The invention is directed to methods for synthesizing oligonucleotides direction on biomolecules or cells living or fixed. In some embodiments, template-free enzymatic synthesis is implemented under biological conditions with successive cycles of (i) enzymatic addition of a 3′-O-blocked nucleoside triphosphate and (ii) enzymatic deblocking of the incorporated nucleotide to regenerate a free 3′ hydroxyl. The invention has applications in single-cell cDNA library construction and analysis.

The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.

A cell patterning material, a method of preparing the cell patterning material, a cell patterning method using the cell patterning material, and a biosensor including patterned cells obtained by using the cell patterning method are provided. According to the present disclosure, cells may be conveniently and efficiently patterned and the time for applying external stimulation for patterning may be controlled. In addition, the patterned cells may have an excellent proliferation rate and excellent differentiation efficiency, and may be re-patterned in a different direction, and High-throughput screening using the patterned cells is possible.

The invention generally relates to methods for quantifying an amount of enzyme molecules. Systems and methods of the invention are provided for measuring an amount of target by forming a plurality of fluid partitions, a subset of which include the target, performing an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the subset, and detecting the number of partitions in the subset. The amount of target can be determined based on the detected number.

The present disclosure relates to nanolithographical cell patterning. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides materials and methods for making an oriented array.

The invention is directed to methods for synthesizing oligonucleotides direction on biomolecules or cells living or fixed. In some embodiments, template-free enzymatic synthesis is implemented under biological conditions with successive cycles of (i) enzymatic addition of a 3-O-blocked nucleoside triphosphate and (ii) enzymatic deblocking of the incorporated nucleotide to regenerate a free 3 hydroxyl. The invention has applications in single-cell cDNA library construction and analysis.

A method of characterizing candidate agents including steps of (a) providing a library of candidate agents attached to nucleic acid tags; (b) contacting the library with a solid support to attach the candidate agents to the solid support, whereby an array of candidate agents is formed; (c) contacting the array with a screening agent, wherein one or more candidate agents in the array react with the screening agent; (d) detecting the array to determine that at least one candidate agent in the array reacts with the screening agent; (e) sequencing the nucleic acid tag to determine the tag sequences attached to candidate agents in the array; and (f) identifying the at least one candidate agent in the array that reacts with the screening agent based on the tag sequence that is attached to the at least one candidate agent.

The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.

Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microfluidic arrangement are disclosed. In one arrangement, a continuous body of a first liquid is provided in direct contact with a first substrate. A second liquid covers the first liquid. A separation fluid, immiscible with the first liquid, is propelled through at least the first liquid and into contact with the first substrate along all of a selected path on the surface of the first substrate. First liquid that was initially in contact with all of the selected path is displaced away from the selected path. The first liquid is divided to form sub-bodies of first liquid that are separated from each other. For each of one or more of the sub-bodies, a sub-body footprint represents an area of contact between the sub-body and the first substrate, and all of a boundary of the sub-body footprint is in contact with a closed loop of the selected path surrounding the sub-body footprint.

The present disclosure provides a fabrication process that results in creating large arrays of living cells, such as stem cells, which are subsequently exposed to nanoliter quantities of compounds to test the efficacy on cellular metabolism.