Randomly ordered arrays and methods of making and using

1. A method for detecting a target in a sample, the method comprising steps of

a) providing an array comprising

(i) a substrate; and

(ii) a plurality of microparticles randomly immobilized on the substrate via an immobilization material, wherein each microparticle comprises a self encoding marker and a probe coupled to the microparticle, wherein each self-encoding marker and probe comprises a unique self-encoding marker/probe pair, and wherein the probe is configured and arranged to specifically bind the target;

b) applying the sample suspected of containing the target coupled to a target marker to the array;

c) maintaining the sample and array under conditions to allow binding of the target to the probe; and

d) detecting the self-encoding marker coupled to the microparticle, and detecting the target marker associated with the microparticle

 wherein the immobilization material comprises a reactive polymer, the reactive polymer bound to the substrate, and the microparticles immobilized on the substrate via the reactive polymer; and

 wherein the reactive polymer comprises a photoreactive polymer having at least one photoreactive group and the photoreactive group is selected from the group consisting of aryl ketones, arylazides, acyl azides, sulfonyl azides, phosphoryl azides, diazoalkanes, diazoketones, diazoacetates, and ketenes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactive polymer comprises polymers selected from the group consisting of functionalized polyacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(HEMA), copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the immobilization material is patterned on the substrate to form patches of immobilization material and the microparticles are immobilized on the patches of immobilization material.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality comprises more than one subset of microparticles having unique self-encoding marked probe pairs and the subsets of microparticles are individually disposed on separate patches of immobilization material on the substrate.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of detecting further comprises determining the location of the subset, thereby, in combination with the detection of the self-encoding marker, at least allowing determination of the identity of the probe.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the microparticles are functionalized with a reactive compound and the reactive compound is used to couple the microparticles to the immobilization material, the self-encoding marker, the probe, or any combination of the above.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the reactive compound includes reactive groups selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphoric acids, phosphonic acids, aldehyde groups, amine groups, thiol groups, thiol-reactive groups, and expoxide groups.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the probe is an antibody probe and the target is a molecule present in the sample that is specifically recognized by the antibody.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the self-encoding marker comprises at least one detectable particle.

10. The method of the claim 9 wherein the at least one detectable particle is selected from the group consisting of fluorophores, quantum dots, radioisotopes, and magnetic particles.