Focused acoustic energy in the preparation of peptide arrays

1. A method for preparing an array comprised of a plurality of peptidic molecules attached to a substrate surface, the method comprising applying focused acoustic energy to each of a plurality of reservoirs each containing a peptidic molecule in a fluid, wherein the distance between the centers of any two adjacent reservoirs is less than about 1 centimeter, and the focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner effective to eject a droplet from each reservoir toward a different site on a substrate surface, wherein the peptidic molecules are selected from the group consisting of pharmacologically active peptides, polypeptides, and proteins.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied to each of the plurality of reservoirs by (a) acoustically coupling each reservoir in succession to an ejector that produces acoustic radiation; and (b) following each acoustic coupling step, activating the ejector to generate acoustic radiation having a focal point sufficiently near the fluid surface so as to eject a fluid droplet from the reservoir toward a designated site on the substrate surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each peptidic molecule is comprised of about 5 to about 10,000 amino acids.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each peptidic molecule is comprised of about 5 to about 1,000 amino acids.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each peptidic molecule is an oligopeptide, a polypeptide or protein.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each peptidic molecule is selected from the group consisting of enzymes, antibodies, antigens, coagulation modulators, cytokines, endorphins, peptidyl hormones and kinins.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each peptidic molecule is different.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the centers of any two reservoirs is less than about 1 millimeter.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the distance between the centers of any two reservoirs is less than about 0.5 millimeter.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid has a viscosity of at least about 40 cP.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fluid has a viscosity of at least about 100 cP.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid has a viscosity of at least about 1000 cP.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the reservoirs is adapted to contain more than about 100 nanoliters of fluid.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the reservoirs is adapted to contain more than about 10 nanoliters of fluid.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the reservoirs are adapted to contain more than 100 nanoliters of fluid.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reservoirs are adapted to contain more than about 100 nanoliters of fluid.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein each of the ejected droplets has a volume of about 1 pL or less.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the ejected droplets has a volume in the range of about 0.025 pL to about 1 pL.

19. A method for preparing a peptide array comprised of a plurality of peptidic molecules attached to a substrate surface, the method comprising:

(a) acoustically coupling a first reservoir containing a first peptidic molecule in a first fluid to an ejector that produces acoustic radiation;

(b) activating the ejector to generate acoustic radiation having a focal point sufficiently near the surface of the first fluid so as to eject a droplet thereof toward a first site on the substrate surface;

(c) acoustically coupling a second reservoir containing a second peptidic molecule in a second fluid to the ejector;

(d) activating the ejector as in step (b) to eject a droplet of the second fluid from the second reservoir toward a second site on the substrate surface; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) with additional reservoirs each containing a peptidic molecule in a fluid until a droplet has been ejected from each reservoir;

wherein the peptidic molecules are selected from the group consisting of pharmacologically active peptides, polypeptides, and proteins.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the time period between activation steps is no longer than about 1 second.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the time period between activation steps is no longer than about 0.1 second.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the time period between activation steps is no longer than about 0.01 second.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the time period between activation steps is no longer than about 0.001 second.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein steps (b) and (d) result in attachment of the first and second peptidic molecules, respectively, to the first and second sites on the substrate surface.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the attachment is covalent.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the attachment is noncovalent.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein each peptidic molecule is comprised of about 5 to about 10,000 amino acids.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein each peptidic molecule is comprised of about 5 to about 1,000 amino acids.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein each peptidic molecule is an oligopeptide, a polypeptide or protein.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein each peptidic molecule is selected from the group consisting of enzymes, antibodies, antigens, coagulation modulators, cytokines, endorphins, peptidyl hormones and kinins.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein each peptidic molecule is different.

32. The method of either claim 1 or claim 19 , wherein the substrate surface is activated as a result of pretreatment with an activating agent.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the activating agent is cyanogen bromide, tresyl chloride or N-hydroxysuccinimide.

34. The method of either claim 1 or claim 19 , wherein the substrate surface is comprised of a porous material.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the porous material is a permeable material.