A method of preparing a discrete polymer network array include mixing a plurality of nucleic acid polymer networks with a plurality of color-activated polymer networks to form a dispersion, applying the dispersion to an array of wells, the nucleic acid polymer networks selectively depositing into wells of the array of wells, and rinsing the array of wells to selectively remove the plurality of color-activated polymer networks.

Provided are methods of producing size-selected nucleic acid libraries. The methods include contacting a nucleic acid sample and a nucleic acid binding reagent including an affinity tag, under conditions in which nucleic acids of less than a desired length are substantially bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent and nucleic acids of the desired length are substantially not bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent. The conditions include the duration of the contacting, the concentration of the nucleic acid binding reagent, or both. The methods further include separating, using the affinity tag, the nucleic acids of less than the desired length bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent from the nucleic acids of the desired length not bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent, to produce a size-selected nucleic acid library. Compositions and kits that find use, e.g., in practicing the methods of the present disclosure, are also provided.

Protein arrays and their use to assay, in a parallel fashion, the protein products of highly homologous or related DNA coding sequences and described. By highly homologous or related it is meant those DNA coding sequences which share a common sequence and which differ only by one or more naturally occurring mutations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, deletions or insertions, or those sequences which are considered to be haplotypes. Such highly homologous or related DNA coding sequences are generally naturally occurring variants of the same gene. Arrays according to the invention have two or more individual proteins deposited in a spatially defined pattern on a surface in a form whereby a property such as an activity or function of the proteins can be investigated or assayed in parallel by interrogation of the array.

A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system and method for making the same is disclosed in which microspheres or particles carrying bioactive agents may be combined randomly or in ordered fashion and dispersed on a substrate to form an array while maintaining the ability to identify the location of bioactive agents and particles within the array using an optically interrogatable, optical signature encoding scheme. A wide variety of modified substrates may be employed which provide either discrete or non-discrete sites for accommodating the microspheres in either random or patterned distributions. The substrates may be constructed from a variety of materials to form either two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations. In a preferred embodiment, a modified fiber optic bundle or array is employed as a substrate to produce a high density array. The disclosed system and method have utility for detecting target analytes and screening large libraries of bioactive agents.

Positioning structures in at least one indentation present on a or in a support, wherein said indentation is an indentation having a diameter in the nanometer range, makes it possible to position the structure in the indentation substantially centrally with defined orientation. A support having at least one indentation, wherein the indentation has a size in the nanometer range, includes a predetermined structure which is arranged substantially centrally within said indentation and which optionally has a functional unit diametrically opposite to the side pointing to the bottom surface. The arrangement is especially suitable for single molecule analysis and, here especially, for single molecule sequencing and other high-throughput methods.

A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system and method for making the same is disclosed in which microspheres or particles carrying bioactive agents may be combined randomly or in ordered fashion and dispersed on a substrate to form an array while maintaining the ability to identify the location of bioactive agents and particles within the array using an optically interrogatable, optical signature encoding scheme. A wide variety of modified substrates may be employed which provide either discrete or non-discrete sites for accommodating the microspheres in either random or patterned distributions. The substrates may be constructed from a variety of materials to form either two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations. In a preferred embodiment, a modified fiber optic bundle or array is employed as a substrate to produce a high density array. The disclosed system and method have utility for detecting target analytes and screening large libraries of bioactive agents.

An article such as a biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon is described. The article comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; (c) a polymer layer comprising brush molecules formed on the linking layer; and (d) optionally but preferably, a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) coupled to the brush molecules. The polymer layer is preferably formed by the process of surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of monomeric units thereon. Preferably, each of the monomeric units comprises a monomer (for example, a vinyl monomer) core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form the brush molecule on the surface portion. Methods of using the articles are also described.

A method for immobilizing an analyte-recognizing molecule (1) on a surface (2) functionalized with chemical groups Y.sup.1 suitable for reacting with a chemical group X.sup.2 of a coupling molecule (7) to form a reaction product comprising a chemical group Y.sup.2 suitable for reacting with the analyte-recognizing molecule (1), the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing the functionalized surface (2), b) Contacting the functionalized surface (2) with a solution (6) comprising simultaneously: i) The coupling molecule (7), and ii) The analyte-recognizing molecule (1).

A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system and method for making the same is disclosed in which microspheres or particles carrying bioactive agents may be combined randomly or in ordered fashion and dispersed on a substrate to form an array while maintaining the ability to identify the location of bioactive agents and particles within the array using an optically interrogatable, optical signature encoding scheme. A wide variety of modified substrates may be employed which provide either discrete or non-discrete sites for accommodating the microspheres in either random or patterned distributions. The substrates may be constructed from a variety of materials to form either two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations. In a preferred embodiment, a modified fiber optic bundle or array is employed as a substrate to produce a high density array. The disclosed system and method have utility for detecting target analytes and screening large libraries of bioactive agents.

The invention provides apparatuses and methods for acoustically ejecting the fluid from a reservoir contained in or disposed on a substrate. The reservoir has a portion adapted to contain a fluid, and an acoustic radiation generator is positioned in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir. Acoustic radiation generated by the acoustic radiation generator is transmitted through at least the portion of the reservoir to an analyzer. The analyzer is capable of determining the energy level of the transmitted acoustic radiation and raising the energy level of subsequent pulses to a level sufficient to eject fluid droplets from the reservoir. The invention is particularly suited for delivering fluid from a plurality of reservoirs in an accurate and efficient manner.