Encoding of microcarriers

Abstract

Encoded microcarriers, and more specifically microcarriers having codes written on them. Methods for writing the codes on the microcarriers, methods of reading the codes, and methods of using the encoded microcarriers. A preferred method of encoding the microcarriers involves exposing microcarriers containing a bleachable substance to a high spatial resolution light source to bleach the codes on the microcarriers. The encoded microcarriers may be used, for example, as support materials in chemical and biological assays and syntheses.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An encoded microcarrier, comprising:
 a body having a surface, wherein said body has a spherical, cylindrical or oval shape;   a chemically etched code written on the surface of the body or at an internal depth thereof, said chemically etched code identifying the microcarrier; and   one or more ligands bound to the microcarrier, wherein each ligand binds or reacts with one or more target analytes,   wherein the identity of the ligands are correlated with the chemically etched code written on the surface of the body or at the internal depth thereof to determine the presence of or absence of one or more target analytes.   
     
     
         2 . An encoded microcarrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said body is a sphere having a diameter of 1 to 200 μm. 
     
     
         3 . An encoded microcarrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said body is a bead. 
     
     
         4 . An encoded microcarrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: a solid, a semi-solid, and a combination of a solid and semi-solid. 
     
     
         5 . An encoded microcarrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the chemically etched code is written at a center plane of the body. 
     
     
         6 . An encoded microcarrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said chemically etched code takes the form of at least one number, letter, symbol, picture, bar code, ring code, or three-dimensional code. 
     
     
         7 . An encoded microcarrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more target analytes are selected from the group consisting of the following:
 antigens, antibodies, receptors, haptens, enzymes, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, drugs, hormones, pathogens, and toxins.   
     
     
         8 . A chemical library, comprising:
 a plurality of encoded microcarriers, each encoded microcarrier including:
 a body having a surface, wherein said body has a spherical, cylindrical or oval shape, 
 a chemically etched code written on the surface of the body or at an internal depth thereof, said chemically etched code identifying the microcarrier, and 
 one or more ligands bound to the surface of the microcarrier; and 
   a plurality of individual members of said chemical library, wherein said individual members are bound to said plurality of encoded microcarriers.   
     
     
         9 . A chemical library according to  claim 8 , wherein the chemical library is a combinatorial chemical library.