Microwell array articles and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759663-B2
Application number	US-201514877411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2015
Priority date	Nov 23, 2009
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

The disclosure provides microstructured articles and methods useful for detecting an analyte in a sample. The articles include microwell arrays. The articles can be used with an optical system component in methods to detect or characterize an analyte.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of detecting an analyte in a microwell array, comprising:
providing
a sample suspected of containing an analyte;
a reagent for the optical detection of the analyte;
an optical detection system; and
an article, comprising
a microstructured layer with upper and lower major surfaces, comprising a plurality of optically-isolated microwells extending below the upper major surface; and
an optically-transmissive flexible layer coupled to the lower major surface of the microstructured layer;
wherein each microwell in the microstructured layer comprises an opening, an optically-transmissive bottom wall, and at least one side wall extending between the opening and the bottom wall;
wherein a thickness (t) is defined by a thickness of the bottom wall plus a thickness of the optically-transmissive flexible layer; and
wherein t is about 2 μm to about 55 μm;

contacting the sample and the reagent in at least one microwells under conditions suitable to detect the analyte, if present, in the at least one microwells; and
using the optical detection system to detect the presence or absence of the analyte in a microwell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is optically coupled to a substrate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system comprises a fiber optic face plate and wherein using the optical detection system comprises passing a signal through the fiber optic face plate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system comprises a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or a photomultiplier tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical system further comprises a processor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence or absence of an analyte comprises detecting light that is indicative of the presence of the analyte.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein detecting light comprises detecting light by absorbance, reflectance, or fluorescence.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting light comprises detecting light from a lumigenic reaction.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence or absence of the analyte comprises obtaining an image of a microwell.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the presence or absence of the analyte comprises displaying, analyzing, or printing the image of a microwell.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting the sample and the reagent in a plurality of microwells under conditions suitable to detect the analyte comprises an enzyme and an enzyme substrate.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting the sample and the reagent in a plurality of microwells under conditions suitable to detect the analyte comprises forming a hybrid between two polynucleotides.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Halverson Kurt J
• Kenney Raymond J
• Benson Jr Olester
• Johnston Raymond P
• Mao Guoping
• Fleming Patrick R
• Tiers George Van Dyke
• Jing Naiyong

Classifications

• G01N2201/0446

  Multicell plate, sequential · CPC title

• B01L2300/0851

  Bottom walls · CPC title

• B29C59/10

  by electric discharge treatment · CPC title

• B29C2035/0827

  using UV radiation · CPC title

• B01L2200/0689

  Sealing · CPC title