Biocatalytic solgel microarrays

Abstract

A system and method for conducting high-throughput interactions between test compositions and analytes, comprising one or more test compositions, and a plurality of independent micromatrices, wherein each said micromatrix encapsulates at least one said test composition; and said micromatrices are made of a material that is permeable to an analyte.

1 . A method for high-throughput screening to detect a reaction or reaction product having a desired feature, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing an apparatus, said apparatus comprising a plurality of independent, permeable micromatrices fixed on a solid support, wherein each said micromatrix encapsulates at least one test composition and wherein the test composition is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a cofactor, an antibody, a cell extract, a cell fragment and a cell;   b. combining one or more distinct applied compositions with said micromatrices under conditions suitable for reacting said applied compositions with said test compositions, wherein each applied composition contains a xenobiotic; and   c. assaying each reaction or reaction product in step (b) for a desired feature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test composition comprises a constituent of mammalian origin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the test composition comprises a constituent of human origin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test composition is a cell. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test composition comprises a cytochrome P450 isoform. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the micromatrices are fixed in a well, channel, conduit or depression; or fixed on a raised platform; or surrounded partially or totally by a raised wall or barrier; or surrounded partially or totally by a depressed channel; or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the micromatrices are surrounded partially or totally by a depressed channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the micromatrices are fixed on a raised platform. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distinct applied composition is combined with a distinct test composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein numerous distinct applied compositions can be combined with numerous distinct test compositions in parallel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applied composition is added to the apparatus by dipping the apparatus into a solution of applied composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product of a reaction is combined with a second test composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each said micromatrix is comprised of the same material, wherein said material comprises a solgel, a hydrogel, a polyacrylamide, a polyacrylate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinylene, or a polyvinyl silicate, and wherein said material is substituted or unsubstituted. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the micromatrices are combined with an applied composition by submerging the micromatrices in a solution comprising the applied composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the micromatrices are impermeable to the test composition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is high-throughput. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising a plurality of independent, permeable micromatrices fixed on a solid support, wherein each said micromatrix encapsulates at least one test composition, wherein the test composition is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a cofactor, an antibody, a cell extract, a cell fragment and a cell and wherein the micromatrices are fixed on a raised platform. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the test composition comprises a constituent of mammalian origin. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the test composition comprises a constituent of human origin. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of claim of  claim 17 , wherein the test composition is a cell.