Methods for manufacturing and using chemical array calibration devices

• US 20060063274A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Peck, Bill J., Woods, Stanley P., Schremp, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US10/948,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20060063274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/278 Constitution of standards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The invention provides methods for manufacturing a chemical array reader calibration device. Embodiments include dispensing a volume of fluorescent dye coating composition from a pulse jet fluid deposition device onto a surface of a substrate to coat the surface with the fluorescent dye coating composition. Also provided are chemical array reader calibration devices and methods of using the subject chemical array reader calibration devices to calibrate a chemical array reader. Also provided are kits that include a chemical array reader calibration device.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a calibration device for a chemical array reader, said method comprising:

dispensing a volume of fluorescent dye coating composition from a pulse jet fluid deposition device onto a surface of a substrate to coat at least a region of said surface with a coating of said fluorescent dye coating composition to produce said calibration device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises dispensing a plurality of droplets of said fluorescent dye coating composition from said pulse jet fluid deposition device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the volume of each droplet of said plurality ranges from about 1 to about 1000 picoliters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein all of the droplets have the same volume of said fluorescent dye coating composition.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least two of the droplets have different volumes of said fluorescent dye coating composition

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said coating has a thickness that ranges from about 1 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said coating has a concentration of fluorescent dye that ranges from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said dispensing comprises coating said surface with a gradient of concentration of fluorescent dye.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating said dispensing step at least once.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said method comprises dispensing first and second volumes of said fluorescent dye coating composition having different concentrations of fluorescent dye.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first and second volumes are dispensed onto different regions of said surface.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said first and second volumes are dispensed onto the same region of said surface.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said method comprises dispensing first and second volumes of said fluorescent dye coating composition having the same concentration of fluorescent dye.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second volumes are dispensed onto different regions of said surface.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second volumes are dispensed onto the same region of said surface.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said fluorescent dye coating composition comprises a polymer and at least one fluorescent agent.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, epoxides, urethanes, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyetherketones, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyethylstyrene, polysiloxanes, and copolymers thereof.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said polymer is polymethyl-methacrylate.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one region on said substrate surface that is absent fluorescent dye.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said providing comprises photobleaching said at least one region.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said fluorescent dye coating composition does not comprise nucleic acids.

22. A chemical array reader calibration device comprising a coating of fluorescent dye coating composition fabricated according to the method of claim 1.

23. The calibration device of claim 22, wherein said device comprises first and second calibration regions having different concentrations of fluorescent dye.

24. The calibration device of claim 19, wherein said coating has a thickness that ranges from about 1 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

25. The calibration device of claim 24, wherein said coating has a uniform thickness.

26. The calibration device of claim 22, wherein said coating has a concentration of fluorescent dye that ranges from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm.

27. The calibration device of claim 26, wherein said coating comprises a gradient of concentration of fluorescent dye.

28. The calibration device of claim 26, wherein said fluorescent dye is uniformly distributed in said coating.

29. A method for calibrating a chemical array reader, said method comprising:

(a) illuminating a surface of a chemical array reader calibration device according to claim 22 with light;

(b) obtaining fluorescence data from said surface of said calibration device; and

(c) calibrating said chemical array reader based on said obtained fluorescence.

30. A method for performing a chemical array assay, said method comprising:

(a) calibrating a chemical array reader with a chemical array reader calibration device according to claim 22 to provide a calibrated array reader;

(b) contacting a sample with a chemical array; and

(c) reading said chemical array with said calibrated array reading to obtain a result.

31. A method comprising transmitting a result obtained from a method according to claim 30 from a first location to a second location.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said second location is a remote location.

33. A method comprising receiving a result of a method of claim 30.

34. A kit comprising:

(a) a chemical array reader calibration device according to claim 22;

and

(b) a chemical array.