Acoustically mediated fluid transfer methods and uses thereof

Abstract

Acoustic waves are used to transfer small amounts of fluid in a non-contact manner. Acoustic waves are propagated through a pool of a source fluid in such a manner that causes the ejection of a single micro-droplet from the surface of the pool. The droplet is ejected towards a target with sufficient force to provide for contact of the droplet with the target. Because the fluid is not contacted by any fluid transfer device such as a pipette, the opportunities for contamination are minimized. Methods may be employed to transfer fluids from an array of source sites to an array of target sites, thereby enabling the precise automation of a wide variety of procedures including screening and synthesis procedures commonly used in biotechnology.

1 - 57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . A method for generating an array of molecular moieties on a porous substrate surface divided into a plurality of discrete surface sites, the method comprising applying focused acoustic energy to each of a plurality of a reservoirs each containing a molecular moiety in a fluid, wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied using an acoustic ejector comprised of an acoustic radiation generator and a focusing means in a manner effective to eject a droplet from each reservoir toward the substrate surface such that the molecular moiety in each droplet attaches to a localized region within a different surface site.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein each molecular moiety is different.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein a droplet is ejected toward each surface site, such that every surface site has a molecular moiety attached thereto.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein each molecular moiety is different.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the molecular moieties are biomolecules.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the biomolecules are nucleotidic.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the biomolecules are oligonucleotides.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the biomolecules are nucleotidic monomers, and the method further comprises stepwise synthesis of an oligonucleotide within each surface site by repeated deposition of individual nucleotidic monomers at each site using focused acoustic energy.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the biomolecules are peptidic.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the porous substrate surface is comprised of more than one thousand discrete surface sites.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the porous substrate surface is comprised of thousands of discrete surface sites.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the porous substrate surface is comprised of many thousands of discrete surface sites.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the porous substrate surface is comprised of more than one thousand discrete surface sites on a microscope slide.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the porous substrate surface is comprised of thousands of discrete surface sites on a microscope slide.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the porous substrate surface is comprised of many thousands of discrete surface sites on a microscope slide.  
   
   
       73 . A molecular array comprised of a plurality of different molecular moieties on a porous substrate surface divided into a plurality of discrete surface sites, each site containing one molecular moiety attached to the substrate surface in a localized region within the site, wherein more than one thousand different sites are present.  
   
   
       74 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein the more than one thousand different sites are present on a microscope slide.  
   
   
       75 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein thousands of different sites are present.  
   
   
       76 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein the thousands of different sites are present on a microscope slide.  
   
   
       77 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein many thousands of different sites are present.  
   
   
       78 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein the many thousands of different sites are present on a microscope slide.  
   
   
       79 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein each molecular moiety is different.  
   
   
       80 . The molecular array of  claim 73 , wherein the molecular moieties are biomolecules.  
   
   
       81 . The molecular array of  claim 80 , wherein the biomolecules are oligonucleotides.  
   
   
       82 . The molecular array of  claim 81 , wherein the biomolecules are peptidic.