Remotely programmable matrices with memories

• US 5,741,462 A
• Filed: 04/25/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEXUS Biosystems, Inc. (Azenta, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Irori
• Inventors: Nova, Michael P., Senyei, Andrew E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, W. Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rees, Dianne
• Application Number:
  US08/428,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/7.1, 435/91.1, 435/5, 435/7.2, 435/7.9, 436/161, 436/501, 436/182, 436/183, 436/518, 436/515, 436/523-528, 536/24.3, 536/33, 382/178, 382/179, 422/68.1, 422/50, 422/57, 422/58, 422/82.05, 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 540/572, 530/333, 530/334, 530/335, 530/388.1, 364/496-499, 257/225, 257/390, 395/430, 438/131
• US Class Current: 506/37
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00295 the reactor vessels having pervious side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00299 Generally cylindrical reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00308 interchangeably mounted in racks or blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00344 Caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00461 Beads and reaction vessel together
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00463 Directed sorting
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00502 Particles of irregular geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0054 Means for coding or tagging the apparatus or the reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00542 Alphanumeric characters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00549 2-dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00551 3-dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0056 Raised or sunken areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00567 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00569 EEPROM memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00592 Split-and-pool, mix-and-divide processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00695 : Synthesis control routines, e.g. using computer programs
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0072 : Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 : Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 : Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 : Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/00 : General methods for the preparation of peptides , i.e. processes for the organic chemical preparation of peptides or proteins of any length
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/04 : on carriers C07K1/003, C07K1/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/047 : Simultaneous synthesis of different peptide species; Peptide libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 : Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 : Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 : specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 : reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0014 : comprising cells based on organic memory material
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0019 : comprising bio-molecules
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 : using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes

Abstract

Combinations, called matrices with memories, of matrix materials with remotely addressable or remotely programmable recording devices that contain at least one data storage unit are provided. The matrix materials are those that are used in as supports in solid phase chemical and biochemical syntheses, immunoassays and hybridization reactions. The data storage units are preferably non-volatile antifuse memories. By virtue of this combination, molecules and biological particles, such as phage and viral particles and cells, that are in proximity or in physical contact with the matrix combination can be labeled by programming the memory with identifying information and can be identified by retrieving the stored information. Combinations of matrix materials, memories, and linked molecules and biological materials are also provided. The combinations have a multiplicity of applications, including combinatorial chemistry, isolation and purification of target macromolecules, capture and detection of macromolecules for analytical purposes, selective removal of contaminants, enzymatic catalysis, chemical modification and other uses.

Claims

1. A system for programming and reading data from a combination of a matrix with memory, comprising:

(A) a host computer or decoder/encoder instrument having a memory for storing data;

(i) relating to one or a plurality of process steps for synthesizing, assaying or reacting molecules or biological particles in contact with the combination, relating to the identity of a molecule, or a biological particle, or to information categorizing the molecule or biological particle, wherein the biological particle is a virus, viral vector, viral capsid with or without packaged nucleic acid, phage, a phage vector, phage capsid, a cell or fragments thereof;

(ii) for identifying one or a plurality of unique indicators representative of each of the process steps or the identity or category of molecule or biological particle; and

(iii) for generating a data signal representative of each unique indicator;

(B) a transmitter means for receiving a data signal and generating a transmitted signal for transmitting a data signal, and for providing a write signal;

(C) the combination of matrix with memory in contact with or in a solution containing a molecule or biological particle, wherein the combination of matrix with memory, comprises;

(i) a recording device, comprising an electromagnetically remotely programmable data storage unit; and

(ii) a matrix material, wherein;

the matrix material is either comprised of particles of a size such that at least one dimension is no more than 5 to 10 mm or the matrix material is in the form of a solid continuous surface that encases the recording device;

the matrix is derivatized for retaining products of each of the combination of process steps, the matrix being non-reactive with the plurality of process steps; and

the recording device is in contact with the matrix or in a solution that is in contact with the matrix, and comprises;

non-volatile memory means for storing a plurality data points and means for receiving the transmitted signal so that the write signal causes a stored data point corresponding to the data signal to be stored within the non-volatile memory means;

(D) means for reading from the non-volatile memory means to identify each of the stored data points, wherein the stored data points indicate exposure of the combination of matrix with memory to one of a combination of process steps or the identity or category of the molecule or biological particle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory means comprises an electrically-programmable read-only memory having a plurality of unique addresses.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory means comprises an optically-programmable memory having a plurality of unique addresses.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein each data signal includes address data corresponding to one of the plurality of unique addresses.

5. A system as in claim 2, wherein the remotely electrically-remotely programmable memory comprises a plurality of antifuses and the write signal comprises a voltage greater than a threshold voltage for each of the plurality of antifuses.

6. A system as in claim 2, wherein the transmitter means comprises a radio frequency transmitter and the means for receiving the transmitted signal comprises a radio frequency antenna.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the transmitter means comprises a modulated light source and the means for receiving the transmitted signal comprise a photocell.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, the host computer or decoder/encoder instrument and the transmitter means are the means for reading from the non-volatile memory means, wherein the host computer or decoder/encoder instrument further generates an inquiry signal for determining the presence or absence of each data point within the non-volatile memory means and the transmitter means further generates a transmitted inquiry signal for transmitting the inquiry signal to the non-volatile memory means and receives a response to the transmitted inquiry signal indicative of the presence or absence of each data point.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the inquiry signal includes an address signal within the non-volatile memory means corresponding to a location of each data point.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for separating a single recording device or matrix with memory from a plurality of recording devices or matrices with memories to facilitate writing to and reading from the single recording device or matrix with memory.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the apparatus for separating, comprises:

a funnel means attached to a vessel for receiving the single memory device, the funnel means having an exit in the constriction opening of a diameter sufficient to permit only one recording device to pass through the opening;

a tube connected to a first end of the exit opening of the funnel means for receiving the single recording device or matrix with memory, the tube having a diameter substantially equal to the constriction diameter;

a means for determining a presence of the single recording device or matrix with memory in the tube and for providing an activation signal for controlling the transmitter means; and

at least one receiving vessel connected at a second end of the tube for receiving the single memory device or matrix with memory.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the shapes of exit opening and the tube match a cross-sectional shape of the single recording device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is less than about 10 mm³ in size.