Non-Emulsion Methods And Masked Biomolecules

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and devices for amplifying nucleic acid, and, in particular, amplifying so as to generate products on a surface without the use of emulsions. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of groups of amplified product are generated on the surface, each group positioned in different (typically predetermined) locations on said surface so as to create an array.

1 . A method for making an array, comprising:
 a) providing:
 i) a first element comprising a surface; 
 ii) a second element comprising bottom and top surfaces, said second element further comprising a plurality of channels extending from said bottom to said top surfaces; 
 iii) a third element comprising a surface, and 
 iv) a solution comprising biomolecules, said biomolecules further comprising anchoring molecules attached thereto; 
   b) contacting the surface of said first element with said solution under conditions such that at least a portion of said biomolecules attach to at least a portion of said surface via said anchoring molecule so as to create a modified surface comprising attached biomolecules; and   c) positioning said second element between the surfaces of said first and third elements such that the bottom surface of said second element is on top of said modified surface, so as to create first regions defined by sealed channels, said first regions comprising unmasked attached biomolecules, and second regions comprising masked attached biomolecules, thereby making an array.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , whereby said positioning of step c) removes at least a portion of said solution from said surface of said first element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting of step b) results in the entire surface being contacted with said solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said channels of said second element are evenly spaced. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said attached biomolecules after step b) are attached over substantially the entire surface at a substantially even density. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biomolecules are nucleic acid molecules. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said nucleic acid molecules comprise polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers.