Assay method using encoded particle-based platform

Abstract

Provided is an assay method using an encoded particle-based platform. In the assay method, first, a plurality of encoded particles having codes distinguishable from one another according to kinds of included target materials are prepared. The plurality of encoded particles are provided onto a plate including a plurality of wells by pipetting, and disposed in the plurality of wells by a self-assembly method. An analyte is provided into the plurality of wells. The codes of the plurality of encoded particles disposed in the plurality of wells are decoded. The target materials of the plurality of encoded particles are released to cause a reaction between the target materials and the analyte.

1 . An assay method using an encoded particle-based platform, comprising:
 (a) preparing a plurality of encoded particles having codes distinguishable from one another according to kinds of included target materials;   (b) providing the plurality of encoded particles onto a plate including a plurality of wells by pipetting, and disposing the plurality of encoded particles in the plurality of wells by a self-assembly method;   (c) providing an analyte into the plurality of wells;   (d) decoding the codes of the plurality of encoded particles disposed in the plurality of wells; and   (e) releasing the target materials of the plurality of encoded particles to cause a reaction between the target materials and the analyte.   
     
     
         2 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein the target materials or the analyte includes a chemical material or a biological material. 
     
     
         3 . The assay method of  claim 2 , wherein the chemical material is a drug, and
 the biological material is at least one selected from a group consisting of cells, molecules, protein, bacteria, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and ribonucleic acid (RNA).   
     
     
         4 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (b) includes providing the plurality of encoded particles onto the plate by one pipetting operation. 
     
     
         5 . The assay method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of encoded particles are provided onto the plate using a fluid as a carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The assay method of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid is one selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, water, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and an oil. 
     
     
         7 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein pipetting of (b) includes putting the plurality of encoded particles in a carrier fluid and carrying the carrier fluid, and
 a concentration of the plurality of encoded particles in the carrier fluid is determined by a number of the plurality of encoded particles included in the carrier fluid.   
     
     
         8 . The assay method of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier fluid is one selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, water, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and an oil. 
     
     
         9 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes:
 (a1)) mixing the target materials and a polymer to form a solution in a resin form; and   (a2) solidifying the solution formed in the resin form to form the particles in which the target materials are included in the polymer.   
     
     
         10 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes:
 (a1) solidifying a polymer to form preliminary particles; and   (a2) causing the target materials to be absorbed in the preliminary particles.   
     
     
         11 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes:
 (a1)) dissolving the target materials in poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAM);   (a2) mixing the PNIPAAM in which the target materials are dissolved and polyethylene glycol-diacrylate (PEG-DA) to produce a composite in a resin form; and   (a3) solidifying the composite.   
     
     
         12 . The assay method of  claim 9 , further comprising solidifying the particles or the preliminary particles formed to include the target materials therein by lyophilization. 
     
     
         13 . The assay method of  claim 9 , wherein (a) includes coating the polymer, which is produced to include the target materials therein, with silica. 
     
     
         14 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) includes:
 (a1)) forming a first polymer layer;   (a2) forming a layer of the target materials on the first polymer layer; and   (a3) forming a second polymer layer sealing the target material layer.   
     
     
         15 . The assay method of  claim 14 , wherein (a1)) and (a3) include providing a fluidic polymer and solidifying the fluidic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The assay method of  claim 14 , wherein (a2) includes:
 providing a fluidic polymer including the target materials; and   solidifying the fluidic polymer.   
     
     
         17 . The assay method of  claim 16 , wherein (a2) includes:
 mixing the target materials and a polymer to form a solution in a resin form on the first polymer layer; and   solidifying the solution formed in the resin form.   
     
     
         18 . The assay method of  claim 14 , wherein (a2) includes:
 dropping droplets of the target materials on the first polymer layer; and   disposing the dropped droplets of the target materials on the first polymer layer, which is hydrophobic.   
     
     
         19 . The assay method of  claim 14 , wherein (a2) includes:
 forming a hydrophilic polymer layer on the first polymer layer; and   causing the hydrophilic polymer layer to absorb the target materials.   
     
     
         20 . The assay method of  claim 14 , wherein (a2) includes:
 forming a first structure in the form of a wall on the first polymer layer along an edge of the first polymer layer using a hydrophobic polymer;   forming a second structure on a sidewall in the first structure using a hydrophilic polymer; and   forming the target material layer in the second structure on the first polymer layer.   
     
     
         21 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein a process of encoding the particles is performed by patterning a polymer layer of the particles by lithography. 
     
     
         22 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein a process of encoding the particles includes:
 dispersing magnetic nanoparticles in the polymer layer of the particles; and   applying a magnetic field to align the magnetic nanoparticles.   
     
     
         23 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-assembly method of (b) is performed by sweeping the particles provided onto the plate into the plurality of wells. 
     
     
         24 . The assay method of  claim 23 , wherein the self-assembly method includes sweeping a fluid including the plurality of encoded particles, and
 the higher a concentration of the plurality of encoded particles in the fluid, the greater a number of the particles disposed in the plurality of wells.   
     
     
         25 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-assembly method of (b) includes:
 (b1) disposing a structure parallel to the plate; and   (b2) providing a fluid including the plurality of encoded particles between the plate and the structure, and causing the fluid to flow.   
     
     
         26 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-assembly method of (b) includes:
 (b1) disposing a structure tilted with respect to the plate;   (b2) providing a fluid including the plurality of encoded particles between the plate and the structure; and   (b3) evaporating the fluid provided between the plate and the structure.   
     
     
         27 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) includes any one selected from the group consisting of a method of pipetting the analyte, a method of causing the analyte to flow using a microfluidic channel, a method of pipetting and sweeping the analyte into the plurality of wells, and a method of attaching the wells and a plate having a plurality of wells in which the analyte is disposed. 
     
     
         28 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein (d) includes decoding marks or colors of the codes of the plurality of encoded particles disposed in the plurality of wells by taking an image. 
     
     
         29 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein releasing the target materials of the plurality of encoded particles in (e) is performed to cause a medium including the analyte and the plurality of encoded particles to come in contact with each other, such that the target materials are diffused from the plurality of encoded particles. 
     
     
         30 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein releasing the target materials of the plurality of encoded particles in (e) is performed by grinding the plurality of encoded particles using a grinder. 
     
     
         31 . The assay method of  claim 1 , wherein releasing the target materials of the plurality of encoded particles in (e) is performed by heating the plurality of encoded particles using a laser. 
     
     
         32 . The assay method of  claim 1 , further comprising (f) removing the particles from which the target materials are released, and fixing the analyte.