Substrates, devices, and methods for cellular assays

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics, and in particular to diagnostics based on a liquid crystal assay format. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystal assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal assay format.

1 - 94 . (canceled)  
     
     
         95 . An apparatus comprising, a substrate having thereon at least one assay region, wherein said at least one assay region is configured to culture cells and comprises an optically opaque region and an optically transparent region.  
     
     
         96 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said assay regions are configured for readouts selected from the group consisting of colorimetric, fluorimetric, optical density, and light scattering readouts.  
     
     
         97 . The assay apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said optically opaque region further comprises at least one cell seeding region.  
     
     
         98 . The assay apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein said at least one cell seeding region contains at least one cell.  
     
     
         99 . The assay apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said at least one assay region is configured to orient mesogens.  
     
     
         100 . The assay apparatus of  claim 95 , further comprising at least one reservoir.  
     
     
         101 . The assay apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein said at least one reservoir contains a first test compound.  
     
     
         102 . The assay apparatus of  claim 101 , wherein said test compound is suspected of promoting or inhibiting movement of said at least one cell.  
     
     
         103 . The assay apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein said at least one reservoir is fluidically connected to at least one microfluidic channel.  
     
     
         104 . The assay apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein said at least one reservoir fluidically contacts said at least one assay region.  
     
     
         105 . The assay apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein said at least one cell is vitally stained.  
     
     
         106 . The assay apparatus of  claim 95 , comprising 6, 12, 24, 36, 96, 384, or 1536 assay regions.  
     
     
         107 . The assay apparatus of  claim 106 , wherein said 24, 36, 96, 384, or 1536 of said assay regions are arranged in an array of a plurality of rows and columns.  
     
     
         108 . The assay apparatus of  claim 106 , wherein said array of said assay regions is configured to correspond to the reading positions of a plate reader device.  
     
     
         109 - 201 . (canceled)  
     
     
         202 . An apparatus comprising a substrate having thereon a plurality of assay regions, wherein said plurality of assay regions are configured to culture cells and comprises an optically opaque region and an optically transparent region.  
     
     
         203 . The apparatus of  claim 202 , wherein said plurality of assay regions is 6, 12, 24, 36, 96, 384, or 1536 assay regions.  
     
     
         204 . An apparatus comprising a substrate having thereon a plurality of assay regions, wherein said plurality of assay regions comprise an optically opaque region and an optically transparent region and are configured to culture cells and for readouts selected from the group consisting of colorimetric, fluorimetric, optical density, and light scattering readouts.  
     
     
         205 . The apparatus of  claim 204 , wherein said plurality of assay regions is 6, 12, 24, 36, 96, 384, or 1536 assay regions.