Encoding of microcarriers

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An encoded microcarrier comprising:
a body having a surface and an internal depth; a bleachable portion having a bleachable substance, said bleachable portion located on the surface or at the internal depth of the body; and a bleached pattern at the bleachable portion for providing a code, the bleached pattern comprised of a plurality of sites in the bleachable portion, wherein at least two of the sites in the bleachable portion are bleached to a different degree such that the at least two sites of the bleachable portion have different levels of luminescent intensity, wherein the code is provided by (i) geometry of the bleached pattern and (ii) the different levels of luminescent intensity within the bleached pattern.