Droplet Libraries

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.

1 . An emulsion library comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises the same aqueous fluid and comprises a different library element. 
     
     
         2 . An emulsion library comprising at least a first aqueous droplet and at least a second aqueous droplet within a fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein the at least first and the at least second droplets are uniform in size and comprise a different aqueous fluid and a different library element. 
     
     
         3 . An emulsion library comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises at least a first antibody, and a single element linked to at least a second antibody, wherein said first and second antibodies are different. 
     
     
         4 . An emulsion library comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises at least a first element linked to at least a first antibody, and at least a second element linked to at least a second antibody, wherein said first and second antibodies are different. 
     
     
         5 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein each droplet comprises no more than one library element. 
     
     
         6 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein each droplet comprises a plurality of library elements. 
     
     
         7 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein each droplet is less than 100 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein the fluorosurfactant is a block copolymer consisting of one or more perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) blocks and one or more polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks. 
     
     
         9 . The emulsion library of  claim 8 , wherein the fluorosurfactant is a triblock copolymer consisting of a PEG center block covalently bound to two PFPE blocks by amide linking groups. 
     
     
         10 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein the emulsion library is stable for at least 30 days. 
     
     
         11 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , further comprising a label. 
     
     
         12 . The emulsion library of  claim 11 , wherein said label can be detected by fluorescence polarization, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence energy transfer, pH, ionic content, temperature or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A method for forming an emulsion library comprising:
 providing a single aqueous fluid comprising different library elements,   encapsulating each library element into an aqueous droplet within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises the same aqueous fluid and comprises a different library element, and   pooling the aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, thereby forming an emulsion library.   
     
     
         14 . A method for forming an emulsion library comprising:
 providing at least a first aqueous fluid comprising at least a first library of elements,   providing at least a second aqueous fluid comprising at least a second library of elements,   encapsulating each element of said at least first library into at least a first aqueous droplet within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant,   encapsulating each element of said at least second library into at least a second aqueous droplet within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein the at least first and the at least second droplets are uniform in size and comprise a different aqueous fluid and a different library element, and   pooling the at least first aqueous droplet and the at least second aqueous droplet within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant thereby forming an emulsion library.