The present disclosure provides methods, device, and system for wafer processing. The wafer processing apparatus uses lid dispenser to disperse at least one reagent to the surface of the wafer. Further, the wafer is positioned on top of a rotatable vacuum chuck configured to spread at least one reagent over the surface of the wafer via a centrifugal force or surface tension, thereby permitting the at least one reagent to react with an additional reagent. Further, when dispensing the at least one reagent, a separation gap between the lid dispenser and the wafer is at a predetermined distance, for example, from 50 m to 2 mm.

Provided herein are biomolecular hybridization devices comprising a substrate with a permanently and covalently attached surface of functional groups and an adsorbed monolayer of unmodified, single-stranded oligonucleotides all of which are 10 to about 24 bases in length as a saturated film of constrained oligonucleotides on the surface via direct non-covalent phosphate-surface adsorptive contact of substantially all phosphate groups of each oligonucleotide. The constrained oligonucleotides are effective to dissociably hybridize to a complementary single-stranded nucleic acid with asymmetric, non-helical base pairing and without oligonucleotide dissociation from the surface of the device. Also, provided are methods for hybridizing solution-state target nucleic acids to probe nucleic acids and for identifying a nucleotide sequence to which a nucleotide-binding protein binds using the biomolecular hybridization devices.

Complete nucleic acid library preparation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include: a thermal chip module comprising multiple CLC reaction wells; one or more plate locations; a robotically controlled liquid handler configured to transfer liquid between the one or more plate locations and the thermal chip module; and a bulk reagent dispenser configured to access each CLC reaction well of the thermal chip module.

The invention provides a method for lysing a single cell embedded in a tissue from the inside of the cell, and collecting the intracellular lysate for use in analytical methods. This method preserves the state of molecules of the cell, and therefore allows for transformation of a single target cell in live tissue into a format that can be evaluated using analytical methods.

The present invention provides an automated modular system and method for production of biopolymers including DNA and RNA. The system and method automates the complete production process for biopolymers. Modular equipment is provided for performing production steps with the individual modules arrange in a linear array. Each module includes a control system and can be rack mounted. One side of the array of modules provides connections for power, gas, vacuum and reagents and is accessible to technicians. On the other side of the array of modules a robotic transport system is provided for transporting materials between module interfaces. The elimination of the requirement for human intervention at multiple steps in the production process significantly decreases the costs of biopolymer production and reduces unnecessary complexity and sources of quality variation.

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.

The present invention provides an automated modular system and method for production of biopolymers including DNA and RNA. The system and method automates the complete production process for biopolymers. Modular equipment is provided for performing production steps with the individual modules arrange in a linear array. Each module includes a control system and can be rack mounted. One side of the array of modules provides connections for power, gas, vacuum and reagents and is accessible to technicians. On the other side of the array of modules a robotic transport system is provided for transporting materials between module interfaces. The elimination of the requirement for human intervention at multiple steps in the production process significantly decreases the costs of biopolymer production and reduces unnecessary complexity and sources of quality variation.

A method of making an assay device comprising providing micro-elements in the form of micro-particles or micro-length tube detection elements and thereafter with an automated tool, picking and placing the micro-elements into open-sided microfluidic channels in a body.

The invention provides a method for the isolation of a single cell embedded in a tissue while preserving the state of molecules of the cell, and therefore allows for transformation of a single target cell in live tissue into a format that can be evaluated using analytical methods.

A fluid transfer system includes a transfer carousel capable of rotational and/or translational movement; at least one holding vessel (e.g. syringe) having a plunger, wherein the syringe is connected to the transfer carousel such that the movement of the transfer carousel results in movement of the syringe and wherein the syringe is capable of translational movement relative to the transfer carousel; a drive motor connected to the syringe that is capable of controlling the position of the plunger; and a peripheral module comprising at least one vessel that is capable of containing a fluid, wherein the vessel has an opening that can be mated with the syringe to allow fluid transfer between the vessel and the syringe. Methods for transferring a fluid are also disclosed.