Discrete nano-textured structures in biomolecular arrays, and method of use

• US 20040029303A1
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalfoundries US Incorporated (GlobalFoundries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Ho-Cheol, Miller, Robert Dennis, Wallraff, Gregory Michael, Hart, Mark Whitney
• Granted Patent: US 6,962,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 438/16
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00619 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic regions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/165 Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/08 Integrated apparatus specially adapted for both creating and screening libraries

Abstract

A biomolecular array includes a substrate across which is distributed an array of discrete regions of a porous substance. The porous substance is designed to bind chemical targets useful in biotechnology applications, such as gene expression, protein, antibody, and antigen experiments. The regions are preferably optically isolated from each other and may be shaped to enhance detection of optical radiation emanating from the porous substance, e.g., as a result of irradiation of the regions with ultraviolet light. The discrete regions may be configured as microscopic wells within the substrate, or they may reside on top of the substrate in the form of microscopic mesas.

Claims

1. A substrate across which is distributed an array of discrete regions of a porous substance, wherein:

said porous substance is selected to bind chemical targets; and

said regions are optically isolated from each other and have respective boundaries contoured to enhance detection of optical radiation emanating from said discrete regions.

2. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 200 microns.

3. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said porous substance is selected from the group consisting of inorganic and inorganic-like materials.

4. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said regions are wells formed in said substrate.

5. The substrate of claim 4, wherein said wells have a shape that is parabolic or hemispherical.

6. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said regions are adjoined by an optical coating designed to enhance optical emission from said discrete regions.

7. The substrate of claim 6, wherein said optical coating and said porous substance are located on opposite sides of said respective boundaries.

8. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said regions include a hydrophobic coating.

9. A substrate, comprising:

a surface; and

an array of discrete wells formed in said surface, wherein said wells have respective volumes that are at least 25% occupied by a porous substance selected to bind chemical targets.

10. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells are at least 50% filled by said porous substance.

11. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells are at least 75% filled by said porous substance.

12. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells are optically isolated from each other.

13. The substrate of claim 9, further comprising said chemical targets.

14. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 200 microns.

15. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 100 microns.

16. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 50 microns.

17. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said porous substance is selected from the group consisting of inorganic and inorganic-like materials.

18. The substrate of claim 9, said wells including respective non-porous vertical members that are in contact with said substrate and pass through said porous substance.

19. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells have a parabolic or hemispherical shape.

20. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said wells are adjoined by an optical coating designed to enhance optical emission out of said wells.

21. A substrate having a surface on which is distributed an array of discrete regions of a porous substance, wherein said porous substance is selected to bind chemical targets, and said regions are optically isolated from each other.

22. The substrate of claim 21, wherein said regions are shaped in the form of a cylinder or rectangular parallelepiped.

23. The substrate of claim 21, wherein optical isolation is provided by a coating.

24. The substrate of claim 21, said regions including respective non-porous vertical members that are in contact with said substrate and pass through said porous substance.

25. The substrate of claim 21, further comprising said chemical targets.

26. The substrate of claim 21, wherein said regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 200 microns.

27. The substrate of claim 21, wherein said regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 100 microns.

28. The substrate of claim 21, wherein said regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 50 microns.

29. The substrate of claim 21, wherein said porous substance is selected from the group consisting of inorganic and inorganic-like materials.

30. A detection method, comprising:

providing a substrate across which is distributed an array of discrete regions of porous material to which are bound respective chemical targets;

bringing chemically active material into contact with the chemical targets, the chemically active material binding to at least one of the chemical targets, the chemically active material including a tag that fluoresces at a first wavelength upon being irradiated by electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength;

directing electromagnetic radiation that includes the second wavelength onto the discrete regions, so that optical radiation corresponding to the first wavelength is emitted from at least one of the regions; and

detecting the optical radiation emitted at the first wavelength.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining which chemical targets correspond to regions emitting at the first wavelength.

32. The method of claim 30, the discrete regions including wells formed in the substrate, wherein the wells are at least 25% filled with porous material.

33. The method of claim 30, the discrete regions including wells formed in the substrate, wherein the wells are at least 50% filled with porous material.

34. The method of claim 30, the discrete regions including wells formed in the substrate, wherein the wells are at least 75% filled with porous material.

35. The method of claim 30, the discrete regions including raised areas overlying the substrate.

36. The method of claim 30, said bringing step comprising passing a solution over the porous material, wherein the solution contains the chemically active material.

37. The substrate of claim 30, wherein the regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 200 microns.

38. The substrate of claim 30, wherein the regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 100 microns.

39. The substrate of claim 30, wherein the regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 50 microns.

40. The substrate of claim 30, wherein the regions have a characteristic transverse dimension that is between 1 and 10 microns.

41. The substrate of claim 30, wherein the porous substance is selected from the group consisting of inorganic and inorganic-like materials.