Method and apparatus for the rapid disruption of cells or viruses using micro beads and laser

Abstract

A method and apparatus for rapid disruption of cells or viruses using beads and a laser are provided. According to the method and apparatus for rapid disruption of cells or viruses using beads and a laser, cell lysis within 40 seconds is possible, the apparatus can be miniaturized using a laser diode, a DNA purification step can be directly performed after a disruption of cells or viruses, and a solution containing DNA can be transferred to a subsequent step after cell debris and beads to which inhibitors of a subsequent reaction are attached are removed with an electromagnet. In addition, by means of the cell lysis chip, an evaporation problem is solved, vibrations can be efficiently transferred to cells through magnetic beads, a microfluidics problem on a rough surface is solved by hydrophobically treating the inner surface of the chip, and the cell lysis chip can be applied to LOC.

1 . A method of disrupting cells or viruses, the method comprising:
 (i) mixing beads with a solution containing cells or viruses;   (ii) vibrating the beads; and   (iii) irradiating the beads to heat and disrupt the cells or viruses.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein vibrating the beads is performed by a vibrator, the vibrator is a sonicator, a vibrator using a magnetic field, a vibrator using an electric field, a mechanical vibrator, or a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical vibrator has as an axis a body supporting a chamber which contains the mixture, and the mechanical vibrator moves the body clockwise and counterclockwise repeatedly in an angular motion around the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the beads are magnetic beads. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiation is conducted with a laser; the laser being a pulse laser having a power of 1 mJ/pulse or more or a continuous wave (CW) laser having a power of 10 mW or more. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiation is at a wavelength of 400 nm or more. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for disruption of cells or viruses comprising:
 (i) a member for receiving a cell lysis chamber, wherein the cell lysis chamber is for receiving a mixture of beads and a solution containing cells or viruses;   (ii) a vibrator connected to the member for vibrating the beads in the cell lysis chamber; and   (iii) a laser generator for supplying a laser to the cell lysis chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the vibrator is a sonicator, a vibrator using a magnetic field, a vibrator using an electric field, a mechanical vibrator, or a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical vibrator is a rotating motor which takes a body supporting the cell lysis chamber as an axis, and moves in an angular motion clockwise and counterclockwise repeatedly around the axis. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the beads are magnetic beads. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the laser generator is a pulse laser having a power of 1 mJ/pulse or more or a continuous wave (CW) laser having a power of 10 mW or more. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the laser is generated in the wavelength range of 400 nm or more. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the cell lysis chamber is a construct within a disk-shaped plate and the cell lysis chamber is connected to an inlet and an outlet through a channel.