 shown in fig. 2). Thus, each of the minute spaces 11 is an independent reaction chamber in which the invaded reagent and DNA are sealed.

Next, the reaction vessel 10 in which the invader reagent and DNA are sealed in the minute space 11 is incubated in, for example, an oven at 62 ℃ (step S103 shown in FIG. 2). By this incubation, signal amplification at an intermediate temperature in the invader reaction is appropriately performed.

Subsequently, the reaction container 10 in which the invaded reagent and DNA are sealed in each minute space 11 is taken out after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the number of wells having fluorescence and the fluorescence amount thereof are measured (step S104 shown in FIG. 2).

In addition to the detection of fluorescence, a detection system that detects, as a signal, light emission of visible light, color development, a change in pH, a change in potential, or the like can be applied to this embodiment. In addition, the configuration of the present embodiment can also be applied to analysis of proteins.

(second embodiment)

The biomolecule analysis kit and the biomolecule analysis method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 6. The biomolecule analysis kit 100A of the present embodiment includes an array device for nucleic acid quantitation 20, a reagent, and an oily sealing liquid.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the array device 20 for nucleic acid quantitation according to this embodiment. In the biomolecule analysis kit of the present embodiment, any one of DNA, RNA, miRNA, mRNA (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as RNA species), and protein is selected as a biomolecule to be analyzed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the array device 20 for nucleic acid quantitation includes a reaction vessel 30, a lid 27, a filling port (not shown), and a discharge port (not shown). The reaction vessel 30 has a base 23 and a flow channel 31. The base portion 23 has a plurality of holes (container-shaped portions) 26, a substrate 24, and a micro-hole array layer 25 formed thereon.

The micro-hole array may be formed directly on the substrate 24, or a member having the micro-hole array formed therein may be fixed to the substrate 24 by means of adhesion, fusion bonding, or the like.

The substrate 24 is a plate-like member made of a substantially transparent material. The material of the substrate 24 is, for example, resin or glass. Specifically, the substrate 24 may be formed of polystyrene or polypropylene. The substrate 24 may be a device for transporting the array device 20 for quantitative determination of nucleic acids or may have a rigidity enough not to be damaged when handled manually by an operator.

The micro-hole array layer 25 is a layer in which a plurality of through holes 25a are arranged. The thickness of the micro-hole array layer 25 was 3 μm, and a gap of 100 μm was left between the micro-hole array layer 25 and the lid portion 27. The through hole 25a is a bottomed cylindrical space having an opening at one end. The through-hole 25a has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 5 μm and a length of 3 μm in the center line direction. For example, the volume of the through hole 25a is about 60 femtoliters (fl).

The volume of each through-hole 25a can be set as appropriate, but when the volume of the through-hole 25a is small, the reaction time until the signal can be detected can be shortened.

For example, the volume of each through hole 25a is 100 picoliters or less.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a detection system that detects, as a signal, light emission of visible light, color development, a change in pH, a change in potential, or the like may be applied in addition to fluorescence. In addition, the configuration of the present embodiment can also be applied to analysis of proteins.

The distance (pitch) between the center lines of the through holes 25a may be larger than the diameter of the through holes 25 a.

The size of the interval (gap) of each through hole 25a is set independently in each through hole 25a according to the resolution capability capable of signal detection.

The through holes 25a are arranged in a triangular lattice pattern with respect to the fine hole array layer 25.

The arrangement of the through holes 25a is not particularly limited. The base portion 23 is formed with a bottomed cylindrical minute hole 26 (container-shaped portion) having a bottom surface portion 26a of the substrate 24 as a bottom surface portion 26a, through a through hole 25a formed in the minute hole array layer 25 and the surface 24a of the substrate 24.

Specifically, when the time taken to generate a sufficient signal for saturating the signal is shortened, the volume of the well 26 is set according to the amount of liquid that the molecules to be analyzed become 1 or less in 1 well.

The material of the micro-hole array layer 25 may be resin, glass, or the like. The material of the micro-hole array layer 25 may be the same as that of the substrate 24 or may be different from that of the substrate 24. The micro-hole array layer 25 may be integrated with the same material as the substrate 24. The micro-hole array layer 25 may be formed integrally from the same material as the substrate 24. Examples of the material of the fine pore array layer 25 made of a resin include a cycloolefin polymer, silicone, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, a fluororesin, an amorphous fluororesin, and the like. The materials shown as examples of the micro-hole array layer 25 are merely examples, and the material of the micro-hole array layer 25 is not limited to these.

In addition, the micro hole array layer 25 may also be colored. When the micro-pore array layer 25 is colored, the influence of light from another pore 26 adjacent to the pore 26 to be measured is reduced when light such as fluorescence, light emission, or absorbance is measured in the pore 26.

The fine-hole array layer 25 is formed by etching, embossing, or cutting the entire surface pattern of the hydrophobic film laminated on the substrate 24 to form a through-hole 25 a. When the fine hole array layer 25 is integrally molded with the substrate 24, a portion corresponding to the through hole 25a of the fine hole array layer 25 is formed by performing processing such as etching, embossing, or cutting on the substrate 24. Thus, a pattern having a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion can be formed on the substrate.

The cover 27 is overlapped on the base 23 with a gap between the base 23 so as to cover the openings of the plurality of holes 26. A flow path 31 through which various liquids flow is formed between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27. In the present embodiment, various liquids flow from the inlet portion to the outlet portion between the base portion 23 and the cover portion 27.

Next, the composition of the reagent that can be suitably applied to the biomolecule analysis kit 100A of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the detection reagent 21 is a solution that can be sent from the inlet portion to between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27. The detection reaction reagent 21 is a reagent for performing a biochemical reaction such as an enzymatic reaction on a substance to be analyzed.

In a biochemical reaction with respect to a substance to be analyzed, for example, when DNA (nucleic acid) is the substance to be analyzed, a reaction such as signal amplification occurs in the presence of the nucleic acid. The detection reagent 21 is selected, for example, according to a method capable of detecting nucleic acids. For example, a reagent used in the Invader (registered trademark) method, the LAMP (registered trademark) method, the TaqMan (registered trademark) method, or the fluorescence probe method, or other methods is contained in the detection reaction reagent 21 of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, when the substance to be analyzed is a nucleic acid, the detection may be performed without performing a nucleic acid amplification step in a conventional PCR method, or a product obtained by amplifying the nucleic acid to be analyzed by a PCR method or the like may be used as a sample as necessary.

in addition, when the substance to be analyzed is other than a nucleic acid, the present embodiment may be applied after performing a necessary pretreatment in order to be applicable to the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, by including the adsorption inhibitor in at least 1 of the reagents, the components of the reagents can be prevented from being adsorbed on the inner surface of the well 26 of the biomolecule analysis kit 100A. The reagents may all contain an anti-adsorption agent.

Examples of the reagent include a buffer solution, a detection reaction reagent, a sample (analyte: DNA, RNA, protein, etc.) solution, a sealing solution, and a solvent for diluting the reagent or the sample.

The composition of the anti-adsorption agent is, for example, a composition containing at least 1 of a surfactant, a phospholipid, and another polymer compound, and can be mixed with any material. Examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants. Examples of the nonionic surfactant include Tween, glycerol, Triton-X100, and the like. Examples of the polymer compound include polyethylene glycol (PEG), DNA, and protein.

Further, as the anti-adsorption agent mixed with 2 or more kinds of materials, for example, an anti-adsorption agent mixed with phospholipid and PEG is exemplified.

When a nonionic surfactant is used as the surfactant, the concentration of the nonionic surfactant contained in the reagent is preferably 5% or less. When Tween20 is used, the concentration of Tween20 contained in the reagent is preferably in the range of 0.0005% to 5%, particularly preferably in the range of 0.001% to 0.5%. When the concentration of Tween20 is 0.0005% or more, the reaction in the plurality of wells 26 can be independently detected, and the fluorescence of the wells 26 can be accurately measured. When the concentration of Tween20 is 5% or less, a sufficient enzyme reaction can be obtained.

The surfactant is not limited to nonionic. As the surfactant, an ionic surfactant (anionic, cationic, zwitterionic) can be used. Mixtures between ionic surfactants, or mixtures of ionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants may be used.

In addition, a mixture of a surfactant and a polymer compound may also be used as the anti-adsorption agent.

Next, the composition of the oily sealing liquid 22 that can be suitably applied to the biomolecule analysis kit 100A of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the oily sealing liquid 22 may contain an adsorption inhibitor in order to prevent components of the reagent from adsorbing on the inner surface of the well 26 of the biomolecule analysis kit 100A.

The oil-based sealing liquid 22 (see fig. 8) is a solution that can be sent from the inlet portion to between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27. The oily sealing liquid 22 may be selected from materials that do not mix with the sample containing the substance to be analyzed. As the oily sealing liquid 22, mineral oil, fluorine-based liquid FC40, or the like can be used.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent the components of the reagent from being adsorbed on the inner surface of the well 26 of the biomolecule analysis kit 100A, the buffer solution for well washing may be transferred before the reagent is transferred. The buffer may contain an anti-adsorption agent.

these anti-adsorption agents are not particularly limited as long as they are adsorbed on the inner surface of the hole 26 of the reaction vessel 30. The anti-adsorption agent is adsorbed on the inner surface of the reaction vessel 30 by supplying the anti-adsorption agent-containing reagent into the reaction vessel 30. As a result, the inner surface of the reaction vessel 30 is less likely to adsorb an enzyme used in an enzyme reaction, a nucleic acid or protein to be analyzed, a labeling substance used for signal detection, and the like, as compared with the case where the adsorption preventing agent is not contained.

The anti-adsorption agent contained in the washing buffer may be a nonionic surfactant. Examples of the nonionic surfactant include Tween, glycerol, Triton-X100, and the like. The washing buffer may also constitute a part of the reagent.

It is preferable that at least 1 of the reagents in contact with the inside of the reaction vessel 30 contain an anti-adsorption agent during a period from the start of supply of at least 1 of the enzyme used in the enzyme reaction, the nucleic acid or protein to be analyzed, and the labeling substance used for signal detection to the end of signal detection to the inside of the reaction vessel 30. For example, the anti-adsorption agent may be mixed with a solvent such as a buffer solution for diluting the reagent to a predetermined concentration.

Further, the adsorbent may be contained in all the reagents that come into contact with the inside of the reaction vessel 10 from the time when at least 1 of the enzyme used in the enzyme reaction, the nucleic acid or protein to be analyzed, and the labeling substance used for signal detection is supplied to the inside of the reaction vessel 10 at the beginning to the time when the signal detection is completed.

The anti-adsorption agent is preferably a substance that does not inhibit the enzymatic reaction or the signal amplification reaction.

Next, a biomolecule analysis method using the biomolecule analysis kit 100A of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the biomolecule analysis method according to the present embodiment.

First, an injection port and a discharge port, not shown, are opened, and a washing buffer solution 33 containing an anti-adsorption agent is fed into a gap between the base section 23 and the lid section 27 through the injection port by using, for example, a dispensing pipette (step S201 shown in fig. 9). The buffer 33 is diffused in the gap between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27 so as to cover all of the plurality of holes 26 (see fig. 6). Thus, the low adsorption structure portion 32 having the low-adsorption substance layer 35 is formed in the region located on the inner surface of the through hole 25a in the surface of the base portion 23 and the region 34 located between the adjacent holes.

Instead of feeding the buffer solution 33, the reaction container 30 may be filled with the buffer solution 33 in advance. In this case, the inlet and outlet portions may be sealed with a membrane or the like, and the buffer solution 33 may be sealed in the reaction vessel 30.

Next, a reagent containing a substance to be analyzed (for example, DNA in the present embodiment) is transferred by a dispensing pipette or the like through the injection port into the gap between the base portion 23 and the cover portion 27 (step S202 shown in fig. 9). Specifically, the reagent to be filled in this embodiment contains an Invader reagent (detection reagent 21) (1. mu.M AlleProbe, 1. mu.M Invader Oligo, 1. mu.M FAM Labelling Arm, 10mM MOPS pH 7.5, 6.25mM MgCl₂50U/. mu.L of Cleacase, Tween 20) and DNA as an analysis target substance. The reagent is diffused in the gap between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27 so as to cover all of the plurality of holes 26 (see fig. 7). Further, the buffer solution 33 is discharged from the discharge port by feeding the reagent into the gap between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27. In addition, in this case, when the reagent and the buffer solution 33 are different in color, whether or not the reagent is delivered to the portion between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27 can be easily grasped.

As shown in fig. 6, a plurality of holes 26 formed by the substrate 24 and the fine hole array layer 25 are arranged in the flow path 31 formed by the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27. The buffer solution 33 filled in the plurality of wells 26 is sequentially replaced with the reagent from the buffer solution 33 in the wells by flowing the reagent in.

However, the well 26 is also present in which the buffer 33 is maintained in a state of being held on the inner surface of the well 26. At this time, the reagent is not replaced with the buffer solution 33 filled in the plurality of wells 26, but the reagent is stacked in the buffer solution 33. However, since the buffer solution 33 and the reagent are easily mixed with each other, the solute in the reagent diffuses into the buffer solution 33 after the reagent is stacked in the buffer solution 33. Thus, the reactions in the buffer and reagent phase replacement wells are substantially the same as the reactions in the buffer 33 and reagent phase stacked wells.

The amount of liquid filled in the holes 26 can be set as appropriate according to the number of the through holes 25 a. The amount of the liquid to be dropped into the wells 26 and the concentration thereof were adjusted so that 1 well 26 contained 1 DNA. For example, in the present embodiment, the amount of liquid filled in the wells 26 is 0.5. mu.L in the entire reaction vessel, and 0.5. mu.L of liquid is distributed to the plurality of wells 26.

Next, as shown in fig. 8, the oil-based sealing liquid 22 is sent from the inlet portion into the flow path 31 formed by the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27. The oily sealing liquid 22 seals the liquid in the plurality of wells 26 in a state where the reagent diffuses into the buffer solution, thereby making the plurality of wells 26a plurality of independent reaction chambers (nucleic acid detection reaction vessels) 36. That is, in the present embodiment, the respective holes 26 are covered with the oil-based sealant 22, and the respective holes 26 are in an independent state as in the minute space disclosed in the first embodiment. The oily sealing liquid 22 pushes out the liquid outside the plurality of holes 26 from the discharge port portion in the gap between the base portion 23 and the lid portion 27 (step S203 shown in fig. 9).

further, the array device 20 filled with the invader reagent and DNA in each well 26 is incubated in, for example, an oven at 62 ℃ (step S204 shown in FIG. 9). By this incubation, signal amplification in an invader reaction at isothermal temperature is suitably performed.

Next, the array device 20 in which the invader reagent and DNA are filled in each well is taken out after a predetermined time, and the number of wells having fluorescence and the amount of fluorescence are measured (step S205 shown in fig. 9).

That is, the biomolecule analysis method using the biomolecule analysis kit 100A of the present embodiment includes the steps of: a step (reagent feeding step) of feeding a reagent into the flow path and filling the plurality of wells with the reagent in a reaction vessel having the flow path and the plurality of vessel-shaped portions; and a step (sealing step) of delivering the oil-based sealing liquid to the flow path after the reagent delivery step, and sealing the reagents in the plurality of wells with the oil-based sealing liquid to prepare a plurality of independent nucleic acid detection reaction vessels having the plurality of wells.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a detection system that detects, as a signal, light emission of visible light, color development, a change in pH, a change in potential, or the like can be applied in addition to fluorescence. In addition, the configuration of the present embodiment can also be applied to analysis of proteins.

In addition, in the present embodiment, by including an adsorption inhibitor in each reagent, it is possible to prevent components of the reagent from adsorbing to the inner surface of the reaction vessel 30 of the biomolecule analysis kit 100A. The anti-adsorption agent may be contained in the whole of the reagent or may be contained in a part of the reagent.

Alternatively, instead of such an anti-adsorption agent, the reagent may contain a substance for reducing the surface tension of the reagent components. For example, surfactants can lower the surface tension of an agent. Therefore, it is also effective to contain a surfactant in the reagent in order to fill the reagent into each well.