Caltech/Slipchip - Oct 2012 Marblar competition

1. Slip Chip
Rustem Ismagilov (Caltech)
Feng Shen (SlipChip LLC)
Sponsored by:

2. SlipChip

3. What’s the point?
• Robust & simple lab-on-a-chip system
• Can perform many reactions in parallel in a
small volume
• We’ll walk you through one specific example:
Digital PCR, which can can be used to
quantify DNA very simply and over a huge
range of concentrations

4. Operation of the SlipChip for multiplex reactions
Also check out the video to see it in action

5. SlipChip for Detection of Pathogens in Blood Infection Using
Panels of Preloaded Reagents with (+/-) Controls
C. P.
384 × 7 nL wells MS MR a lb ae
SA i ca r ug
SA ns i no
~ 7 cells per well s a
Shen F., Du W., Davydova K.E., Karymov A. Simple readout for a test for multiple
M., Ismagilov F. R., Anal. Chem. 82, 2010 relevant pathogens  great for a
4606-4612
clinical setting

6. Example Application: DNA Quantification with Digital PCR
• Split up a DNA sample and perform
PCR on each well – if it lights up, it
contains DNA
• Gradually dilute it – at lower
concentrations have only one strand
per well  can get the concentration
by simply counting the lit-up wells
(thus “digital” PCR)
Lab Chip, 2010, 10, 2666-2672

7. Improving digital PCR further
Can expand the dynamic range of digital PCR (see previous slide)
by using multiple well volumes on the same chip.

8. Multiple digital PCR experiments on each chip
Test 5 samples/measurement Dynamic range from
simultaneously in different 40 copies per mL to
section of the chip ~10,000,000 copies per mL
JACS 2011 133: 17705-17712

9. See the full capability in action
Internal Control
HCV Negative Control
HCV measurement
HIV Negative Control
HIV viral load measurement • Digital PCR allows simple DNA quantification
by counting lit wells
• Multi-volume chip for huge dynamic range of
measurable concentrations
• Run different experiments in different
sections of the chip

10. Where does this leave us?
• We’ve developed a pretty cool new way to carry out a lot of parallel
small-volume reactions on a simple chip
• The system is really flexible – the kinds of reactions possible simply
depend on how the chip is made and what you load it with
• We’ve used it for a few biological assays – much like the digital
PCR we showed here.
• We’re hoping you could help us:
• Find some relevant settings to use the assays we listed in
the “potential applications” box on the challenge page
• Think up some new assays to use the SlipChip for
• Get creative with some completely new things our
technology makes possible!
• And don’t forget – check out the video!

11. Says thanks to the inventors:
Sponsored by