Apparatus and method for performing ligand binding assays on microarrays in multiwell plates

• US 7,981,664 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maven Biotechnologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Maven Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dultz, Shane C
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Chris L
• Application Number:
  US12/125,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/211 Ellipsometry optical thickness measurement G01B11/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays

Abstract

Each well of a multiwell plate adapted to accept a plurality of biological samples for testing for the presence of analytes in the sample is further adapted herein for immobilizing on the side walls of a well a 3D arrangement of ligand arrays. A well is formed with planar side walls and a stack of sample separators is placed within a well in positions so as to not come in contact with ligand spots in the array(s). The spacing between each pair of adjacent separators in a stack forms a sample chamber in a position corresponding to an array of the 3D arrangement of ligand arrays.

Claims

1. A plate of transparent material, the plate comprising:

a well having at least one upstanding wall, said wall having a strata of ligand arrays formed thereon, wherein each array of said strata of ligand arrays is formed in a spaced apart position along an upstanding axis of said wall; and

a side portion defining said wall, said side portion being of a geometry to permit a beam of light to be directed into said wall in a manner to achieve total internal reflection at said wall and generate an evanescent field at said wall.

2. The plate as in claim 1, wherein each array of said strata of arrays is formed in a spaced apart position along the vertical axis of said wall.

3. The plate as in claim 1, further comprising a stack of chambers, each of said chambers being of a geometry to insert into said well, each of said chambers occupying a position in said well corresponding to one of said arrays.

4. The plate as in claim 3, wherein each chamber includes an aperture for introducing a sample in a manner to expose each sample to an associated one of said arrays.

5. The plate as in claim 3, wherein said stack of chambers is formed in a single structure.

6. The plate as in claim 3, wherein said stack of chambers includes a plurality of individual cells.

7. The plate as in claim 3, wherein each of said chambers has at least one open side wall in a position and is of a geometry to match an associated one of said arrays.

8. The plate as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wells, each of said wells having a side wall having immobilized thereon a stratum of arrays of ligands stacked along the vertical axis of the side wall.

9. The plate as in claim 8, wherein each of said wells includes a transparent liner and said liner forms said side wall.

10. The plate as in claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of wells has a plurality of side walls each having immobilized thereon a stratum of arrays of ligands stacked along the vertical axis of the side wall.

11. The plate as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wells, at least one of the wells having at least a first planar side wall, said first planar side wall having immobilized thereon a strata of ligand arrays stacked along the vertical axis of the well, said well including a plurality of membranes, said membranes being positioned in a stack with the membranes being spaced apart such that adjacent ones of said membranes form a chamber therebetween positioned to correspond to one of said immobilized arrays.

12. A plate of transparent material, the plate comprising:

a well having at least one wall, said wall having a strata of ligand arrays formed thereon;

a side portion defining said wall, said side portion being of a geometry to permit a beam of light to be directed into said wall in a manner to achieve total internal reflection at said wall and generate an evanescent field at said wall; and

a stack of chambers, each of said chambers being of a geometry to insert into said well, and each of said chambers occupying a position in said well corresponding to one of said arrays.

13. The plate as in claim 12, wherein each chamber includes an aperture for introducing a sample in a manner to expose each sample to an associated one of said arrays.

14. The plate as in claim 12, wherein said stack of chambers is formed in a single structure.

15. The plate as in claim 12, wherein said stack of chambers includes a plurality of individual cells.

16. The plate as in claim 12, wherein each of said chambers has at least one open side wall in a position and is of a geometry to match an associated one of said arrays.

17. The plate as in claim 12, wherein said well includes a transparent liner and said liner forms said side wall.

18. The plate as in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of wells, each of said wells having a side wall having immobilized thereon a stratum of arrays of ligands stacked along the vertical axis of the side wall.

19. A plate for imaging, the plate comprising:

a well having at least one wall, said wall having a strata of ligand arrays formed thereon and having a geometry to permit a beam of light to be directed into it in a manner to achieve total internal reflection at said wall and generate an evanescent field at said wall; and

an insert including a stack of chambers, each chamber having at least one open sidewall aligned with one of the ligand arrays.

20. A system for imaging, comprising:

a plate including a well having at least one wall, said wall having a strata of ligand arrays formed thereon; and

an insert including a stack of chambers, each of the chambers having at least one open side wall aligned with one of the ligand arrays;

a light source that provides a beam of light into the wall in a manner to achieve total internal reflection at said wall and generate an evanescent field at said wall; and

an imaging apparatus that images light reflected from the wall.