Methods for producing glass substrates for use in biopolymeric microarrays

• US 20050150881A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander S. Williamson, John F. Mcentee, Joseph A. Worrall III
• Original Assignee: Alexander S. Williamson, John F. Mcentee, Joseph A. Worrall III
• Inventors: McEntee, John F., Williamson, Alexander S., Worrall, Joseph A. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,026,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.720
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/082 using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser C03B33/0855 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/093 using two or more focussed radiation beams

Abstract

Methods for producing glass substrates having scribed edges with straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions, and microarray glass substrates produced thereby, are provided. In certain embodiments, at least one scribe line is scribed in glass using reduced laser power at the beginning and end of each scribe line relative to the laser power used to scribe the remaining portions of each respective scribe line. In other embodiments, a heat absorbing laser element is positioned adjacent the beginning and end of each scribe line. In all embodiments, the scribed glass is singulated to produce a plurality of scribed glass pieces, each having straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions. The scribed glass can be used as substrates for biopolymeric microarrays. Also provided are biopolymeric microarrays produced from the subject methods and kits which include the subject microarrays, as well as methods for using the same.

Claims

1. A method for producing a glass substrate, said method comprising:

(a) providing a glass sheet suitable for laser scribing,

(b) positioning a laser entrance element adjacent the beginning of at least one scribe line and a laser exit element positioned adjacent the ending of at least one scribe line,

(c) scribing at least one laser scribe line in said glass sheet with a laser, whereby heat generated from said laser is absorbed by said laser entrance element and said laser exit element, and

(d) singulating said scribed glass at the formed said at least one laser scribe line to produce at least one laser scribed glass substrate, whereby each of said laser scribed glass substrates comprises straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said laser entrance element and said laser exit element are positioned besides edges of said glass sheet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said laser entrance element and said laser exit element are positioned on a surface of said glass sheet, wherein said surface is to be scribed by said laser.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said laser entrance element and said laser exit element are positioned on a surface of said glass sheet, wherein said surface is not to be scribed by said laser.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said laser entrance element and said laser exit element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, aluminum and copper.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said laser scribes said glass sheet with a laser power ranging from about 30 watts to about 45 watts.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said laser generates a laser beam having a wavelength ranging from about 10.57 microns about 10.63 microns.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said laser is a CO₂ laser.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising producing a biopolymeric array on said at least one of said laser scribed glass substrates.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

exposing said biopolymeric array to a sample; and

reading said biopolymeric array following said exposure to obtain a result from said reading.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said result of said reading is forwarded to a remote location.

12. A method for producing a biopolymeric array, said method comprising:

(a) providing a laser scribed glass substrate comprising straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions produced according to claim 1, and

(b) producing an array of probes on a surface of said laser scribed glass substrate.

19. A glass substrate made by the method chosen from one of:

(a) a method comprising

(i) providing a glass sheet suitable for scribing;

(ii) scribing at least one scribe line in said glass sheet with a laser, whereby the power of said laser is reduced at the beginning and ending of each of said at least one scribe line relative to the laser working power of the laser used to scribe the remaining portions of said at least one scribe line; and

(iii) singulating said scribed glass at said at least one scribe line to produce at least one laser scribed glass substrate, whereby each of said laser scribed glass substrates comprises straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions;

or

(b) a method comprising

(i) providing a glass sheet suitable for laser scribing,

(ii) positioning a laser entrance element adjacent the beginning of at least one scribe line and a laser exit element positioned adjacent the ending of at least one scribe line,

(iii) scribing at least one laser scribe line in said glass sheet with a laser, whereby heat generated from said laser is absorbed by said laser entrance element and said laser exit element, and

(iv) singulating said scribed glass at the formed said at least one laser scribe line to produce at least one laser scribed glass substrate, whereby each- of said laser scribed glass substrates comprises straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions.

20. The glass substrate of claim 19, wherein said glass substrate comprises at least one biopolymeric array.

21. A method comprising inserting a glass substrate carrying an array of probes on a surface into a holder, wherein said glass substrate has straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions.

13. A biopolymeric array produced according to the method of claim 22.

14. A method comprising exposure of a biopolymeric array of claim 13 to a sample and performing a binding assay with said biopolymeric array.

15. A method comprising, following exposure of a biopolymeric array of claim 13 to a sample, reading said biopolymeric array.

16. A method comprising forwarding data representing a result of a reading obtained by the method of claim 15.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said data is transmitted to a remote location.

18. A method comprising receiving data representing a result of a reading obtained by the method of claim 15.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said holder comprises a plastic holder and said substrate edges slide against the plastic of said holder while inserting said substrate into said holder.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

exposing said array to a sample; and

reading said array following exposure to obtain a result from said reading.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said result of said reading is forwarded to a remote location.

25. A kit for performing an assay, said kit comprising:

(a) at least one glass substrate made by the method of;

(i) providing a glass sheet suitable for scribing;

(ii) scribing at least one scribe line in said glass sheet with a laser, whereby the power of said laser is reduced at the beginning and ending of each of said at least one scribe line relative to the laser working power of the laser used to scribe the remaining portions of said at least one scribe line; and

(iii) singulating said scribed glass at said at least one scribe line to produce at least one laser scribed glass substrate, whereby each of said laser scribed glass substrates comprises straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions; and

(b) instructions for using said at least one glass substrate.

26. The kit according to claim 25, wherein said at least one glass substrate comprises at least one biopolymeric array.

27. A kit for performing an assay, said kit comprising:

(a) at least one glass substrate made by the method of;

(i) providing a glass sheet suitable for laser scribing,

(ii) positioning a laser entrance element adjacent the beginning of at least one scribe line and a laser exit element positioned adjacent the ending of at least one scribe line,

(iii) scribing at least one laser scribe line in said glass sheet with a laser, whereby heat generated from said laser is absorbed by said laser entrance element and said laser exit element, and

(iv) singulating said scribed glass at the formed said at least one laser scribe line to produce at least one laser scribed glass substrate, whereby each of said laser scribed glass substrates comprises straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions; and

(b) instructions for using said at least one glass substrate.

28. The kit according to claim 27, wherein said at least one glass substrate comprises at least one biopolymeric array.