Surface Modification in a Manipulation Chamber

1 .- 42 . (canceled)

43 . A method of selectively binding a biological material to an area on a surface comprising:

coating a surface with a surface material having a lower critical solution temperature in the range of between 5° C. and 82° C.; and

adjusting the temperature of the area to change the adhesion of the biological material to the surface.

44 . The method of claim 43 wherein the material is a polyacrylamide, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), or polyacrylamide derivative.

45 . The method of claim 44 wherein the polyacrylamide derivative is an N-substituted variant of acrylamide or methacrylamide

46 . The method of claim 45 wherein the N-substituted acrylamide is

wherein R 1 is selected from hydrogen (H), methyl (Me), or ethyl (Et) and R 2 is selected from ethyl (Et), propyl (Pro), iso-propyl (Iso-pro), Methoxypropyl, or methyl (Me).

47 . The method of claim 45 wherein the N-substituted acrylamide is

wherein R 3 is selected from

48 . The method of claim 45 wherein the methacrylamide is a co-monomer.

49 . The method of claim 45 wherein the methacrylamide is selected from (meth)acrylic acid, esters of (meth)acrylic acid, (meth) acrylamide, substituted (meth)acrylamides, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate (HEMA), N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), other vinyl monomers, or combinations thereof.

50 . The method of claim 43 wherein adjusting the temperature comprises increasing the temperature of the material to increase adsorption of the biological material.

51 . The method of claim 43 wherein adjusting the temperature comprises decreasing the temperature of the material to increase detachment of the biological material.

52 . The method of claim 43 wherein the biological material is selected from biological molecules, cells, cell aggregates, organelles, stem cells, nucleic acids, bacteria, protozoans, viruses, or any combination thereof.

53 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface material includes from about 5 to about 1000 repeating units.

54 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface material is bioconjugated with a biomolecule.

55 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface material includes a carboxylic moiety.

56 . The method of claim 55 wherein the carboxylic moiety is poly(ethylene glycol).

57 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface is a metal electrode.

58 . The method of claim 57 wherein the metal electrode is a gold electrode.

59 . The method of claim 58 wherein the gold electrode is transparent.

60 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface is selected from at least one of gold, indium tin oxide, or aluminum.

61 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface includes two electrodes.

62 . The method of claim 61 wherein a power source is in electrical communication with the two electrodes.

63 . The method of claim 62 wherein the power source is selected from a DC or an AC power source.

64 . The method of claim 43 wherein the surface further comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoconductive material, a plurality of discrete areas, and optionally a transparent layer grafted with at least one of a carboxylic moiety, an amino moiety, a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety, a polymer of (poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether)acrylate, a poly(2-hydroxyethyl-(meth)acrylate), a poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), a poly(N-vinylformamide), a poly(N-vinylformamide) derivative, a poly(meth)acrylamide), and a poly((meth)acrylamide) derivative.

65 . A method of selecting at least a portion of a biological material in a sample comprising:

a. raising the temperature of a surface to adhere biological material located in the sample, wherein the surface is coated with a surface material having a lower critical solution temperature in the range of between 5° C. and 82° C. and

b. cooling an area of the surface to which a portion of biological material is located to release the biological material from the surface.

66 . The method of claim 65 further comprising removing the released biological material from the proximity of the surface.

67 . The method of claim 65 further comprising applying a stain to the biological material to identify at least one area of the surface to be cooled.

68 . The method of claim 65 wherein the biological material is cells.

69 . A method of sorting biological material in a sample comprising:

a. coating a surface with a material having a lower critical solution temperature in the range of between 5° C. and 82° C.;

b. introducing a sample to the coated surface;

c. sorting the biological material into areas;

d. increasing the temperature of the surface to adhere the biological material to the surface; and

e. decreasing the temperature of the areas of the surface where non-desired biological material is located.

70 . The method of claim 69 wherein decreasing the temperature of the areas releases the non-desired material from the surface.

71 . The method of claim 69 wherein sorting includes scanning a light source across the surface to sort the material.

72 . The method of claim 71 wherein the scanning includes changing the applied field or frequency of the light source.

73 . A method of selectively binding a biological material to an area on a surface comprising:

coating a surface with a surface material exhibiting thermally reversible solubility in water; and

adjusting the temperature of the area to change the adhesion of the biological material to the surface.