A device for the microstructured grafting of proteins onto a substrate, comprising a substrate (7), a layer comprising a polyethylene glycol and being placed on the substrate, a matrix (10) of micromirrors for propagating the light in a first pattern and for replacing the first pattern with a second pattern. The microfluidic circuit is filled so as to bring a first aqueous solution containing a first protein into contact with the layer, a first microstructured image of the first pattern being formed on the layer to photoprint the first protein on the layer, and the microfluidic circuit is adapted to replace the first aqueous solution with a second aqueous solution containing a second protein so as to bring the second aqueous solution and the layer into contact, the first pattern being replaced with the second pattern in order to photoprint the second protein on the layer.

This invention relates to peptide microarrays, methods of generating peptide microarrays, and methods of identifying peptide binders using microarrays. More specifically, this invention relates to peptide microarrays, methods of generating peptide microarrays, and methods of identifying peptide binders using microarrays wherein the microarrays comprise cyclic peptides. The invention also relates to methods and compositions for detecting the formation of cyclized peptides from linear peptides on a microarray by contacting the microarray with a detectable protein. The cyclized peptides include tags that are activated upon cyclization, facilitating the detection of successful cyclization reactions. In additional aspects, the invention relates to developing fragmented peptide tags that, upon cyclization, bind to detectable proteins. Additionally, the invention relates to methods of generating linear and cyclic peptides subarrays on a microarray.

The invention relates to a method for producing polymers, in particular synthetic nucleic acid double strands of optional sequence, comprising the steps: (a) provision of a support having a surface area which contains a plurality of individual reaction areas, (b) location-resolved synthesis of nucleic acid fragments having in each case different base sequences in several of the individual reaction areas, and (c) detachment of the nucleic acid fragments from individual reaction areas.

Silanation compositions containing a mixture of two or more silanation reagents, where at least one silanation reagent includes a functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis and at least one silanation reagent includes no functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis are useful in modulating the active site density and hydrolytic stability of a surface. These compositions are particularly useful in silanating a surface prior to preparation of a polymer array and provide for increased hybridization results.

A static fluid and a second fluid are placed into contact along a microfluidic free interface and allowed to mix by diffusion without convective flow across the interface. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the fluids are static and initially positioned on either side of a closed valve structure in a microfluidic channel having a width that is tightly constrained in at least one dimension. The valve is then opened, and no-slip layers at the sides of the microfluidic channel suppress convective mixing between the two fluids along the resulting interface. Applications for microfluidic free interfaces in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, protein crystallization studies, protein solubility studies, determination of properties of fluidics systems, and a variety of biological assays such as diffusive immunoassays, substrate turnover assays, and competitive binding assays.

The invention relates to a method for producing polymers, in particular synthetic nucleic acid double strands of optional sequence, comprising the steps: (a) provision of a support having a surface area which contains a plurality of individual reaction areas, (b) location-resolved synthesis of nucleic acid fragments having in each case different base sequences in several of the individual reaction areas, and (c) detachment of the nucleic acid fragments from individual reaction areas.

Silanation compositions containing a mixture of two or more silanation reagents, where at least one silanation reagent includes a functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis and at least one silanation reagent includes no functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis are useful in modulating the active site density and hydrolytic stability of a surface. These compositions are particularly useful in silanating a surface prior to preparation of a polymer array and provide for increased hybridization results.

A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.