The New "Tango Array" Makes All the Difference
by Tazneena Ishaque (Class of '05)
References:
With great teamwork Princeton scientists have invented a device that speedily sorts microscopic particles into extremely fine degrees of sizes. Until before the invention there was no way to sort large quantities of molecules or cells by size with such speed and precision. The Princeton invention can distinguish large quantities of particles "that are 1.00 micrometer from others that are 1.005 microns in a matter of seconds" ("Tiny Tango device speeds sorting micro particles"). The device has been nicknamed the "tango array" and it is viewed as a very important advancement.
The discovery was led by Lotien R. Huang, a postdoctoral researcher in electrical engineering, who worked together with James Sturm, professor of electrical engineering, Robert Austin, a professor of physics, and Edward Cox, a professor of molecular biology. In the past, they have produced a variety of devices for sorting particles, but none of them were as fast and precise as the tango array. Lotien R. Huang started this project when he was challenged by one of his colleagues to "come up with a mathematical description of how his earlier attempts at sorting devices worked: if he altered a device, could he predict exactly how its performance would change?" ("Tiny Tango device speeds sorting micro particles"). At first, Huang thought it would be impossible to come up with such a model, but within days Huang was not only able to obtain a mathematical theory, but also formulated an idea of making a new device that had absolutely no substitution between speed and accuracy. The device was very impressive as it was able to separate particles by size in minutes and the operation was also very simple.
The tango array has opened up a range of possible uses for the future. The device consists of an arrangement of microscopic pillars carved into silicon. Then air from a syringe forces a liquid suspension of particles through the pillar arrangement, which guides the particles into different paths. When the particles appear from the pillar, they have been sorted into channels according to size. The device works in an exceptional way because the arrangement of pillars forces particles along completely fixed paths unlike previous models which required particles to spread randomly.
This new invention will greatly help to speed up and expand many areas of biological research. It could largely replace many of the devices that are commonly used to separate cells and molecules by mass. "A primary use could be in sorting segments of DNA according to their length, which is a key step in genome sequencing efforts. Another use may be in distinguishing one type of virus from another, because many viruses have a unique size, slightly different from other viruses," said the researchers. ("Tiny Tango device speeds sorting micro particles") This truly is a big step for the scientific world and will help make much advancement.
The discovery was led by Lotien R. Huang, a postdoctoral researcher in electrical engineering, who worked together with James Sturm, professor of electrical engineering, Robert Austin, a professor of physics, and Edward Cox, a professor of molecular biology. In the past, they have produced a variety of devices for sorting particles, but none of them were as fast and precise as the tango array. Lotien R. Huang started this project when he was challenged by one of his colleagues to "come up with a mathematical description of how his earlier attempts at sorting devices worked: if he altered a device, could he predict exactly how its performance would change?" ("Tiny Tango device speeds sorting micro particles"). At first, Huang thought it would be impossible to come up with such a model, but within days Huang was not only able to obtain a mathematical theory, but also formulated an idea of making a new device that had absolutely no substitution between speed and accuracy. The device was very impressive as it was able to separate particles by size in minutes and the operation was also very simple.
The tango array has opened up a range of possible uses for the future. The device consists of an arrangement of microscopic pillars carved into silicon. Then air from a syringe forces a liquid suspension of particles through the pillar arrangement, which guides the particles into different paths. When the particles appear from the pillar, they have been sorted into channels according to size. The device works in an exceptional way because the arrangement of pillars forces particles along completely fixed paths unlike previous models which required particles to spread randomly.
This new invention will greatly help to speed up and expand many areas of biological research. It could largely replace many of the devices that are commonly used to separate cells and molecules by mass. "A primary use could be in sorting segments of DNA according to their length, which is a key step in genome sequencing efforts. Another use may be in distinguishing one type of virus from another, because many viruses have a unique size, slightly different from other viruses," said the researchers. ("Tiny Tango device speeds sorting micro particles") This truly is a big step for the scientific world and will help make much advancement.
References:
- Tiny Tango device speeds sorting micro particles, good as of 11/13/05
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