APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR ASSAYING BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS USING AN ANNULAR FORMAT

摘要

An apparatus, systems and methods use an r, theta format for the manufacture and analysis of biological materials. The apparatus is an array of discrete features of biological material in an annular region on a substrate. The apparatus is formed with a system for synthesizing arrays that includes a spinner assembly for rotating the substrate during the synthesis of the biological material thereon. The spinner assembly provides efficient means for printing an annular array pattern, spreading and removing ancillary fluids used in the synthesis process. The apparatus is hybridized with complementary biological material using a system for hybridizing that includes a spinner assembly to spin the apparatus after the complementary biological material is added. The spinning motion spreads the complementary biological material efficiently over the annular array such that a much smaller amount of complementary biological material is needed for the assay. The spinning motion effectively removes unhybridized material and ancillary wash fluids and moves any bubbles that form out of the array region on the substrate. The hybridized apparatus is optically interrogated with a system for interrogation that includes a light source, optics, and a scanning assembly that holds and rotates the apparatus so that the light source can remain stationary. The hybridized apparatus is interrogated in an r, theta format using the rotating scanning assembly. The interrogation system further comprises a linear stage to move the apparatus or the optics radially to efficiently expose all features in the annular region of the apparatus to the light source. Rotation of the substrate in the synthesis, hybridization and optical interrogation of the array provides many advantages to the process of assaying biological materials that are not found in conventional systems using an x, y format. The method of assaying biological materials uses the systems for synthesizing, hybridizing and optically interrogating the apparatus in accordance with the invention.