BACKGROUND

The disclosed technology generally relates to modified pipette tips. Pipette tips have been used to manipulate liquid samples for decades. In certain circumstances, it is desirable to provide a pipette tip that may be used with conventional microtiter tubes, standard sized test tubes and microtiter plates. However, pipetting operations conducted with microtiter tubes and test tubes are normally carried out using single channel pipettors while pipetting activities conducted with microtiter plates are typically performed using multichannel pipettors.

Cell-based screens are routinely performed by either quantitative analysis of images acquired by a high-throughput microscope platform or by direct quantification of whole-well signals using a plate reader. Operational ease, simple data output, and over a decade of use in high throughput screens have established the plate reader as a workhorse technology.

Viable intact hepatocytes, isolated from human or laboratory animal livers, offer an experimental model for phase I and phase II drug metabolism studies, as well as enzyme induction studies. Isolated and cultured hepatocytes are also an appropriate model for studying overall liver function. Fresh hepatocytes are obtainable only from liver resections or non-transplantable livers of organ donors. Thus, the availability of viable, fresh liver tissue from humans is inconsistent and overall fairly limited, thus limiting the ability to conduct experiments using such a system, because availability does not always coincide with when such cells are needed. When tissue does become available, the isolated hepatocytes must be cryopreserved and banked for later use.

What is needed in the art are modified pipette tips, methods, and systems thereof, that allow for the precise storage and transportation of cells. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the various embodiments described below are presented.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, the disclosed technology relates to a pipette comprising: a tip with a defined opening for a biological and/or chemical sample; and a securing structure extending from the end of the tip and in communication with the opening, the securing structure having at least one mechanical securing member that is configured to secure the biological and/or chemical sample at the tip. In one embodiment, the at least one mechanical securing member can comprise single, or a plurality, of prong member(s) or claw-type member(s) that are configured to mechanically secure the biological and/or chemical sample. The at least one mechanical securing member can comprise a plurality of prong members and/or claw-type members oriented to substantially surround and hold the biological and/or chemical sample between the members. In another embodiment, the at least one mechanical securing member comprises securing member portions that at least partially define an opening therebetween for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample. The securing structure can comprise defined from one side of the pipette through to an opposite side of the pipette, for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample at the one side of the pipette or the other side of the pipette. The at least one mechanical securing member can comprise a securing member portions that at least partially define an opening therebetween for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample. In one embodiment, the securing member portions can comprise two side portions extending to a solid end tip portion. The opening of the pipette of the securing structure can be substantially rectangular or circular in shape. The securing structure can be configured to protect the secured sample from mechanical stress. The tip and securing structure can be configured to permit the pipette to be insertable and removable into and out of a well of a plate for testing and/or transporting the biological and/or chemical sample. The plate can be a microtiter plate with a plurality of wells. In certain embodiments, the biological and/or chemical sample can be formed as a droplet on the end of the tip and is secured by the securing structure. The biological and/or chemical sample can comprise biological cells, which can be encapsulated within a gel material, such as a gelled agarose cell bead. The pipette can be configured to aspirate a biological and/or chemical sample into the pipette and deliver a biological and/or chemical sample to the tip and into a position to be secured by the securing structure. The securing structure can be configured to adhere the biological and/or chemical sample thereto. At least one mechanical securing member can comprised of a biocompatible material.

In another aspect, disclosed herein is a method, comprising: securing a biological and/or chemical sample by a securing structure of a pipette, the securing structure comprising at least one mechanical securing member that is configured to mechanically secure the sample at the tip of the pipette, wherein the securing structure extends from the end of the tip and is in communication with an opening defined at the tip for receiving and/or delivering a biological and/or chemical sample. Securing the biological and/or chemical sample by the securing structure of the pipette can, in one embodiment, include aspirating or adhering a biological and/or chemical sample into the pipette and delivering a biological and/or chemical sample to the tip and into a position to be secured by the securing structure. In one embodiment, securing the biological and/or chemical sample by the securing structure of the pipette comprises aspirating a biological and/or chemical sample into the pipette and delivering a biological and/or chemical sample to the tip and into a position to be secured by the securing structure. This can comprise adhering the sample thereto. The biological and/or chemical sample can biological cells encapsulated within a gel material. In one embodiment, the method further comprises curing the gel material with the encapsulated cells by exposure to at least one of low temperature, light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and pH neutralization. The method can also further comprise inserting the pipette with the secured sample into a well of a plate for testing and/or transporting the sample. In one embodiment, the well can have a biological and/or chemical testing agent for interacting with the secured sample. The secured sample can be retained by the securing structure for at least a part of the testing. At least one mechanical securing member can comprise a single, or a plurality, of prong member(s) or claw-type member(s) that are configured to mechanically secure the biological and/or chemical sample. The securing structure can comprise an opening defined from one side of the pipette through to an opposite side of the pipette, for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample at the one side of the pipette or the other side of the pipette. The at least one mechanical securing member can comprise securing member portions that at least partially define an opening therebetween for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample. The securing member portions can comprise two side portions extending to a solid end tip portion. The opening of the securing structure can be substantially rectangular or circular in shape.

In yet another aspect, disclosed herein is a system for testing and/or transporting a biological and/or chemical sample, comprising: a plate comprising a plurality of wells; a plurality of pipettes, each pipette being configured to be insertable into and removable from a respective well of the plurality of wells, wherein each of the pipettes comprises: a tip with a defined opening for a biological and/or chemical sample, and a securing structure extending from the end of the tip and in communication with the opening, the securing structure having at least one mechanical securing member that is configured to secure the biological and/or chemical sample at the tip. In one embodiment, the at least one mechanical securing member comprises a single, or a plurality of prong member(s) or claw-type member(s) that is configured to mechanically secure the biological and/or chemical sample. The securing structure can comprise an opening defined from one side of the pipette through to an opposite side of the pipette, for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample at the one side of the pipette or the other side of the pipette. At least one mechanical securing member can comprise securing member portions that at least partially define an opening therebetween for receiving the biological and/or chemical sample. The securing member portions can comprise two side portions extending to a solid end tip portion. The opening of the securing structure can be substantially rectangular or circular in shape. At least one of the plurality of wells can comprise a biological and/or chemical testing agent for interacting with the biological and/or chemical sample secured by the securing structure of a respective pipette. At least one of the plurality of wells is configured for receiving a respective pipette for transportation to a means for testing the secured biological and/or chemical sample.

Other aspects and features according to the disclosed technology will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

