Systems and apparatus for the analysis of molecular interactions

• US 20030003018A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prolinx, Inc.
• Inventors: Engstrom, Erik M., Linkkila, Leslie E., Dubuque, Charles E., Baum, Michael E., Bailey, Stephen M., Stolowitz, Mark L., Kaiser, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/115,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.05
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/553 and using surface plasmons fluorescence excitation G01N21/648; enhanced Raman G01N21/658

Abstract

Instruments and systems for the analysis of molecular interactions with enhanced throughput and ease-of-use. In certain aspects, the systems and instruments include miniaturized SPR-based sensors and novel sensor surface chemistry to provide high-throughput automated instruments and systems for molecular interaction analysis.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a sensor holding assembly configured to receive a plurality of SPR-based sensors such that the sensing surfaces of two or more inserted sensors are aligned in an array; and

a liquid handling assembly positioned proximal said sensor holding assembly and having a head including two or more dispensing members, wherein said liquid handling assembly is configured to automatically move said head proximal said sensor holding assembly such that the ends of the two or more dispensing members are proximal the sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor holding assembly a includes temperature control device integrated therein for controlling the temperature of substances proximal the sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the temperature control device includes a Peltier effect element.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor holding assembly includes a plurality of electrical connectors that define sensor receiving locations within the sensor holding assembly, wherein the electrical connectors provide a communication path to control circuitry.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the inserted sensors includes an interface for communicating control and data signals, wherein when inserted into the holding assembly each sensor interface mates with a corresponding electrical connector.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control circuitry is integrated in the sensor holding assembly.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor holder assembly includes a communication interface, and wherein the control circuitry is communicably coupled to a host computer via the communication interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication interface includes one of a USB interface, a PCI interface and a FireWire interface.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is coupled to the liquid handling assembly, and wherein the control circuitry provides control signals to the liquid handling assembly for controlling movement of the head.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each inserted sensor is contained in a sensor module configured to hold the sensor and mate with a corresponding receiving location within the sensor holding assembly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor holding assembly further includes a removable well liner configured to provide wells for holding samples proximal the sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the well liner includes a plurality of secondary wells for holding liquids.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor includes a Spreeta™

2000 sensor.

14. The system of claim 1, further including a control computer communicably coupled to one or both of the sensor holding assembly and the liquid handling assembly, said control computer adapted to provide control signals for controlling operation of the liquid handling assembly and the sensors in the sensor holding assembly.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control computer is further adapted to receive and process data signals received from the sensors in the sensor holding assembly.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control computer provides a graphical user interface on a display device, the graphical user interface including options for displaying processed data and user selectable control parameters.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing surfaces are aligned in a linear array.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the spacing between each of sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors are compatible with microtiter formats.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the spacing between each of sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors is approximately 9 mm.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sample holder including two or more samples, wherein the liquid handling assembly is further configured to automatically move said head proximal the sample holder and retrieve samples with the two or more dispensing members and thereafter automatically deliver the retrieved samples proximal the sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquid handling assembly includes a base, and wherein the sensor holding assembly and sample holder are attached to said base.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor holding assembly includes an agitation mechanism configured to agitate the assembly so as to induce mixing of materials proximal the sensing surfaces of the two or more inserted sensors.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor holding block includes a removable well liner that provides a well proximal the sensing surface of each inserted sensor.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the well liner includes an array of secondary wells for holding liquids.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor holding block includes eight sensor receiving locations aligned in a linear array.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor holding block includes a temperature control element configured to control the temperature of substances proximal the sensing surfaces of inserted sensors.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the temperature control element includes a Peltier effect device.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each sensor receiving location includes an electrical connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector on a sensor.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each sensor is contained in a module configured to hold the sensor and expose the sensor connector.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the platform includes an agitation mechanism configured to agitate the sensor holding block so as to induce mixing of materials proximal the sensing surfaces of the sensors.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further including control circuitry integrated in said base for controlling operation of the sensors.

33. The apparatus of claim 23, further including a communication interface for communicating with a host computer.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the communication interface includes one of a USB interface, a PCI interface and a FireWire interface.

35. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor receiving locations are arranged so that the spacing between sensing surfaces of inserted sensors is compatible with microtiter spacing formats.

36. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor receiving locations are arranged so that the spacing between sensing surfaces of inserted sensors is approximately 9 mm.

37. The apparatus of claim 23, further including a housing coupled to the base for enclosing the sensor block and platform.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the housing includes a door that provides an opening for a user to insert and remove the sensor holding block from the platform.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the housing includes an opening proximal the sensor receiving locations so as to provide access to the sensing surfaces of sensors inserted in the sensor holding block.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further including a shutter coupled to the housing for selectively closing said opening.

23. An apparatus for holding two or more SPR-based sensors, each sensor having a sensing surface, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a platform coupled to said base; and

a sensor holding block configured to removably attach to said platform, said block including two or more sensor receiving locations, each location configured to receive one of said sensors, wherein said receiving locations are arranged so as to present the sensing surfaces in an aligned array.