Systems and methods for nucleic acid sequencing

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for processing and analyzing nucleic acids and other biomolecules. Methods may include processing nucleic acid molecules in an emulsion of droplets. Methods of analyzing nucleic acid molecules may include coupling nucleic acids to a bead or other support. Methods may include analysis of nucleic acid molecules using a redox mediator. In some cases, analysis of the nucleic acid molecule includes determining a nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid molecule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor array, comprising:
 a plurality of sensors;   an entangled polymer network disposed within sensory communication of at least one sensor of said plurality of sensors, wherein said entangled polymer network comprises a plurality of nucleic acid molecules coupled thereto at a concentration greater than about 1 picomolar (pM), and wherein a nucleic acid molecule of said plurality of nucleic acid molecules is configured to couple to an analyte.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said entangled polymer network comprises a hydrogel. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said entangled polymer network comprises acrylamide. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor array of  claim 3 , wherein said entangled polymer network comprises a bromoacetamidepentylacrylamide (BRAPA) polymer, a porous polymer monolith (PPM), or derivative thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises an electrical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor array of  claim 6 , wherein said sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein said entangled polymer network is disposed between said first electrode and said second electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor array of  claim 7 , wherein said electrical sensor is configured to measure conductivity, a conductivity change, impedance, or an impedance change between said first electrode and said second electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor array comprises at least about 100 individual sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor array of  claim 9 , wherein said sensor array comprises at least about 10,000 individual sensors. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor array of  claim 10 , wherein said sensor array comprises at least about 100,000 individual sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor array of  claim 11 , wherein said sensor array comprises at least about 1,000,000 individual sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor array of  claim 12 , wherein said sensor array comprises at least about 10,000,000 individual sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor of array of  claim 1 , further comprising a well comprising at least a portion of said entangled polymer network. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said entangled polymer network comprises said plurality of nucleic acid molecules coupled thereto at a concentration greater than 10 pM. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of nucleic acid molecules is a plurality of nucleic acid primers. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein sensors of said sensor array are individually addressable. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said analyte comprises nucleic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein said analyte comprises a peptide or protein. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 (a) activating a sensor array comprising (i) a plurality of sensors and (ii) an entangled polymer network disposed within sensory communication of at least one sensor of said plurality of sensors, wherein said entangled polymer network comprises a plurality of nucleic acid molecules coupled thereto at a concentration greater than 1 picomolar (pM); and   (b) using said at least one sensor to detect a signal indicative of a presence of an analyte coupled to a nucleic acid molecule of said plurality of nucleic acid molecules.