Microscale immobilization of molecules using a hydrogel and methods of use thereof
First Claim
1. A method for the microscale immobilization of a molecule at a discrete location on a surface, said method comprising:
- forming a hydrogel comprising said molecule from a plurality of linkers at said discrete location, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind said discrete location to form an immobilized hydrogel having a volume up to 1 microliter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides methods for the immobilization of molecules to a surface using a hydrogel. In particular, the invention relates to the formation and use of a hydrogel in a microscale environment, such as that used for the screening of molecules with microfabricated mechanical resonant sensors. In a preferred embodiment, the molecule is coupled to polyethylene glycol, or a block co-polymer and/or derivative thereof, and immobilized to a planar oxide surface that has been silanized. The immobilized molecule can then be used in a microscale screening or binding assay in an optimal hydrogel environment.
140 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for the microscale immobilization of a molecule at a discrete location on a surface, said method comprising:
forming a hydrogel comprising said molecule from a plurality of linkers at said discrete location, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind said discrete location to form an immobilized hydrogel having a volume up to 1 microliter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of screening an immobilized molecule, wherein a hydrogel comprising said molecule is formed from a plurality of linkers, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind a surface, said method comprising:
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contacting said hydrogel with a sample suspected of containing or known to contain a binding partner for said molecule; and
detecting a binding event between said molecule and a binding partner for said molecule. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of detecting a binding event between an immobilized molecule and a binding partner for said molecule, wherein a hydrogel comprising said molecule is formed from a plurality of linkers, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind a surface, said method comprising:
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contacting said hydrogel with a sample suspected of containing or known to contain a binding partner for said molecule; and
detecting said binding event. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of analyzing a binding event between an immobilized molecule and a binding partner for said molecule, wherein a hydrogel comprising said molecule is formed from a plurality of linkers, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind a surface, said method comprising:
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contacting said hydrogel with a sample suspected of containing or known to contain a binding partner for said molecule; and
analyzing said binding event. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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- 45. A hydrogel for the microscale incorporation of molecules, formed by associating a plurality of linkers, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind a surface.
- 56. A library of molecules incorporated within a hydrogel, wherein said hydrogel is formed from a plurality of linkers, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind a surface.
- 58. An apparatus for the detection and/or analysis of a binding event between a molecule and a binding partner for said molecule, said apparatus comprising a hydrogel comprising said molecule is formed by associating a plurality of linkers, wherein one or more of said linkers bind said molecule, and one or more of said linkers bind a surface.
Specification