CREATION OF LIBRARIES OF DROPLETS AND RELATED SPECIES
The present invention is generally related to systems and methods for producing a plurality of droplets. The droplets may contain varying species, e.g., for use as a library. In some cases, the fluidic droplets may be rigidified to form rigidified droplets (e.g., gel droplets). In certain embodiments, the droplets may undergo a phase change (e.g., from rigidified droplets to fluidized droplets), as discussed more herein. In some cases, a species may be added internally to a droplet by exposing the droplet to a fluid comprising a plurality of species.
1 .- 74 . (canceled)
75 . A method, comprising:
providing a suspension comprising at least some droplets of a first and second groups of species-containing droplets,
wherein the first group of species-containing droplets comprises a first plurality of rigidified droplets, the rigidified droplets comprising a first species and being formed from a fluidic droplet comprising a first fluid;
wherein the second group of species-containing droplets comprises a second plurality of rigidified droplets, the rigidified droplets comprising a second species distinguishable from the first species and being formed from a fluidic droplet comprising the first fluid;
wherein the first and second groups of species-containing droplets are suspended in a second fluid:
fluidizing the suspension of rigidified droplets to form a plurality of fluidized droplets.
76 . The method of claim 75 , further comprising the step of fusing at least some of the plurality of fluidized droplets with a plurality of microfluidic droplets.
78 . The method of claim 75 or 76 , wherein the plurality of microfluidic droplets each comprise at least one target analyte molecule.
79 . The method of claim 78 , further comprising the step of determining the target analyte molecule.
80 . The method of claim 78 , wherein the target analyte molecule is a nucleic acid.
82 . The method of claim 78 , further comprising the step of determining the sequence of the nucleic acid probe.
83 .- 155 . (canceled)