Bead based assays using a liquid crystal reporter

1. A system comprising:

a) magnetic beads functionalized with a recognition moiety;

b) a substrate that orients liquids crystals;

c) a magnet having a magnetic field;

d) a tube; and

e) a pump;

wherein said pump is fluidically connected to said tube and said tube is positioned to be exposed to said magnetic field of said magnet, said tube has an inner surface with a diameter so that the surface tension energy of a fluid plug within the tube is larger than the surface energy of the tube so that a pressure gradient between the two ends of the tube established by said pump induces movement of the fluid plugs inside the tube without wetting said inner surface, and said tube is positioned to deposit a fluid plug on said substrate that orients liquid crystals.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said magnet is selected from the group consisting of a permanent magnet and electric magnet.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said tube is movable with respect to said magnet.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said tube is rotatable.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said magnetic beads are located in said tube so as to be attractable by said magnet.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of a polyimide coated substrate, an anisotropic gold substrate, and a rubbed substrate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises microfluidic channels that orient liquid crystals.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said tube is made from a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a stamp.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising mesogens.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said mesogens are selected from the group consisting of 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl, N-(4methoxybenzylidene)-4-butlyaniline and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said recognition moiety is selected from the group consisting of a protein, peptide, polypeptide, nucleic acid, carbohydrate and organic compounds.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein said analyte is selected from the group consisting of a protein, peptide, polypeptide, nucleic acid, carbohydrate and organic compounds.

15. A method comprising:

1) providing a sample suspected of containing an analyte, magnetic beads functionalized with a recognition moiety; a substrate that orients liquids crystals; a magnet having a magnetic field; a tube and a pump wherein said pump is fluidically connected to said tube and said tube is positioned to be exposed to said magnetic field of said magnet, said tube has an inner surface with a diameter so that the surface tension energy of a fluid plug within the tube is larger than the surface energy of the tube so that a pressure gradient between the two ends of the tube established by said pump induces movement of the fluid plugs inside the tube without wetting said inner surface, and said tube is positioned to deposit a fluid plug on said substrate that orients liquid crystals;

2) contacting said magnetic beads with said sample by advancing a fluid plug containing said sample through said tube under conditions such that said analyte binds to said recognition moiety;

3) attracting said beads with said magnet;

4) washing said magnetic beads by advancing a fluid plug of washing buffer through said tube so that said magnetic beads are contacted by said washing buffer;

5) eluting said analyte from said beads by advancing a fluid plug of elution buffer through said tube so that said magnetic beads are contacted by said elution buffer;

6) depositing said elution buffer containing said analyte onto to said substrate; and

7) contacting said substrate with said mesogens under conditions such that the presence of said analyte on said substrate can be detected.