1. MICROFLUIDICS Division of Technology Transfer
Licensing and Research Collaboration

2. Microfluidic Technologies Available for Licensing
Micro-scale
Handling System
Sample Loading
And Injection
Microfluidic
Device
Small Volume
Transport
Electro-Osmotic
Pump
Subatmospheric
Pressure
Chamber
Electro-Pneumatic
Distributor

3. Microscale Fluid Handling System
A solution for conducting microscale reactions (digestion, separation etc.) and for efficiently transporting microliter to picoliter samples from a chip to an analytical device and/or a collection device.
Advantages
Efficient Sample Transport
Reduces manipulations (e.g.. flushing)
Reduces/eliminates problems of sample carryover
Savings
Less Sample, Reagent(s), Time

4. Microscale Fluid Handling System
The System
Multiple sample introduction methods
Pressure, electrokinetic Injection
Single or multiple channel(s) & channel designs
Parallel, circular/ cylindrical, trapezoidal
Multiple sample transfer methods
Droplet, spray, or stream
Multiple analytical or collection devices
ESI, MALDI, NMR, Fraction Collector, Chip, Multi-well Plate
Sample either liquid or gas
License non-exclusively - Currently 5 licensees

5. Sample Loading and Injection Device
A solution for a universal interface device for transferring samples in series or parallel from sample container (e.g. multi-well plates) into channels of a multi-channel microfluidic device and/or into an analytical device that can be integrated into or separated from a microchip.
Advantages
Uses standardized sample plates
Variable sample volumes
Reusable or disposable device

6. Sample Loading and Injection Device
The System
Sample introduction
Pressure, Electrokinetic, Vacuum, etc.
Sample trapped/digested inside loading channels
High hydrodynamic resistance
Sample Elution
Micro, analytical, and/or collection Device
Sample separation (optional)
Electrical potential, etc
License exclusively or non-exclusively

7. Microchip Integrated Open-Channel Electro-osmotic Pumping System
A solution to control fluid dynamics in microfluidic device by using pump(s) to generate electro-osmotic flow or pressurized flow in the device and/or to perform sample transfer, gradient generation or fraction collection/deposition.
Advantages
Easily integrated into existing microchips
Its fabrication ensures high manufacturing and operating reproducibility
Simple design

8. Microchip Integrated Open-Channel Electro-osmotic Pumping System
The System
Single or multiplexed pumps
The voltage drop for operation of the electro-osmotic micro pump may vary from a few tens to thousands of volts depending on the length of the pumping channels and desired flow rate and pressure.
License Exclusively or Non-exclusively

9. Electro-pneumatic Distributor for Multiplexed Myu-Tas Devices
The purpose of the distributor is to supply simultaneous electric current and pressurized gas to control individual channels of a microchip system in an assembly to use with electrospray mass spectrometry.
Advantages
Maximizes sample throughput for analyzing samples
Decreases time between sample analysis
Eliminates need for flushing of sample
Eliminates need for washing sample probe
Fast switching times
Eliminates/ reduces cross contamination
Decreases the number of runs
Well plate samples can be used for further studies

10. Electro-pneumatic Distributor for Multiplexed Myu-Tas Devices
The System
The distributor contains a gas channel and an electric conductor, which supplies an electric current and pressurized gas to the system.
The electrical current forces the sample to flow in a uniform direction, which controls sample flow dynamics.
The pressure created in the system controls fluid dynamics in electric field free regions.
Each sample container/well is connected by an independent microchannel distributor to separate electrospray tip.
License exclusively or non-exclusively

11. Small Volume Transport
A solution for moving small volumes of sample through the capillary channels or tubing of a microfluidic device, especially long distances.
Advantages
Minimal loss or dilution of sample.
Minimal cross contamination between samples
Minimal loss of sample to channel walls
Washes inserted between samples
Faster sample changes
Multiple sample plugs injected at closely spaced intervals
Samples can be transported long distances with high speed to devices, such as an NMR.

12. Small Volume Transport
The System
A sample/wash plug is formed between immiscible liquid plugs and immiscible liquid lining the transport channel walls.
System Characteristics
Immiscible carrier – e.g. fluorocarbon
Distances – yards
Channel walls - fluorine rich surface
Teflon (PTFE, ETFE, FEP, NGFP)
License exclusively or non-exclusively

13. Subatmospheric, Variable Pressure Delivery Chamber
A solution for more efficient sample transfer from electrophoresis capillary or microchip to a mass spectrometer through an electrospray chamber by controlling pressure to allow fine control of sample flow rate from electrospray needle.
Advantages
Minimal sample loss
Lower evaporation of droplets
Efficient desolvation
Minimal power supply source needed

14. Subatmospheric, Variable Pressure Delivery Chamber
The System
Ports for introducing gas into and withdrawing gas from the chamber.
Capillary tube(s) or microchip with a groove or channel extending into chamber to deliver samples.
Sample moves from the sample delivery device to an electrospray tip in the chamber.
Subatmospheric pressure directs the sample flow from the electrospray tip into an analytical/collective device
License exclusively or non-exclusively

15. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
Director – Barry Karger
Bioanalytical instrumentation capabilities
State of the art facilities and advanced methodologies for proteomics research and biomarker identification

16. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
II. Separation Instrumentation: This includes free-standing devices, listed in the following; other units are integrated both into mass spectrometers and NMR equipment.
• Beckman Proteome Lab 2D LC System • Eksigent nanoLC System • 1 Advion Nanomate 100 • 1 Bio-Rad 2D gel electrophoresis system • 2 Agilent 1100 HPLC systems • 2 Agilent 1100 Cap HPLC systems • 1 Agilent G 1602 CE system • 1 Amersham Biosciences MDLC system • 1 Amersham Biosciences AKTA FPLC
• 5 Beckman CE systems • 1 Bischoff HPLC system • 3 Dionex Ultimate nanoLC systems • 2 Thermo Electron Surveyor LC sys
• 4 Agilent  1090 HPLC's • 3 Agilent  1100 LC systems • 1 Shimadzu HPLC system • 2 Thermo Electron Surveyor LC sys
III. NMR and LC-NMR: The James and Faith Waters 500 MHz NMR Facility
500 MHz NMR System (Varian Unity-Inova) • Conventional 5 mm NMR • LC NMR • High-Throughput Flow NMR • Microcoil NMR
Mass Spectrometry:
The Institute operates 16 interfaced mass
spectrometers; these include:
• 1 Thermo Electron LTQ-FT   Hybrid Linear Ion Trap-Fourier Transform MS • 1 Lab-built, High Throughput LC MALDI-TOF MS (2 kHz Laser). • 1 Applied Biosystems AB 4700 MALDI TOF-TOF MS • 1 Micromass QTOF1 QP TOF MS • 2 Agilent 5973 GC-MS • 1 Applied Biosystems Mariner ESI orthogonal extraction TOF-MS • 1 Applied Biosystems Voyager DESTR TOF-MS • 2 Thermo Electron LTQ Linear Ion Trap • 1 Thermo Electron LCQ Deca XP 3D ion trap MS • 3 Thermo Electron LCQ Classic 3D ion trap MS • 1 Thermo Electron TSQ 700 triple QP MS • 1 Thermo Electron TSQ 7000 triple QP MS • 1 SCIEX API III PLUS triple QP MS
• 1 9-node computer cluster (18 CPU's)
reported as of 4/05.

17. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems
Academic Partners are NU-lead, BU, RPI, and UPRM.
Strategic affiliates include MGH, Lawrence Livermore and Idaho Nat’l Labs, Woods Hole, and Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr.
Industrial partners include Raytheon, ADI, Textron, Lockheed Martin, Cardiomag Imaging, Mercury, Transtech, GSSI, and Siemens.
Director - Michael Silevitch

18. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
Advanced optical instrumentation for microscopic characterization
Software algorithms for microfluidic analysis systems
$20 million from The Gordon Foundation

19. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
Center for advanced nanomaterials for energy conversion and storage
CANECS
LEAP – Laboratory for electrochemical advanced power
Fuel Cell Concept Laboratories
Director – Sanjeev Mukerjee
Advanced electrocatalyst capabilities for proton exchange membrane systems
Micro fuel cell concept characterization and evaluation

20. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing
Academic Partners
Northeastern University – Lead, U. Mass-Lowell, U New Hampshire, Michigan State U., Museum of Science
Director – Ahmed Busnaina
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21. Opportunities & Facilities for Microfluidics Research
Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing
Kostas Facility for Micro- & Nano-Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices
A core facility for the NSF Center for High Rate Nanomanufacturing
Five thousand feet of Class 10, 1000 and cleanroom facilities
Capabilities for lithography, nanolithography, thin film deposition, wet chemical processes, etching, milling and characterization
Area for undergraduate and graduate student teams working on projects with corporate partners

22. DIVISION of TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
STAFF
Volunteers, Coop MBA Students, Consultants
(617)