MICROFLUID DEVICE FOR CRYSTALLISATION OF PROTEINS IN WEIGHTLESSNESS CONDITIONS Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC C30B30/08 C30B7/00 C30B29/58 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to devices for crystallising protein macromolecules in ground conditions and microgravity conditions (in space). The microfluid device has containers with solutions of different proteins 7, 9, 11 and precipitation agents 8, 10, 12, connected in pairs through separate channels 2, 3, 4, which are fitted with microvalves 13, to crystallisation chambers, wherein the channels 2, 3, 4 are connected to one tubular element 1, inside which are formed separate crystallisation chambers 20-28 for each protein; one end of the tubular element 1 is connected through a microvalve 16 to a micropump 15 which feeds a working medium 19 from a reservoir 14 into the cavity of the tubular element 1, the working medium serving to separate the cavities of crystallisation chambers 20-28, and the other end of the tubular element 1 is connected to a working medium 19 collector 17, wherein separate micropumps 5, 6, operating according to different programs, are used to feed solutions of proteins and precipitation agents through separate channels 2, 3, 4. When using the device, crystals can be fed for subsequent analysis right away without further actions for moving the crystals.

EFFECT: invention enables to conduct experiments for selecting crystallisation conditions and crystallisation of different proteins in one channel owing to a design with parallel and independent micropumps.

4 cl, 1 dwg