COMPOSITE ARRAYS UTILIZING MICROSPHERES WITH A HYBRIDIZATION CHAMBER
The invention relates to sensor compositions comprising a composite array of individual arrays, to allow for simultaneous processing of a number of samples. The invention further provides methods of making and using the composite arrays. The invention further provides a hybridization chamber for use with a composite array.
1 - 50 . (canceled)
51 . A process of forming a plurality of random arrays of encoded particles on a substrate, wherein each of the arrays are formed by random placement of encoded particles, wherein differently encoded particles have a different label, comprising:
(i) placing and confining a group of differently encoded particles into one or more sites on a substrate having a plurality of sites, so as to form a first confined group of particles occupying particular sites;
(ii) recording the positions of the encoded particles within said confined group;
(iii) placing and confining an additional group of differently encoded particles into unoccupied sites on the substrate so as to form an additional group of confined particles occupying particular sites;
(iv) recording the positions of particles within said additional confined group; and
repeating steps (iii) to (iv) several times so as to form a plurality of a random encoded arrays of particles.
52 . The substrate of claim 51 wherein the substrate comprises silicon or doped silicon.
53 . The substrate of claim 51 wherein differently encoded particles have different biological reagents bound thereto.
54 . The process of claim 51 wherein the arrangement of the encoded particles in the sites is random.
55 . The process of claim 51 further comprising the step of affixing the particles onto the substrate.
56 . A method of forming a composite array of randomly distributed, identifiable microspheres on a substrate having a plurality of assay locations, comprising:
(a) randomly distributing a population of microspheres, including subpopulations of microspheres carrying different chemical functionalities, to discrete sites within a first assay location;
(b) determining the location of said subpopulations of microspheres within said first assay location;
(c) randomly distributing a different population of microspheres, including subpopulations of microspheres carrying different chemical functionalities, to discrete sites within a second assay location;
(d) determining the location of said subpopulations of microspheres within said second assay location; and
(e) repeating steps (c) to (d) as many times as necessary so as to form a composite array.
57 . The substrate of claim 56 wherein the substrate comprises silicon or doped silicon.
58 . The substrate of claim 56 wherein differently encoded particles have different biological reagents bound thereto.
59 . The process of claim 56 wherein the arrangement of the encoded particles in the sites is random.
60 . The process of claim 56 further comprising the step of affixing the particles onto the substrate.
61 . A method of forming a composite array of randomly distributed, identifiable microspheres on a substrate having a plurality of assay locations, comprising:
(a) providing a library of microspheres comprising a plurality of sublibraries, wherein each sublibrary further comprises a plurality of subpopulations of uniquely identifiable microspheres;
(b) randomly distributing a first sublibrary, including subpopulations of uniquely identifiable microspheres, to discrete sites within a first assay location;
(c) determining the location of said subpopulations of microspheres within said first assay location;
(d) randomly distributing a second sublibrary of microspheres, including subpopulations of uniquely identifiable microspheres, to discrete sites within a second assay location;
(e) determining the location of said subpopulations of microspheres within said second assay location;
(f) repeating steps (d) to (e) with different sublibraries and assay locations multiple times so as to form a composite array.
62 . The substrate of claim 61 wherein the substrate comprises silicon or doped silicon.
63 . The substrate of claim 61 wherein differently encoded particles have different biological reagents bound thereto.
64 . The process of claim 61 wherein the arrangement of the encoded particles in the sites is random.
65 . The process of claim 61 further comprising the step of affixing the particles onto the substrate.