A method and an array filling system for loading a plurality of disparate sample containers, the sample containers comprising an integral structure. Each receptacle is characterized by a hydrophilic surface,, and the receptacles are separated by a hydrophobic surface. The system has a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid and adapted for motion to cause sequential communication of liquid held in the liquid transfer device with successive receptacles of the array by dragging the liquid across the hydrophobic surface.

The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, and articles for extracting restrained liquid (e.g., surface tension-restrained liquid) from open wells in a chip, where the restrained liquid does not flow out of the wells due to gravity when the wells are held upside down. For example, the present invention provides extraction fixtures that may be attached to, and/or held adjacent to, a chip such that any restrained liquid that is forced out of the open wells is collected by, or flows through, the extraction fixtures. Also for example, the present invention provides assemblies composed of a extraction fixture attached to, and/or held adjacent to, a chip, and methods of subjecting such assemblies to a force such that at least a portion of the restrained liquid in the open wells is forced out and collected by, or flows through, the extraction fixture.

Described are systems and methods for particle sorting. An array may comprise a substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The substrate may comprise a plurality of pores defining lumens extending from the first surface to the second surface. The plurality of pores can be configured to receive a sample solution comprising a plurality of particles. The array may further comprise a surface material provided at or adjacent to the first or second surfaces. The surface material may comprise a plurality of materials that are configured to modify a wetting behavior of the sample solution or the plurality of particles at or adjacent to said first or second surfaces, such that one of the first or second surfaces is hydrophilic, and the other of the first or second surfaces is hydrophobic.

Provided herein is a system comprising: a) spatial sampler system configured to collect and transmit one or a plurality of cells or nuclei from a tissue specimen, the system comprising: i) a lower carrier having an array of conduits passing therethrough, each conduit comprising an opening on a first side and communicating with an opening on a second side, wherein the opening on the second side either (1) terminates in a capillary or (2) opens onto a well of a multiwell plate; ii) positioned, above the lower carrier, a perforated specimen holder configured to support a frozen tissue specimen, wherein the specimen holder comprises a plurality of perforations having a size sufficient to permit the passage of single cells or nuclei; and iii) positioned, above the specimen holder, a multifunctional head comprising an upper array of upper conduits, optionally, each aligned with a conduit opening of the lower carrier.

Multi-stage sample-recovery systems, including automated 2-stage and 3-stage sample-recovery systems, are provided. Such systems enable the rapid screening and recovery of samples, including viable cell-based samples, from high-throughput screening systems, including systems utilizing large-scale arrays of microcapillaries. In specific screening systems, each microcapillary comprises a solution containing a variant protein, an immobilized target molecule, and a reporter element. Immobilized target molecules may include any molecule of interest, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules. The association of a variant protein with a molecular target is assessed by measuring a signal from the reporter element. The contents of microcapillaries identified in the assays as containing variant proteins of interest can be identified and recovered using the multi-stage systems disclosed herein.

Lateral loading methods of use in high-throughput methods for screening large populations of variant proteins are provided. The methods utilize a flow cell encompassing large-scale arrays of microcapillaries, where each microcapillary comprises a solution containing a variant protein, an immobilized target molecule, and a reporter element. Immobilized target molecules may include any molecule of interest, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules.

The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and compositions for parallel processing of nucleic acid samples. Methods and systems of the present disclosure comprise the use of sample-specific barcode sequences, which facilitate the multiplexing of samples, detection of discrete cell populations within a pooled population, and detection of partitions comprising more than one cell.

Automated microfluidic systems and methods are described for purifying, extracting, and optionally analyzing magnetic target entities such as cells, e.g., bound to one or more magnetic beads.

Described are systems and methods for particle sorting. An array may comprise a substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The substrate may comprise a plurality of pores defining lumens extending from the first surface to the second surface. The plurality of pores can be configured to receive a sample solution comprising a plurality of particles. The array may further comprise a surface material provided at or adjacent to the first or second surfaces. The surface material may comprise a plurality of materials that are configured to modify a wetting behavior of the sample solution or the plurality of particles at or adjacent to said first or second surfaces, such that one of the first or second surfaces is hydrophilic, and the other of the first or second surfaces is hydrophobic.

Provided herein is a system comprising: a) spatial sampler system configured to collect and transmit one or a plurality of cells or nuclei from a tissue specimen, the system comprising: i) a lower carrier having an array of conduits passing therethrough, each conduit comprising an opening on a first side and communicating with an opening on a second side, wherein the opening on the second side either (1) terminates in a capillary or (2) opens onto a well of a multiwell plate; ii) positioned, above the lower carrier, a perforated specimen holder configured to support a frozen tissue specimen, wherein the specimen holder comprises a plurality of perforations having a size sufficient to permit the passage of single cells or nuclei; and iii) positioned, above the specimen holder, a multifunctional head comprising an upper array of upper conduits, optionally, each aligned with a conduit opening of the lower carrier.