METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MOLECULAR ASSOCIATION AND IMAGING
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating molecular association comprising:
- a first substrate having an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate;
a second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said first and second substrates defining a chamber to enclose a fluid; and
a plurality of temperature affecting devices in thermal communication with said first substrate;
wherein each of said plurality of temperature affecting devices provide at least one adjustable temperature to said first substrate and are disposed to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to devices and methods for molecular association, particularly to devices and methods for hybridization of nucleic acids utilizing temperature gradients and imaging thereof. In one aspect, a molecular hybridization system generally includes a substrate having a plurality of molecular probes attached thereto, the plurality of probes being generally present in multiple copies arranged in localized formations on the surface of the substrate. The molecular hybridization system further generally includes a chamber that encloses the plurality of molecular probes such that a fluid containing sample may be applied and kept in contact with the substrate having the probes thereon. The molecular hybridization system also includes a temperature affecting system that generally produces at least one desired temperature on the surface of the substrate and in the adjacent fluid within the chamber.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating molecular association comprising:
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a first substrate having an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate; a second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said first and second substrates defining a chamber to enclose a fluid; and a plurality of temperature affecting devices in thermal communication with said first substrate; wherein each of said plurality of temperature affecting devices provide at least one adjustable temperature to said first substrate and are disposed to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for diagnostic molecular association of a sample comprising:
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disposing a fluid containing a sample for molecular association between a first and second substrate, said first substrate having an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate and said second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said fluid occupying a chamber defined by said first and second substrates; and applying energy to said first substrate with a plurality of temperature affecting devices coupled to said first substrate, each of said temperature affecting devices sources providing at least one adjustable temperature to said first substrate and being disposed to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate; whereby said temperature gradient profile enhances molecular association between molecules in said sample and a particular biological material coupled to said first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for molecular association comprising:
- generating multiple copies of a molecular probe on a substrate;
labeling said copies with an energy converting marker; providing molecules that at least partially bind to said molecular probe, said molecules labeled with a second energy converting marker; contacting said molecular probe copies to a sample which may contain a target, said target binding to the molecular probe in competition with the labeled at least partially binding molecules; providing energy that may be converted by at least one of the energy converting markers; and detecting the energy converting response of at least one of the markers to determine the binding of the target to the molecular probe. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- generating multiple copies of a molecular probe on a substrate;
Specification