Microvolume crystallization method employing multiple lumens

1. A method for determining crystallization conditions for a material, the method comprising:

taking a microfluidic device comprising one or more lumens having microvolume dimensions and a plurality of different crystallization samples within at least one of the lumens, the plurality of different crystallization samples being separated from each other within the lumen by one or more dividers, the plurality of crystallization samples comprising a material to be crystallized and crystallization conditions that vary among the plurality of crystallization samples;

transporting the plurality of different crystallization samples within the lumens; and

identifying a precipitate or crystal formed in the one or more lumens.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein transporting the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens is performed by a method selected from the group consisting of electrophoresis, electroosmotic flow and physical pumping.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein transporting the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens is performed by electrokinetic material transport.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the material to be crystallized is a macromolecule.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the material to be crystallized is a protein.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the material to be crystallized is a macromolecule with a molecular weight of at least 500 daltons.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the material to be crystallized is selected from the group consisting of viruses, proteins, peptides, nucleosides, nucleotides, ribonucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acids.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the material to be crystallized contains at least two or more materials selected from the group consisting of viruses, proteins, peptides, nucleosides, nucleotides, ribonucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acids, small molecules, drugs, putative drugs, inorganic compounds, metal salts, organometallic compounds and elements.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more lumens have a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more lumens have a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more lumens have a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more divider are formed of an impermeable material.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the impermeable material is an impermeable liquid.

14. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the impermeable material is an impermeable solid.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more dividers are formed of a permeable material.

16. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more dividers are formed of a semimpermeable material.

17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the semipermeable material is a gas.

18. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the semipermeable material is a liquid.

19. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the semipermeable material is a gel.

20. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the one or more divders form an interface selected from the group consisting of liquid/liquid, liquid/gas interface, liquid/solid and liquid/sol-gel interface.

21. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more dividers are selected from the group consisting of a membrane, gel, frit, and matrix.

22. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more dividers function to modulate diffusion characteristics between adjacent crystallization samples.

23. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more dividers are formed of a semipermeable material that allows diffusion between adjacent crystallization samples.

24. A method according to claim 1 , further including forming the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens.

25. A method for determining crystallization conditions for a material, the method comprising:

taking a microfluidic device comprising one or more lumens having microvolume dimensions and a plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens, the plurality of crystallization samples comprising a material to be crystallized and crystallization conditions that vary among the plurality of crystallization samples;

transporting the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens;

identifying a precipitate or crystal formed in the one or more lumens; and

performing a spectroscopic analysis on the identified precipitate or crystal while within the lumen.

26. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the spectroscopic analysis is selected from the group consisting of Raman, UV/VIS, IR, and x-ray spectroscopy.

27. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the spectroscopic analysis is x-ray spectroscopy.

28. A method according to claim 27 , wherein the x-ray spectroscopy is x-ray diffraction.

29. A method according to claim 25 , further including forming the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens.

30. A method according to claim 25 , wherein a plurality of crystallization samples are comprised in at least one lumen.

31. A method according to claim 25 , wherein transporting the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens is performed by eletrokinetic. material transport.

32. A method according to claim 25 , wherein transporting the plurality of different crystallization samples within the one or more lumens is performed by a method selected from the group consisting of electrophoresis, electroosmotic flow and physical pumping.