Label-free high throughput biomolecular screening system and method
First Claim
1. A screening system comprising:
- a microplate;
an interface device; and
a measurement chamber into which the microplate is moved by the interface device, the measurement chamber having located therein at least the following;
a plate transport subsystem which receives the microplate from the interface device;
an optical subsystem;
a plate alignment subsystem including a microplate mounting mechanism onto which the microplate is positioned by the plate transport subsystem so that biosensors located in wells of the microplate are interrogated by the optical subsystem, wherein the microplate has at least one angled fiducial marking located outside of the wells where the at least one angled fiducial marking is used to properly position/reposition the microplate relative to the optical interrogation subsystem;
wherein the microplate mounting mechanism includes a base having at least one surface defining a nesting receptacle for the microplate, and at least three supports projecting from the base, the at least three supports support said microplate, said nesting receptacle has at least two side walls and at least two end walls, the nesting receptacle having walls further defining a detection aperture thereby allowing optical access to a bottom surface of the microplate through the detection aperture; and
wherein the microplate mounting mechanism further includes at least two X-directional contacts located on one of the end walls and at least one Y-directional contact located on one of the side walls, and at least one spring-loaded contact on the end wall opposite the X-directional contacts and at least one spring-loaded contact on the side wall opposite the Y-directional contact.
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Abstract
A screening system and method are described herein which provide a unique and practical solution for enabling label-free high throughput screening (HTS) to aid in the discovery of new drugs. In one embodiment, the screening system enables direct binding assays to be performed in which a biomolecular interaction of a chemical compound (drug candidate) with a biomolecule (therapeutic target) can be detected using assay volumes and concentrations that are compatible with the current practices of HTS in the pharmaceutical industry. The screening system also enables the detection of bio-chemical interactions that occur in the wells of a microplate which incorporates biosensors and surface chemistry to immobilize the therapeutic target at the surface of the biosensors. The screening system also includes fluid handling and plate handling devices to help perform automated HTS assays.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A screening system comprising:
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a microplate; an interface device; and a measurement chamber into which the microplate is moved by the interface device, the measurement chamber having located therein at least the following; a plate transport subsystem which receives the microplate from the interface device; an optical subsystem; a plate alignment subsystem including a microplate mounting mechanism onto which the microplate is positioned by the plate transport subsystem so that biosensors located in wells of the microplate are interrogated by the optical subsystem, wherein the microplate has at least one angled fiducial marking located outside of the wells where the at least one angled fiducial marking is used to properly position/reposition the microplate relative to the optical interrogation subsystem; wherein the microplate mounting mechanism includes a base having at least one surface defining a nesting receptacle for the microplate, and at least three supports projecting from the base, the at least three supports support said microplate, said nesting receptacle has at least two side walls and at least two end walls, the nesting receptacle having walls further defining a detection aperture thereby allowing optical access to a bottom surface of the microplate through the detection aperture; and wherein the microplate mounting mechanism further includes at least two X-directional contacts located on one of the end walls and at least one Y-directional contact located on one of the side walls, and at least one spring-loaded contact on the end wall opposite the X-directional contacts and at least one spring-loaded contact on the side wall opposite the Y-directional contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A screening system comprising:
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a microplate; an interface device; and a measurement chamber into which the microplate is moved by the interface device, the measurement chamber having located therein at least the following; a plate transport subsystem which receives the microplate from the interface device; an optical subsystem; a plate alignment subsystem including a microplate mounting mechanism onto which the microplate is positioned by the plate transport subsystem so that biosensors located in wells of the microplate are interrogated by the optical subsystem, wherein the microplate mounting mechanism includes a base having at least one surface defining a nesting receptacle for the microplate, and three supports projecting from said base, said supports contact an underside surface of said microplate to support said microplate in a Z-directional plane, said nesting receptacle has at least two side walls and at least two end walls, said nesting receptacle further has two X-directional contacts and one Y-directional contact respectively located on one of said end walls and on one of said side walls, said nesting receptacle also has at least one spring-loaded contact on said end wall opposite said X-directional contacts and at least one spring-loaded contact on said side wall opposite said Y-directional contact, where the two X-directional contacts and the one Y-directional contact establish X-directional and Y-directional positions of a corner of said microplate.
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Specification