Micro-screening apparatus, process, and products
Microcavity arrays and methods for quantitative biochemical and biophysical analysis of populations of biological variants. Examples include high-throughput analysis of cells and protein products use a range of fluorescent assays, including binding-affinity measurement and time-resolved enzyme assays. Laser-based extraction of microcavity contents.
1. A method for extracting the contents of a cavity of a microcavity array, the method comprising:
focusing electromagnetic radiation from a pulsed diode laser at an electromagnetic radiation absorbing material associated with the cavity, wherein the pulsed diode laser delivers electromagnetic radiation to the material in 2-20 pulses having pulse length of 1-10 milliseconds with a pulse separation of 10 to 100 millisecond;
extracting the contents of a cavity comprising cells from at least one cavity of the array onto a capture surface; and
contacting the capture surface with a culture matrix comprising media that sustains the viability of the cells.
2. The method of claim 1 , where the culture matrix comprises agarose.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation absorbing material comprises microparticles in the cavity.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the array is constructed of an opaque material comprising a lead glass that has been reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser is focused at a surface of the material in contact with a liquid in the cavity.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser directs the focus of the electromagnetic radiation at the material located at a meniscus of the liquid.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focusing of the electromagnetic radiation at the material comprises applying the electromagnetic radiation to the radiation absorbing material to avoid heating a liquid that is not in contact with the material.