High capacity assay platforms

Abstract

A high capacity assay platform capable of binding target molecules includes a substrate and a polymer matrix attached to the substrate. The polymer matrix comprises a plurality of polymer molecules where at least some of the polymer molecules are covalently attached directly to the substrate and at least some of which molecules are crosslinked to other polymer molecules. Some of the polymer molecules have at least one binding ligand covalently attached thereto, and the density of the polymer matrix on the substrate is at least 2 μg/cm 2 .

1 . An assay platform comprising a substrate and a polymer matrix attached to the substrate, wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a plurality of polymer molecules, wherein at least some of the polymer molecules are covalently attached directly to the substrate, wherein at least some of the polymer molecules are crosslinked to other polymer molecules, wherein at least some of the polymer molecules have at least one binding ligand covalently attached thereto, and wherein the density of the polymer matrix on the substrate is at least 2 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         2 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the density of the polymer matrix on the substrate is 4 μg/cm 2  to 30 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         3 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the density of the polymer matrix on the substrate is 6 μg/cm 2  to 15 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         4 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of at least 1 nanomole/cm 2 .  
     
     
         5 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.2 nanomoles/cm 2  to 185 nanomoles/cm 2 .  
     
     
         6 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.5 nanomoles/cm 2  to 90 nanomoles/cm 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.8 nanomoles/cm 2  to 15 nanomoles/cm 2 .  
     
     
         8 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multi-well plate.  
     
     
         9 . The assay platform according to  claim 8  wherein the multi-well plate is a 96, 384 or 1536 well polystyrene or polypropylene multiwell plate.  
     
     
         10 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a MALDI plate.  
     
     
         11 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is glass.  
     
     
         12 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules are natural polymers.  
     
     
         14 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers.  
     
     
         15 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules are synthetic polymers.  
     
     
         16 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules having a molecular weight of less than 3.5 kDa in an amount of at least 1 nanomole/cm 2 .  
     
     
         17 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules having a molecular weight of 3.5 kDa to 500 kDa in an amount of 0.5 μg/cm 2  to 20 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         18 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules having a molecular weight of 10 kDa to 500 kDa in an amount of 1 μg/cm 2  to 20 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         19 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules having a molecular weight of 10 kDa to 350 kDa in an amount of 2 μg/cm 2  to 20 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules having a molecular weight of 10 kDa to 350 kDa in an amount of 3 μg/cm 2  to 15 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         21 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding target molecules having a molecular weight of 10 kDa to 350 kDa in an amount of 4 μg/cm 2  to 10 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         22 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand is capable of binding a polypeptide target molecule.  
     
     
         23 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix is capable of binding polypeptide target molecules having a molecular weight up to 350 kDa in an amount of at least 2 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         24 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand comprises a metal chelate.  
     
     
         25 . The assay platform according to  claim 24  wherein the metal chelate is iminodiacetic acid, nitriloacetic acid or an analog thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand is capable of binding a polynucleotide target molecule.  
     
     
         27 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand is capable of binding mRNA target molecule.  
     
     
         28 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand is capable of binding a DNA target molecule.  
     
     
         29 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand comprises a polynucleotide.  
     
     
         30 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand is covalently attached to the polymer molecule through a spacer.  
     
     
         31 . The assay platform according to  claim 30  wherein the spacer comprises a lysine molecule.  
     
     
         32 . The assay platform according to  claim 30  wherein the spacer further comprises an aminocaproic acid molecule.  
     
     
         33 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multiwell polystyrene plate, wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers, wherein the binding ligand is a nickel chelate, and wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.5 nanomoles/cm 2  to 7.5 nanomoles/cm 2 .  
     
     
         34 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multiwell polystyrene plate, wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers, wherein the binding ligand is a Gallium or Iron chelate, and wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.5 nanomoles/cm 2  to 7.5 nanomoles/cm 2    
     
     
         35 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multiwell polystyrene plate, wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers, wherein the binding ligand is glutathione, and wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.5 nanomoles/cm 2  to 7.5 nanomoles/cm 2 .  
     
     
         36 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multiwell polypropylene or polycarbonate plate, wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers and wherein the binding ligand is an oligonucleotide.  
     
     
         37 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multiwell polystyrene plate or a multiwell polypropylene plate, wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers, wherein the binding ligand is streptavidin, and wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.5 μg/cm 2  to 7.5 μg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         38 . The assay platform according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a multiwell polystyrene plate, wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers, wherein the binding ligand is selected from the group consisting of protein A, protein G, protein L, or a mixture thereof and wherein the polymer matrix has a binding ligand density of 1.5 μg/cm 2  to 7.5 μg/cm 2 .