Rapid identification of conditions, compounds, or compositions that inhibit, prevent, induce, modify, or reverse transitions of physical state

Abstract

The invention concerns arrays comprising hundreds, thousands, to hundreds of thousands of samples and methods for screening thereof. These methods are useful to optimize, select, and discover compounds, compositions, or conditions that prevent, inhibit, induce, modify, or reverse physical-state transitions, particularly in-vivo physical-state transitions relating to disease causing processes. Such compounds, compositions, or conditions can be exploited to treat (e.g., reverse) or prevent the disease itself, the cause of the disease, or the symptoms of the disease.

1 . A method of preparing an array of at least 24 samples for screening to identify conditions, compounds, or compositions that inhibit, prevent, induce, modify, or reverse transitions of physical state comprising: (a) adding a medium to each of the samples; and (b) adding a disease-causing substance to at least one of the samples.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing one or more of the samples to induce the transition of physical-state in the disease causing substance.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein processing comprises at least one of: (a) adjusting a time of incubation; (b) adjusting a temperature; (c) adjusting a pressure; (d) subjecting the samples to a nucleation event; (e) subjecting the samples to ultrasound, shock waves, laser energy, or mechanical stimulation; (f) adjusting an amount of a component (g) adding a component; (h) adjusting an amount of the medium; or (i) adjusting a gas composition.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease-causing substance is added to each sample.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease-causing substance is in solid, liquid, or dissolved form.  
     
     
         6 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a liquid.  
     
     
         7 . The method  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the samples further comprises one or more additional components.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the additional component is a small molecule.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the additional component is a large molecule.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , the array comprising at least 48 samples.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the array comprising at least 96 samples.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the samples differs from one or more other samples with respect to at least one of: (i) the identity or amount of one of the components; (ii) the physical state of one of the components; (iii) the identity or amount of the medium; or (iv) the pH.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the samples differs from all of the other samples with respect to at least one of: (i) the identity or amount of one of the components; (ii) the physical state of one of the components; (iii) the identity or amount of the medium; or (iv) the pH.