The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

A method of conjugating a substrate includes exchanging a counter ion associated with a biomolecule with a lipophilic counter ion to form a biomolecule complex, dispersing the biomolecule complex in a nonaqueous solvent, and coupling the biomolecule complex to a substrate in the presence of the nonaqueous solvent.

A method of conjugating a substrate includes exchanging a counter ion associated with a biomolecule with a lipophilic counter ion to form a biomolecule complex, dispersing the biomolecule complex in a nonaqueous solvent, and coupling the biomolecule complex to a substrate in the presence of the nonaqueous solvent.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for determining viruses. For instance, some aspects are directed to systems and methods for determining viruses using a partitioning system. Within the partitioning system, the virus may partition into one or more phases. In some cases, a virus-binding moiety facilitates partitioning of the virus. The phases may be assayed to determine the virus based on, e.g., quantitative or qualitative assessments of the distribution of virus-binding and/or signaling moieties. The virus-binding moiety may be attached to particles that may form a complex around a virus. The complex may be detectable without a signaling moiety (e.g., as a color change) in some embodiments. In some cases, more than one virus may be determined. For example, a virus-binding moiety may substantially alter the partitioning behavior of one virus or complex, relative to another, by being selective for the first virus.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for determining viruses. For instance, some aspects are directed to systems and methods for determining viruses using a partitioning system. Within the partitioning system, the virus may partition into one or more phases. In some cases, a virus-binding moiety facilitates partitioning of the virus. The phases may be assayed to determine the virus based on, e.g., quantitative or qualitative assessments of the distribution of virus-binding and/or signaling moieties. The virus-binding moiety may be attached to particles that may form a complex around a virus. The complex may be detectable without a signaling moiety (e.g., as a color change) in some embodiments. In some cases, more than one virus may be determined. For example, a virus-binding moiety may substantially alter the partitioning behavior of one virus or complex, relative to another, by being selective for the first virus.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalizing the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Disclosed are methods for nucleic acid amplification wherein nucleic acid templates, beads, and amplification reaction solution are emulsified and the nucleic acid templates are amplified to provide clonal copies of the nucleic acid templates attached to the beads. Also disclosed are kits and apparatuses for performing the methods of the invention.

Disclosed are methods for nucleic acid amplification wherein nucleic acid templates, beads, and amplification reaction solution are emulsified and the nucleic acid templates are amplified to provide clonal copies of the nucleic acid templates attached to the beads. Also disclosed are kits and apparatuses for performing the methods of the invention.