阅读说明：本技术 生物化学用盒和生物化学分析装置 (Cartridge for biochemistry and biochemical analyzer ) 是由 藤冈满 足立作一郎 平塚稔章 寺门麻美 于 2018-10-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：为了抽取生物体试样,需要数kV的施加电压,因此EWOD的电极等被破坏,无法将电极再用于液滴的移动。在此,本发明的课题在于,提供一种在利用毛细管阵列等来抽取生物体试样时能够多次使用的生物化学用盒和使用了生物化学用盒的生物化学分析装置。为了解决上述课题,本发明的生物化学用盒的特征在于,具备：流路,其输送样品；多个电极,其在所述流路上沿着输送样品的方向配置,并且为了输送样品而设置；以及开口,其与配置于所述流路的下游侧的多个电极相对地设置。(Since an applied voltage of several kV is required to extract a biological sample, the EWOD electrode and the like are broken, and the electrode cannot be used again for moving the droplet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochemical cartridge that can be used many times when a biological sample is extracted using a capillary array or the like, and a biochemical analyzer using the biochemical cartridge. In order to solve the above problem, a biochemical cartridge according to the present invention includes: a flow path that transports a sample; a plurality of electrodes arranged along a direction in which a sample is transported on the flow path and provided for transporting the sample; and an opening provided to face the plurality of electrodes disposed on the downstream side of the flow path.)

1. A biochemical cartridge is provided with:

a flow path that transports a sample;

a plurality of electrodes arranged along a direction in which a sample is transported on the flow path and provided for transporting the sample; and

and an opening provided to face the plurality of electrodes disposed on the downstream side of the flow path.

2. The cartridge for biochemical use according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the openings are provided on an upper surface of the cartridge for biochemical use so as to face the respective electrodes disposed on a downstream side of the flow path.

3. The biochemical cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the introduction of the sample is performed using an opening opposed to a different electrode each time the sample is introduced.

4. The biochemical cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the sample is introduced by using the electrodes provided at the ends of the flow paths in order.

5. The biochemical cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the reagent channel is disposed so as to intersect with the channel.

6. The cartridge for biochemistry of claim 1, wherein a spacing of the openings is wider than a spacing of the electrodes.

7. The cartridge for biochemistry of claim 1, wherein the opening is covered by a cover.

8. The cartridge for biochemistry of claim 1, wherein the opening is provided so as to span a plurality of electrodes arranged on a downstream side of the flow path, and the opening is covered with a cover having a hole.

9. The cartridge for biochemistry of claim 8, wherein the hole is provided in plurality.

10. The biochemical cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a technique of EWOD, Electro Wetting On device is used for sample transport in the flow path.

11. The cartridge for biochemistry of claim 1, wherein a capillary tube is inserted into the opening.

12. A biochemical analyzer including a biochemical cartridge, comprising:

a capillary tube;

a flow path for transporting a sample;

a plurality of first electrodes arranged along a direction in which a sample is transported on the flow path and provided for transporting the sample;

openings opposed to the plurality of electrodes arranged on the downstream side of the flow path; and

and a 2 nd electrode provided for introducing the sample in the flow path into the capillary.

13. The biochemical analyzer according to claim 12, wherein the droplet is held by a first electrode at a position facing the capillary insertion port, the capillary is inserted from the opening when the droplet is held by the first electrode, and the droplet is applied with a high voltage by a second electrode.

14. The biochemical analyzer according to claim 12, comprising a temperature adjusting section for adjusting the temperature of the flow path.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a biochemical cartridge for synthesizing and analyzing a biological sample extracted by a biochemical reaction as needed, and a biochemical analyzer using the biochemical cartridge.

Background

Genomic analysis such as nucleotide sequence analysis and polymorphism analysis is very important in the fields of biological research, medical fields such as gene therapy, diagnosis and development of molecular targeted drugs, and forensic fields such as DNA identification. In the genome analysis, 1) a step of extracting nucleic acid from a sample, 2) a step of amplifying the extracted nucleic acid and labeling the amplified nucleic acid, and 3) a step of electrophoresis for reading the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid are performed. 2) In the step (2), the nucleic acid mixed with the reagent is maintained at a predetermined temperature, whereby the primer anneals to the target nucleic acid to amplify the nucleic acid.

Patent document 1 discloses a method of using electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD; electro Wetting On direct). That is, patent document 1 discloses that droplets of nucleic acids and reagents are transported in a droplet microactuator using EWOD, nucleic acids are amplified, and then analyzed downstream by electrophoresis.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese Kokai publication Hei-2009-534653

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, patent document 1 does not disclose a specific method for supplying amplified nucleic acids to a biochemical analyzer such as a capillary sequencer. In contrast to EWOD, in which droplets are transported with an applied voltage of several tens of V, in order to extract a biological sample, for example, nucleic acid, in the droplets into a capillary array of a capillary sequencer, an applied voltage of several kV is required, and therefore, electrodes and the like of EWOD are broken, and EWOD cannot be reused for movement of droplets.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical cartridge that can be used many times when a biological sample is extracted using a capillary array or the like, and a biochemical analyzer using the biochemical cartridge.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a biochemical cartridge according to the present invention includes: a flow path that transports a sample; a plurality of electrodes arranged along a direction in which a sample is transported on the flow path and provided for transporting the sample; and an opening provided to face the plurality of electrodes disposed on the downstream side of the flow path.

Further, the biochemical analyzer of the present invention includes: a capillary tube; a flow path that transports a sample; a plurality of first electrodes that are arranged along the direction in which the sample is transported on the flow path and that are provided for transporting the sample; an opening that faces the plurality of electrodes disposed on the downstream side of the flow path; and a 2 nd electrode provided for introducing the sample in the flow path into the capillary.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, a biochemical cartridge that can be used many times when a biological sample is extracted using a capillary array or the like, and a biochemical analyzer using the biochemical cartridge can be provided.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a biochemical analyzer according to example 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the biochemical cartridge according to example 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a sample channel, a reagent channel, and a droplet holding section in the biochemical cartridge according to example 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an EWOD (electro Wetting On direct) of example 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a droplet holding section according to example 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a droplet holding part according to example 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a droplet holding portion of example 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a separator provided with slits according to example 3.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the biochemical analyzer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that XYZ coordinate systems are attached to the respective drawings to show the orientation of the respective drawings.

Example 1

Fig. 1 shows the overall structure of a biochemical analysis apparatus. The biochemical analyzer of the present invention is exemplified by an apparatus for amplifying and labeling a nucleic acid extracted from a sample, and then performing electrophoresis for reading the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid. The nucleic acid mixed with the reagent is maintained at a predetermined temperature for amplifying the nucleic acid, or the amplified nucleic acid is supplied to a capillary called a capillary for electrophoresis.

The apparatus main body 101 and the control computer 125 are connected by a communication cable. The control computer 125 receives an input from an operator, controls each function of the biochemical analyzer, transmits and receives data detected by the apparatus main body 101, and displays the transmitted and received data. The apparatus main body 101 includes a capillary array 114, a pump mechanism 103, a thermostatic bath 115, a carrier 122, a high-voltage power supply 104, a light source 111, and an optical detector 112. Hereinafter, each part will be explained.

The capillary array 114 is a replacement member including one or more (for example, 2 to 96) capillaries 102, and includes a loading head 124, a detection section 113, and a capillary head 129. A loading head 124 for supplying a sample into the capillary 102 is provided at one end of the capillary array 114, and a cathode end 126 for applying a negative voltage is formed. The other end of the capillary array 114 is connected to the gel block 106 by bundling a plurality of capillaries 102 into one piece with a capillary head 129 and using a pressure-resistant airtight structure. A detection unit 113 for irradiating laser light is provided between the loading head 124 and the capillary head 129.

The capillary 102 is a glass tube having an inner diameter of several tens to several hundreds of μm and an outer diameter of several hundreds of μm. In order to increase the strength of the capillary 102, the surface thereof is covered with a polyimide film. However, the polyimide film is removed at the detection section 113 irradiated with the laser beam and its vicinity. The capillary 102 is filled with a separation medium for separating DNA molecules in a sample. The separation medium is, for example, a polyacrylamide-based separation gel.

The pump mechanism 103 is constituted by a syringe 105 and a mechanism system for pressurizing the syringe 105. The gel block 106 is a connection part for connecting the syringe 105, the capillary array 114, the anode buffer container 108, and the separation medium container 107. By closing the electric valve 110 and pressing the syringe 105, the separation medium in the syringe 105 is injected into the capillary 102.

The thermostatic bath 115 has a heater 117 and a fan 116 for controlling the temperature of the capillary array 114, and is covered with an insulating material in order to keep the temperature inside the thermostatic bath 115 constant. By controlling the temperature within the thermostatic bath 115, the temperature of most of the capillary array 114 is maintained at a constant temperature, for example, 60 ℃.

The conveyor 122 includes 3 electric motors and linear actuators, and is movable in 3 axial directions of up and down, right and left, and front and back. At least 1 or more containers are mounted on the movable table 123 of the conveyor 122. The conveyor 122 conveys the buffer container 118, the cleaning container 119, the waste liquid container 120, and the biochemical cartridge 121 on the moving stage 123 to the cathode end 126 of the capillary 102. The running buffer enters the buffer container 118. The cleaning vessel 119 is used to clean the capillary 102. The separation medium in capillary 102 is discharged to waste reservoir 120. A biological sample, for example, a nucleic acid and a reagent are put into the biochemical cartridge 121, and the nucleic acid amplified in the biochemical cartridge 121 is extracted from the cathode end 126 of the capillary 102 into the capillary array 114. The biochemical cartridge 121 will be described later using fig. 2 to 5.

The high voltage power supply 104 is connected to the anode electrode 109 and the loading head 124 in the anode buffer container 108, and applies a high voltage to the separation medium in the capillary 102.

The light source 111 irradiates the detection unit 113 with laser light as coherent light as excitation light. The optical detector 112 optically detects fluorescence emitted from the sample in the detection section 113. The detected optical data 128 is transmitted to the control computer 125 via the control board 127.

The biochemical cartridge 121 will be described with reference to fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the biochemical cartridge 121. The biochemical cartridge 121 is provided with 1 or more, for example, 4 channels for amplified nucleic acids, and the cathode end 126 of the capillary 102 is inserted into each channel. In fig. 2, the longitudinal direction of the flow channels is indicated by the X direction, the direction in which the flow channels are arranged is indicated by the Y direction, and the direction in which the cathode end 126 is inserted is indicated by the Z direction.

The structure in the biochemical cartridge 121 will be described with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inside of the biochemical cartridge 121. The biochemical cartridge 121 of fig. 3 is provided with a sample well 301, a reagent well 302, a sample channel 303, and a reagent channel 304. A plurality of, for example, 4 sample wells 301 are provided, and 1 μ L of a sample containing a biological sample is placed in each sample well 301. Alternatively, 10. mu.L of the sample may be placed in the sample well 301, and 1. mu.L of the sample may be separated from 10. mu.L of the sample. There are 1 or more reagent wells 302. For example, in the case of amplifying a nucleic acid, 5 reagent chambers 302 are provided, and reagents for nucleic acid amplification, such as primers, dNTPs, buffers, water, enzymes, modifiers, molecular weight standard DNA, and the like, are added to each reagent chamber 302.

The sample channel 303 is connected to each sample cell 301, and transports a droplet containing nucleic acid. In this example, the direction in which the droplets containing the nucleic acid were transported was the X direction. When the EWOD (electro Wetting On direct) technique is used for transporting droplets, the sample channel 303 serves as a channel having the EWOD electrode 300 for transporting droplets. EWOD refers to the following technique: a voltage is applied between the liquid droplets disposed on the water-repellent film as the water-repellent film and an EWOD electrode as an electrode provided below the water-repellent film, and the surface tension of the liquid droplets is controlled to transport the liquid droplets.

An example of a channel using EWOD will be described with reference to fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an XZ sectional view of a flow path using EWOD. The channel using EWOD includes an upper plate 401, an upper electrode 402, an upper water repellent film 403, a lower water repellent film 405, an insulating film 406, an EWOD electrode 300, and a lower plate 407. The upper plate 401 and the lower plate 407 are arranged in parallel, an upper electrode 402 and an upper water repellent film 403 are provided on the lower surface of the upper plate 401, and a plurality of EWOD electrodes 300, an insulating film 406, and a lower water repellent film 405 are provided on the upper surface of the lower plate 407. Further, if a plurality of EWOD electrodes 300 are disposed on at least one of the upper plate 401 and the lower plate 407, the droplet 400 can be transported.

A plurality of EWOD electrodes 300 are arranged along a direction in which the droplets 400 are transported. In addition, the EWOD electrodes 300 are covered with an insulating film 406 having a thickness of, for example, several hundreds of μm so that a voltage can be applied individually to each EWOD electrode 300. The space between the upper and lower water repellant films 403, 405 is preferably filled with fluid 404 that does not mix with the transported droplets 400. In addition, the droplet 400 can be delivered even if not filled with the fluid 404.

In such a channel using EWOD, when a voltage of several tens of V is applied to EWOD electrode 300 located in the vicinity of droplet 400, the surface tension of droplet 400 on the EWOD electrode 300 side to which the voltage is applied changes, and an internal pressure is generated in droplet 400. The generated internal pressure drives the droplet 400 in the direction of the arrow in fig. 4, and thus the droplet 400 is conveyed. That is, the droplet 400 is transported to the EWOD electrode 300 side to which the voltage is applied.

Returning to the description of fig. 3. The reagent flow path 304 is connected to each reagent tank 302 and transports a droplet of the reagent. In this embodiment, the direction in which the reagent droplets are transported is the Y direction. When EWOD is used for transporting reagent droplets, the reagent channel 304 includes a plurality of EWOD electrodes 300, as in the case of the sample channel 303. The reagent channel 304 intersects the sample channel 303, and a droplet of the reagent and a droplet of the nucleic acid are mixed at the intersection of the two. The angle at which the reagent channel 304 and the sample channel 303 intersect is not limited to 90 degrees as shown in fig. 3.

Since a voltage can be applied to the EWOD electrodes 300 of the sample channel 303 and the reagent channel 304 individually, 2 or more droplets can be simultaneously transferred. The direction in which the droplets are transported is not limited to one direction, and the droplets may be reciprocated. For example, the droplet may be reciprocated between the intersection of the sample channel 303 and the reagent channel 304 and a point adjacent to the intersection to promote the mixing of the nucleic acid and the reagent.

A temperature control region 305 is provided in the middle of the sample channel 303. The temperature control region 305 is a region maintained at 1 or more predetermined temperatures, for example, a region maintained at 60 ℃ and a region maintained at 95 ℃. The droplets mixed with the nucleic acid and the reagent are transported to the temperature control region 305, and the nucleic acid is amplified by, for example, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) or cycle sequencing Reaction. The droplets may be reciprocated between regions maintained at different temperatures, for example, between a region at 60 ℃ and a region at 95 ℃. The droplet after the nucleic acid amplification is labeled to become a sample droplet.

A droplet holding portion 306 is provided at the tip of the sample channel 303. The droplet holding portion 306 has a plurality of, for example, 10 sampling points. Each sampling point includes an EWOD electrode 300, and by controlling the voltage applied to the EWOD electrode 300, the sample droplet can be transported to a desired sampling point position, and the sample droplet can be held at the position. The distance between the EWOD electrodes 300 in the droplet holding unit 306 is preferably the same as the distance between the EWOD electrodes 300 in the sample channel 303 and the reagent channel 304. By providing the same interval, the EWOD electrode 300 can be easily manufactured.

The droplet holding unit 306 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an XZ sectional view of the droplet holding portion 306. The droplet holding section 306 includes a spacer 500, an upper plate 401, an upper electrode 402, an upper water repellent film 403, a lower water repellent film 405, an insulating film 406, an EWOD electrode 300, and a lower plate 407. The lower water repellent film 405, the insulating film 406, the EWOD electrode 300, and the lower plate 407 are the same as those shown in fig. 4, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

The upper plate 401, the upper electrode 402, and the upper water repellent film 403 have the same structure as that shown in fig. 4 except for having an opening 501. The opening 501 opens in the Z direction at a position where each EWOD electrode 300 is arranged in the droplet holding portion 306. That is, the EWOD electrodes 300 and the openings 501 of the droplet holding portion 306 are the same number.

The separator 500 is a rubber member disposed so as to cover the upper surface of the upper plate 401, and has a hole into which the cathode end 126 of the capillary 102 is inserted. The portion of the partition 500 having the hole is inserted into each opening 501. That is, one sampling point includes one EWOD electrode 300 of the droplet holding portion 306, an opening 501 opened thereon, and a hole of the separator 500 inserted therein.

When sample droplet 502 is delivered to the desired point of sample introduction, cathode end 126 of capillary 102 is inserted at that location until it contacts sample droplet 502. Fig. 5 illustrates a state where the cathode end 126 is brought into contact with the sample droplet 502 given a number of 1. In this state, a voltage of several kV is applied to the loading head 124 for a short time, whereby the nucleic acid in the sample droplet 502 is extracted into the capillary array 114. The nucleic acid extracted into the capillary array 114 is guided to the detection unit 113, and irradiation with excitation light and detection of fluorescence are performed.

The sampling point used for extracting nucleic acid in the sample droplet 502 is destroyed by the applied voltage of several kV, and cannot be used any more, because of the insulating film 406 and the EWOD electrode 300. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of sampling points are provided, and the sampling point used for extracting nucleic acid is changed each time nucleic acid is extracted. That is, the droplet holding unit 306 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of EWOD electrodes 300 for holding the sample droplet 502, and different EWOD electrodes 300 are used for each extraction of the nucleic acid in the sample droplet 502 to the capillary array 114. According to the present embodiment, EWOD can be used multiple times when extracting nucleic acid using the capillary array 114.

In addition, when extracting nucleic acid using the capillary array 114, it is preferable to use, for example, the numbers assigned to the sample droplets 502 in fig. 5 in order from the EWOD electrode 300 at the end. By using a plurality of EWOD electrodes 300 in this order, the EWOD electrodes 300 included in the droplet holding unit 306 can be used without being left.

In the present example, the case of treating nucleic acids, particularly DNA, has been described as an example of a biological sample, but the biological sample to be treated in the present invention is not limited thereto, and is applicable to all biological substances such as RNA, proteins, polysaccharides, and microorganisms. In addition, a member other than the capillary 102 may be used for the extraction of the biological sample.

Example 2

In example 1, the case where the interval of the opening 501 into which the cathode end 126 of the capillary 102 is inserted is the same as the interval of the EWOD electrode 300 of the droplet holding portion 306 was described. When the distance between the EWOD electrodes 300 in the droplet holding portion 306 is too small, the periphery of the EWOD electrode 300 used for extracting nucleic acid by the capillary array 114 may be broken by the voltage applied to the loading head 124. Therefore, in this embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the distance between the openings 501 is increased, and even when the periphery of the EWOD electrode 300 used in extracting nucleic acid is damaged, EWOD can be used a plurality of times in extracting nucleic acid.

The droplet holding unit 306 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an XZ sectional view of the droplet holding portion 306, as in fig. 5. The droplet holding section 306 includes a separator 500, an upper plate 401, an upper electrode 402, an upper water repellent film 403, a lower water repellent film 405, an insulating film 406, an EWOD electrode 300, and a lower plate 407, as in example 1, and an opening 501 is provided in the upper water repellent film 403. The openings 501 of the present embodiment are provided at intervals wider than the EWOD electrodes 300, for example, at intervals that are not affected by damage due to voltage applied to the loading head 124. By providing the openings 501 at such intervals, even when the surroundings of the EWOD electrode 300 used for extracting nucleic acid in the sample droplet 502 are damaged, the EWOD electrode 300 under the opening 501 adjacent to the opening 501 used for extracting nucleic acid can be prevented from being damaged. As a result, nucleic acid can be extracted into the capillary array 114 through the opening 501 of the EWOD electrode 300 that is not broken.

According to this embodiment, even when the periphery of the EWOD electrode 300 used for extracting nucleic acid in the sample droplet 502 is broken, the EWOD electrode 300 below the opening 501 is not broken, and thus the EWOD can be used a plurality of times for extracting nucleic acid.

Example 3

In embodiment 1, a case where the upper plate 401, the upper electrode 402, and the upper water repellent film 403 have the same number of openings 501 as the number of sampling points is described. In this embodiment, a structure in which the upper plate 401, the upper electrode 402, and the upper water repellent film 403 have the common opening 701 at all the sampling points will be described.

The droplet holding unit 306 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an XZ sectional view of the droplet holding portion 306, as in fig. 5. In this embodiment, the upper plate 401, the upper electrode 402, and the upper water repellent film 403 have one common opening 701 in the droplet holding portion 306. The separator 500 is disposed so as to close the opening 701. Separator 500 has an opening into which cathode end 126 of capillary 102 is inserted. The opening of the separator may be a plurality of holes 702 opposing the respective EWOD electrodes 300, or may be a slit 703 (see fig. 8) across a plurality of EWOD electrodes 300. The biochemical cartridge 121 and the partition plate 500 can be configured to be simpler by providing the common opening 701.

The biochemical analyzer according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and constituent elements may be modified and embodied within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments may be appropriately combined. Further, several components may be deleted from all the components shown in the above embodiments.

Description of the symbols

101: device main body, 102: capillary, 103: pump mechanism, 104: high-voltage power supply, 105: syringe, 106: gel block, 107: separation medium container, 108: anode buffer container, 109: anode electrode, 110: electric valve, 111: light source, 112: optical detector, 113: detection unit, 114: capillary array, 115: thermostatic bath, 116: fan, 117: heater, 118: buffer container, 119: cleaning container, 120: waste liquid container, 121: cartridge for biochemistry, 122: conveyor, 123: mobile station, 124: loading head, 125: control computer, 126: cathode terminal, 127: control substrate, 128: optical data, 129: capillary head, 300: EWOD electrode, 301: sample cell, 302: reagent tank, 303: sample flow path, 304: reagent flow path, 305: temperature control zone, 306: droplet holding portion, 400: droplet, 401: upper plate, 402: upper electrode, 403: upper water repellent film, 404: fluid, 405: lower water repellent film, 406: insulating film, 407: lower plate, 500: separator, 501: opening, 502: sample droplet, 701: opening, 702: hole, 703: a slit.