Microwell array articles and methods of use
The disclosure provides microstructured articles and methods useful for detecting an analyte in a sample. The articles include microwell arrays. The articles can be used with an optical system component in methods to detect or characterize an analyte.
1. A method of detecting an analyte in a microwell array, comprising:
providing
a sample suspected of containing an analyte;
a reagent for the optical detection of the analyte;
an optical detection system; and
an article, comprising
a microstructured layer with upper and lower major surfaces, comprising a plurality of optically-isolated microwells extending below the upper major surface; and
an optically-transmissive flexible layer coupled to the lower major surface of the microstructured layer;
wherein each microwell in the microstructured layer comprises an opening, an optically-transmissive bottom wall, and at least one side wall extending between the opening and the bottom wall;
wherein a thickness (t) is defined by a thickness of the bottom wall plus a thickness of the optically-transmissive flexible layer; and
wherein t is about 2 μm to about 55 μm;
contacting the sample and the reagent in at least one microwells under conditions suitable to detect the analyte, if present, in the at least one microwells; and
using the optical detection system to detect the presence or absence of the analyte in a microwell.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is optically coupled to a substrate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system comprises a fiber optic face plate and wherein using the optical detection system comprises passing a signal through the fiber optic face plate.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system comprises a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or a photomultiplier tube.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system further comprises a processor.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence or absence of an analyte comprises detecting light that is indicative of the presence of the analyte.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein detecting light comprises detecting light by absorbance, reflectance, or fluorescence.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting light comprises detecting light from a lumigenic reaction.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence or absence of the analyte comprises obtaining an image of a microwell.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the presence or absence of the analyte comprises displaying, analyzing, or printing the image of a microwell.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting the sample and the reagent in a plurality of microwells under conditions suitable to detect the analyte comprises an enzyme and an enzyme substrate.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting the sample and the reagent in a plurality of microwells under conditions suitable to detect the analyte comprises forming a hybrid between two polynucleotides.