Assay systems with adjustable fluid communication

Abstract

Systems, including apparatus and methods, for performing assays in which two or more samples may be held in or out of simultaneous contact with the same fluid environment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention relates to systems for performing assays. More particularly, the invention relates to systems for performing assays in which a plurality of samples may be held in or out of simultaneous contact with the same fluid environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Modern laboratory techniques such as cell phenotyping, microscale chemical syntheses, and high-throughput screening of candidate drug compounds often require the preparation and analysis of hundreds of thousands or millions of samples. This preparation and analysis may be facilitated by packaging samples together in two-dimensional multiwell sample holders such as microplates for rapid or simultaneous processing in an automated device.

[0008] Microplates generally comprise sample holders having a frame and a plurality of individual sample wells disposed in the frame for holding a corresponding number of samples. Microplates may be rectangular in shape, with cylindrical, hexahedral, or frustoconical wells arranged in pre-defined arrays (for example, rectangular or other geometric arrays), enabling the sample holder to be used with standard microplate equipment, such as handlers, washers, and/or readers, among others.

[0009] Each sample well is essentially a small container that may hold an individual sample in fluid isolation from the samples in other wells in the microplate. Such samples may include but are not limited to biological cells or chemical agents. Unfortunately, because the samples within the individual wells of a microplate are not in fluid communication with each other, it is in practice difficult or impossible to guarantee identical testing conditions between different samples in different wells. In particular, the concentration of reagent within the reagent fluid, the volume (height) of reagent fluid (and thus the pressure and the rate of exchange of material with the environment at the bottom of the sample well), the temperature, and/or other physical properties of reagent fluid may vary in an unknown fashion from well to well. This variation may lead to errors in sample analysis, causing misinterpretation of the results and necessitating further sample testing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention provides systems, including apparatus and methods, for performing assays in which two or more samples may be held in or out of simultaneous contact with the same fluid environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a sample holder with a two-tiered hierarchy of sample compartments in which individual wells are subdivided into sub-wells, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sample holder of FIG. 1, taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a pair of flowcharts showing embodiments of assay methods that may be conducted with the sample holder of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a pair of flowcharts showing exemplary methods for forming and assaying a cell array in a subdivided sample well, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a detection system for detecting assay results from arrays of cells formed in subdivided wells of a microplate, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 6A is a top plan view of a microplate formed with subdivided wells, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 6B is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the subdivided wells of the microplate of FIG. 6A.

[0018] FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the subdivided well of FIG. 6B taken generally along line 6C-6C of FIG. 6B.

[0019] FIG. 7A is a top plan view of a microplate having wells subdivided by subarray inserts disposed in the wells, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of one of the wells and subarray inserts of FIG. 7A.

[0021] FIG. 7C is a sectional view of the well and subarray insert of FIG. 7B, taken generally along line 7C-7C of FIG. 7B, with the subarray insert defining a plurality of sub-wells.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the subarray insert of FIGS. 7A-C, with the subarray insert defining a plurality of apertures, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the subarray insert of FIGS. 7A-C, with the subarray insert defining a plurality of apertures, each of which is surrounded by a transmissive sleeve and an optical cladding, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the subarray insert of FIG. 9, viewed generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 and showing one of the apertures and associated sleeve and cladding, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative embodiment of the aperture of FIG. 10, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the aperture, sleeve and cladding of FIG. 10, viewed generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 10 and illustrating optical transmission by the sleeve and optical insulation by the cladding, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the aperture, sleeve, and cladding of FIG. 12, in which a reflective surface is disposed adjacent the sleeve and cladding, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the aperture, sleeve, and cladding of FIG. 12, with a cover disposed at each end of the aperture, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the aperture, sleeve, and cladding of FIG. 12, in which the aperture is replaced by a sub-well, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the aperture, sleeve, and cladding of FIG. 12, in which a sheet of material has been attached to a surface of the subarray insert to seal an end of the aperture, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The invention provides systems, including apparatus and methods, for performing assays in which two or more samples may be held in or out of simultaneous contact with the same fluid environment. The apparatus may provide an array of identifiable subarrays. The array may be a positional array, produced by an array-defining device or frame for disposing subarrays, such as a microplate with an array of wells. At each array position, a subarray is produced by a plurality of sub-compartments. The sub-compartments are defined by holes, that is, sub-wells (recesses) or apertures (through-holes or capillaries) separated by inner walls within each subarray. The inner walls are lower in height than outer walls that surround each subarray. The outer walls may be defined by wells within which each subarray is disposed. The sub-wells or apertures may be formed integrally with the wells, for example, integral to a microplate, or may be formed separately as subarray holders or subarray inserts to be placed in the wells. Alternatively, the subarray holders or inserts may provide both the wells and the sub-wells or apertures, that is, both the inner and outer walls. Accordingly, such subarray holders may be removably disposed in any suitable frame at which positions of the subarray holders are defined and thus the holders identified. In some embodiments, the subarray holders may be identifiable independent of position, for example, through an identifying code included in each holder. Accordingly, subarray holders may be disposed in positionally flexible (nonpositional) arrays in any suitable container or containers.

[0032] The methods comprise techniques for performing assays in which samples may be brought into or out of fluid communication with each other by adjusting the amount or level of fluid reagent in each sample well. As a result, sub-wells or apertures within a subarray may be addressed with fluid individually or as a group, or, in some cases, as sub-groups. In some embodiments, the samples may be a plurality of cell populations disposed at different positions within each subarray. Using smaller volumes of fluid that allow fluid isolation of the individual populations of the subarray, the cell populations of a subarray may be addressed individually with different reagents. For example, different transfection materials may be introduced to distinctly modify the cell populations. Using a larger volume of fluid to raise the fluid level and thus place the subarray in fluid communication, the cell populations of a subarray may be addressed as a group with a single reagent, such as a candidate cell modulator (for example, a drug candidate). Accordingly, different subarrays within an array may be addressed with different reagents. In some embodiments, cell populations and reagents exposed to the cell populations may be identified by position with the subarray and within the array.

[0033] The invention thus provides systems for simultaneously exposing multiple biological and/or chemical samples to a continuous fluid reagent environment, allowing experiments in which a plurality of samples is exposed to identical testing conditions. These systems may increase the number of samples that can be tested in a given time, and reduce experimental uncertainties associated with possible variations in fluid reagent environment across multiple samples.

[0034] The invention also provides systems for preparing and exposing samples first to a plurality of different fluid reagents, and then to either a common fluid reagent or to a plurality of reagents, in a multi-step process. These systems may increase the rate at which samples may be tested, while reducing experimental uncertainties associated with the preparation of identical samples and/or possible variations in fluid reagent environment across multiple samples.

[0035] Further aspects of the invention are described below, in the following sections: (I) apparatus, including (A) microplates with integral subdivided wells, (B) subarray inserts, and (C) manufacture of microplates and subarray inserts; (II) assay methods, including (A) arraying samples and/or reagents using subdivided microplates, and (B) assays with adjustable fluid communication; (III) detection systems; and (IV) examples.

[0036] I. Apparatus

[0037] The invention provides apparatus for holding samples in subarrays so that the samples are addressable with fluid individually or as a group. The subarrays may be defined by sample wells subdivided into sub-wells (or apertures) by inner walls, where the inner walls may be lower in height than the outer walls of the well. Such an arrangement of wells and sub-wells may be referred to generically as a superpositional array of sample wells. In a superpositional array, information about samples and reagents may be determined based on position within the subarray and identification of the subarray, for example, by its position within the array. One preferred form of the apparatus includes an industry-standard microplate, such as those detailed below, where each sample well in the microplate is divided into sub-wells, and where one or more of the inner walls in one or more of the sample wells is lower in height than the outer walls of the corresponding well. In other embodiments, the apparatus includes a removable subarray insert defining plural apertures or sub-wells. One or plural arrays may formed with the subarray inserts and used separately, for example, in different wells of a microplate, or as a mixture in any suitable container. Alternatively, the removable subarray inserts may also include outer walls, so that each insert defines both a well and sub-wells that subdivide the well. Such subarray inserts may be disposed in any suitable array-defining frame. These and other aspects of the invention are described below, including (A) microplates with integral subdivided wells, (B) subarray inserts, and (C) manufacture of microplates and subarray inserts.

[0038] A. Microplates with Integral Subdivided Wells

[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2 show top plan and sectional views, respectively, of a sample holder or microplate 20 having a hierarchy of wells 22 and sub-wells 24 within each well. Each well 22 is surrounded by an outer wall 26 and subdivided into sub-wells 24 using inner walls or dividers 28 that partition the well into the sub-wells. Each sub-well 24 is configured to hold a sample independently, for example, cells attached to a bottom surface 30 or a side surface 32 of the sub-well, or a sample in suspension or solution held in a volume defined by the sub-well. Inner walls 28 may be lower than outer walls 26 of the well, so that sub-wells 24 may exist either in a state of fluid isolation (when the sample well is only slightly filled, or at least below sub-well top 34) or in a state of fluid communication (when the sample well is nearly filled, or above top 34), as shown in FIG. 2.

[0040] The wells may have any suitable shape(s) and/or size(s). When viewed from the side and/or in vertical cross-section, the outer walls may be straight (that is, vertical or angled), curved (for example, parabolic, circular, or arcuate), or a combination thereof. For example, FIGS. 1 and 2 show wells 22 that are straight when viewed from above or from the side. When viewed from the top and/or in horizontal cross section, wells may have outer walls that are polyhedral, oval, curvilinear, and/or the like. For example, FIG. 1 shows wells that are square when viewed from above. Wells may be configured to hold any suitable volume of fluid, including less than about 2 mL, 1 mL, 0.5 mL, or 0.1 mL, among others.

[0041] The sub-wells of a well (and/or subarray insert) also may have any suitable shape(s) and/or size(s). These shapes may be as described above for wells. For example, FIGS. 1 and 2 show sub-wells 24 that are square when viewed from above and rectangular when viewed from the side. The shapes of the sub-wells may be similar or different within a well, and the shape(s) of the sub-wells may be similar to or distinct from the shape of the well. Sub-wells may have any suitable depth(s). For example, sub-wells may be formed as deep (elongate), intermediate-depth, and/or shallow recesses. Accordingly, sub-wells within one well or carried in different wells may hold similar or different volumes of fluid. Sub-wells generally hold substantially less liquid than the well in which they are carried. Accordingly, sub-wells may be configured to hold less than about 10 μL, 1 μL, 100 nL, or 10 nL of fluid, among others. In exemplary embodiments, sub-wells hold about 2-4 μL of fluid.

[0042] A subdivided well generally may include any suitable number of sub-wells, in any suitable geometrical arrangement, based on the overall size of the well, the size of individual sub-wells, the spacing between sub-wells (generally, inner wall thickness), the desired number of samples per well, and/or the like. For example, sub-wells may be arranged in a rectangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, or a circular, staggered, or irregular configuration, among others, either in a defined or arbitrary orientation relative to the well and the microplate. The arrangement may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. An asymmetrical configuration may be used, for example, to allow identification of sub-wells that may not have a defined and/or fixed orientation relative to the microplate (for example, subarray inserts described below in part B of this section).

[0043] In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, other embodiments may have inner walls of two or more different heights within a well to form a hierarchy for addressing sub-wells with fluid. For example, individual sub-wells in a well may be separated by inner walls of a first height, groups of sub-wells by inner walls of a second, greater height, and the entire well by outer walls of greatest height. In this case, individual sub-wells, groups of sub-wells, or all sub-wells of the well may be addressed with sample and/or reagents based on the volume/level of fluid added to the well.

[0044] Sub-wells may include features to control mixing and/or fluid entry from the region of the well disposed above the sub-well. For example, a sub-well may include a lip (or ledge) or hydrophobic ring disposed near the top of the sub-well. The lip may be a substantially orthogonal projection from the side walls of the sub-well to form a narrowed sub-well opening or mouth to receive fluid. Further aspects of sub-wells that may be included in microplates are described below in part B of this section and in Section IV, particularly Examples 1, 3, and 8.

[0045] Subdivided wells may be formed as part of microplates, such as microplate 20 of FIG. 1. Microplates generally comprise sample holders having a frame and a plurality of individual sample wells for holding a corresponding number of samples, or, as described here, a corresponding number of sample subarrays. Microplates may have any suitable overall shape and size, and any suitable number, shape, size, and/or arrangement of wells. In some embodiments, microplates may be rectangular in shape, with cylindrical, hexahedral or frustoconical wells arranged in rectangular arrays, enabling the sample holder to be used with standard microplate equipment, such as handlers, washers, and/or readers, among others.

[0046] Microplates may be designed and manufactured as desired, for example, in accordance with industry standards published by the Microplate Standards Development Committee of the Society for Biomolecular Screening. The industry-standard frame has a major dimension X of 127.76 millimeters (mm)±0.5 mm, a minor dimension Y of 85.48 mm±0.5 mm, and a height Z of 14.35 mm±0.76 mm, although other dimensions are possible. In addition, the rigidity of an industry-standard microplate is specified such that at any point along the sidewalls, the differential displacement is no greater than 0.50 mm between an applied load of 0.10 kilograms (kg) and an applied load of 1.00 kg. The frame may include a base configured to facilitate handling and/or stacking, and a notch configured to facilitate receiving a cover. The following table shows three preferred industry-standard well configurations, where DC is the distance from the left edge of the plate to the center of first well column, and DR is the distance from the top edge of the plate to the center of the first well row:

					Density
Number	Arrangement	DC	DR	Pitch (mm)	(/mm2)
of Wells	of Wells	(mm)	(mm)	Between Wells	of Wells
96	8 × 12	14.38	11.24	9	1/81
384	16 × 24	12.13	8.99	4.5	4/81
1536	32 × 48	11.005	7.865	2.25	16/81

[0047] The color and material of the microplate may be selected to facilitate particular applications, for example, as shown in the following table:

Application                Preferred Plate Color and/or Material
DNA Libraries/Cell Culture Clear Polystyrene
Fluorescence               Black Polystyrene
Luminescence               White Polystyrene
High Temperature/Solvent   Clear Polypropylene
Resistant
Adherent Cell Assays       Clear Bottom (Black or White)
DNA Quantization           Clear UV Transparent

[0048] In preferred embodiments, the microplate may be configured for optical detection of assay results from below the microplate, that is, configured to detect light received below the microplate from the bottom of the microplate wells. Accordingly, the bottom may be substantially transparent to visible, UV, and/or IR light. Furthermore, the bottom may be thin enough to achieve optical resolution of results from individual sub-wells and/or individual cells disposed within the sub-wells. Exemplary thicknesses include less than or equal to about 2 mm, 1 mm, 0.5 mm, and/or 0.25 mm, among others, including 0.9 mm and 0.17 mm, among others. Further aspects of optical detection from below the microplate or other sample holder are described below in Section III.

[0049] B. Subarray Inserts

[0050] Samples may be arrayed in subarray inserts that include a plurality of spatially arrayed sub-wells, as described above. The inserts, also termed subarray holders or buttons, may be disposed removably in microplates with wells that are subdivided using the subarray inserts. Alternatively, the subarray inserts may be designed to include outer walls, so that each insert defines both a well and sub-wells. In these cases, the inserts may be disposed removably in any suitable frame.

[0051] Subarray inserts generally comprise any separate structure or device capable of determining the relative positions of a subarray of samples within a frame, microplate well, or other suitable holder or container. The inserts may be small enough to be contained by and viewed in a well of a standard 96-well microplate, as described above, and thus may be less than about 81 mm2. Subarray inserts may be partitioned to form compartments for holding samples, for example, by defining subarrays of apertures or sub-wells, as described above in part A of this section. Alternatively, subarray inserts may be nonpartitioned, generally including a common planar surface for binding samples and/or analytical materials. Examples of nonpartitioned subarray inserts include sheets, chips, and wafers, among others.

[0052] Subarray inserts generally comprise subarrays of apertures or sub-wells formed in a generally planar holder. The apertures are through-holes or channels that extend between opposing surfaces of the insert, generally between the upper and lower surfaces during use in a microplate or other frame. Alternatively, the inserts may include sub-wells that extend incompletely from the upper surface toward the lower surface, and thus are not in fluid communication with the lower surface. The apertures or sub-wells may be arrayed, shaped, sized, and spaced to maximize sample capacity and minimize sample cross-contamination, as appropriate, and generally as described above for sub-wells formed integrally in microplates. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of sub-wells or apertures may include involutions to provide increased surface area, for example, a rosette cross section, as described below in Example 3.

[0053] Aperture dimensions generally are determined by dimensions of the subarray insert. Aperture lengths generally are at least substantially equal to the thickness of the subarray inserts; preferred holders have a thickness in the range of about 0.1 mm to 2 mm, or about 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm. Aperture diameters (or widths) may be about 20 microns to about 500 microns, or about 50 microns to about 300 microns. The resulting volume or sample capacity of an aperture may be about 5 nL to about 500 nL, or about 20 nL to about 100 nL. Minimum side-to-side spacing between apertures may be at least about 25%, 50%, or 100% of the aperture diameter, among others. For example, closest perimeters of adjacent apertures, each having a diameter of 100 microns, may be about 25 microns, 50 microns, or 100 microns, among others.

[0054] Subarray inserts (or microplate sub-wells) also may include features that facilitate retention of sample and/or reagents, promote contact (and thus mixing) between liquid contents of aligned apertures, and/or reduce cross-contamination between sub-wells or apertures. Sub-wells or apertures in a subarray insert may have walls (inner and/or outer) with a distinct composition and/or surface property relative to the upper and/or lower surfaces of the subarray insert. For example, upper and/or lower surfaces of a subarray insert may be hydrophobic, and the aperture/sub-well or well walls may be hydrophilic, or vice versa. In addition, walls of apertures or sub-wells may include binding moieties or may be coated with materials that preferentially bind samples and/or reagents, for example, antibodies. Furthermore, upper and/or lower surfaces of a subarray insert may include a reflective material, generally as a coating. The coating may amplify a signal before measurement. Moreover, upper and/or lower surfaces of a subarray insert may include a cover that extends over end portions of some or all of the apertures/sub-wells in the subarray insert. The cover may be attached to the subarray insert before or after loading each aperture/sub-well with sample and/or reagents. The cover may be a semi-permeable membrane, such as a porous polymer or microfiber material. The semi-permeable membrane may prevent passage of materials based on size, for example, preventing the loss of cells from an aperture/sub-well, and also may facilitate retaining liquid in the aperture/sub-well.

[0055] Optical properties of a subarray insert may vary based on aperture/sub-well proximity. For example, each aperture/sub-well may be surrounded by a transmissive ring or sleeve of generally transparent material. In turn, the sleeve may be surrounded by an optical cladding of generally opaque material. The optical cladding also may have a lower index of refraction than the sleeve to promote total internal reflection at the interface between the sleeve and the cladding. This arrangement may limit optical cross-talk between adjacent apertures or sub-wells and may promote transmission of light from the end of the sleeve.

[0056] A subarray insert may have additional features to assist in identifying samples and/or analytical materials (reagents) arrayed in the insert. For example, the insert may have an orienting feature that defines aperture/sub-well positions within an array. The orienting feature may be any asymmetric aspect of the insert, such as a mark, label, aperture/sub-well arrangement, or overall shape. The subarray inserts may be configured to include orienting structure that defines the orientation in which the inserts are received by a frame (see below). For example, the subarray inserts may be configured to include a notch(es) or ridge(s) that is received by a generally complementary structure at a receiving site of a frame, and/or may have an asymmetric shape so that the inserts can be received in only one orientation by a frame. Alternatively, or in addition, the inserts may include a detectable code, such as symbols, shapes, patterns, stripes, and/or so on, which may be optically detectable. The detectable code may distinguish the subarray inserts and their subarrays in a mixture of such inserts, for example, in a randomly distributed set of subarrays.

[0057] In some embodiments, the subarray inserts may be fashioned as wells. Such inserts may provide the function of the outer wall and bottom of a microplate well. Accordingly, any suitable frame may be used to form an array in which such inserts are positionally disposed. The frame generally includes any structure capable of defining position and/or orientation of the subarray inserts within an array. The frame may include a plurality of predefined receiving sites for receiving the subarray inserts. The receiving sites may be openings, depressions, prongs, bumps, or any others suitable mating structure that may define the position and/or orientation of the subarray inserts. The frame may lack fluid-retaining bottom and/or side walls, because the frame may not be required to contact fluid. Accordingly, the frame may be reusable without concerns about cross-contamination between sequential experiments. Exemplary frames include standard microplates. Other exemplary frames include microplates formed without well bottoms and/or with side walls that are shortened or have openings, thereby enabling removal of the subarray inserts after use.

[0058] Further aspects of subarray inserts are described below, in Examples 3-5, and in the following U.S. provisional patent applications, which are incorporated herein by reference: Serial No. 60/348,027, filed Oct. 26, 2001; and Ser. No. ______, filed Oct. 25, 2002, titled ASSAY SYSTEMS WITH ADJUSTABLE FLUID COMMUNICATION, and naming Ilya Ravkin and Oren E. Beske as inventors. Exemplary codes are described in the patents and patent applications listed above under Cross-References, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0059] C. Manufacture of Microplates and Subarray Inserts

[0060] Microplates with subdivided wells may be formed by any suitable methods using any suitable materials. In some embodiments, the frames, wells, and/or sub-wells are formed unitarily. For example, microplates may be molded, stamped, machined, etched, and/or the like, using a suitable material, such as polystyrene or polypropylene, to form both the wells and their sub-wells. Alternatively, standard microplates may be converted into superpositional arrays of wells and sub-wells either by the further addition of inner walls within the standard microplate (see below), or by the removal of portions of walls from within the standard microplate. One possible embodiment of such a converted standard microplate is described in more detail in Example 2 below.

[0061] Alternatively, wells and sub-wells may be formed of separate components. For example, some or all of the sub-wells in a well may be included in a separate insert that is introduced into the well after the well is manufactured (generally as part of a microplate). The insert may define the inner walls and the sub-wells completely or in concert with the well. Once introduced, the insert may be movable (e.g., held in place by gravity and/or friction) or fixed in position (e.g., using an adhesive, welding, a portion of the well (such as tabs), and/or the like).

[0062] A subarray insert may be formed of glass (such as sol-gels and ceramics, among others), an elastomer, composites, laminates, plastic, film, metal, matrices of biological materials, and/or combinations of these and/or other materials, including solids and/or gels. The insert may be shaped and/or dimensioned to match the shape of the well, for example, a circular insert for a circular well or a square insert for a square well. Alternatively, the insert may be shaped and/or dimensioned to be mismatched to the shape of the well, for example, a square insert for a circular well, or vice versa. The insert may include a code or marking to identify the insert and/or samples carried by the insert, and/or to orient the insert. In some cases, the shape and/or size of the insert, relative to the shape and/or size of the well, may help to orient the insert within the well.

[0063] In some embodiments, subarray inserts are formed at least substantially of glass. For example, the insert may be a generally planar sheet of glass that has been etched and/or ablated to define the apertures/sub-wells. Alternatively, glass aperture arrays may be formed by bundling individual aperture tubes and drawing the bundle to the desired size. In addition, glass aperture arrays may be formed as an assembly of glass fibers, with each glass fiber surrounded by a cladding material, where exposure to acid or some other suitable etching material removes the glass fiber and leaves an aperture in its place. Glass aperture arrays formed by some of these methods are available from Collimated Holes, Inc., of Campbell, Calif.

[0064] Exemplary methods of forming subarray inserts are described in more detail below, particularly in Example 4-5, and in the following U.S. provisional patent applications: Serial No. 60/348,027, filed Oct. 26, 2001, and Ser. No. ______, filed Oct. 25, 2002, titled ASSAY SYSTEMS WITH ADJUSTABLE FLUID COMMUNICATION, and naming Ilya Ravkin and Oren E. Beske as inventors, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0065] II. Assay Methods

[0066] This section describes assay methods that may be suitable for analyzing samples in microplates having subdivided wells, formed either integrally or as subarray inserts; see FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0067] A. Arraying Samples and/or Reagents Using Subdivided Microplates

[0068] Samples may be arrayed in (or on) subdivided microplates for exposure to analytical materials (reagents). Samples generally comprise any suitable target, such as a biological entity (cells, viruses, phages, among others), enzymes, receptors, ligands, antibodies, nucleic acids, proteins, and/or so on, although nonbiological materials may constitute the target in some embodiments. Reagents generally include any material or treatment (cell, mixture, complex, compound, and chemical or physical modulator, among others) that may interact with a sample. Interaction includes any measurable effect, such as binding, a phenotypic change, or a physical change. Examples of reagents for cells (termed cell-analysis materials) include modulators, such as drugs; ligands/receptors, such as antibodies, hormones, and cell-surface receptors; transfection materials; cell selectors, such as cell-specific or cell-restricted antibodies; local capturing agents; biological entities, such as cells, viruses, phages, and the like; and assay reagents, such as labels, among others.

[0069] Samples and reagents are contacted, combined, or exposed to each other to measure interactions. Samples may be disposed in microplate sub-wells or subarray inserts first and then reagents introduced subsequently. Alternatively, reagents may be introduced first and then samples introduced subsequently. When introduced into a sub-well or aperture, samples and/or reagents may attach to the sub-well or aperture floor/walls, and/or may be generally diffusible within the sub-well or aperture.

[0070] Samples and/or reagents may be introduced by gravity, pressure, capillary action, and/or diffusion among others. Any suitable fluid transfer system may be used, including a needle, a set of needles, a multi-channel pipeting device, or a modified inkjet printhead, among others.

[0071] Further aspects of samples and reagents that may be used in array/subarray assays are described in more detail in the patents and patent applications identified above under Cross-References, which are incorporated herein by reference, particularly U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/549,970, filed Apr. 14, 2000; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/694,077, filed Oct. 19, 2000; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/120,900, filed Apr. 10, 2002.

[0072] B. Assays with Adjustable Fluid Communication

[0073] Wells carrying sub-wells, as described herein, may be used in novel ways in various assay procedures. Generally, apparatus with such wells may be used to perform any assay or other procedure requiring or benefiting from the exposure of a plurality of biological or chemical samples to fluid reagents under identical physical conditions. Such procedures may include, for example, cell phenotyping, micro-scale chemical syntheses, and high-throughput chemical or drug compounds, among others. Such procedures may include preparing the individual samples, and then independently disposing the samples in the sub-wells of the apparatus to form a subarray. Individual samples of the subarray may be identified based on their positions within the subarray. Alternatively, or in addition, the samples may be prepared in situ, that is, in the sub-wells, for example, by chemical synthesis, transfection, or the like. In either case, the samples positioned at sub-wells of a well may be treated as a group by adding reagent fluid to a level within the well greater than the height of the inner walls of the well, so that the reagent is in fluid communication with the desired plurality of samples. This method ensures that each sample interacts with a fluid reagent of identical concentration, pressure, temperature and the like, aside from unavoidable fluctuations in these physical properties within the reagent fluid.

[0074] FIG. 3A shows a method 40 in which subdivided wells, as described herein, may be used to perform procedures requiring or benefiting from the exposure of identically prepared samples 42 to various reagents. The samples may be prepared in a fluid medium and inserted into the sub-wells of the apparatus by adding the sample fluid to one or more sample wells to a level within the well greater than the height of the inner walls of the well, so that the sample fluid has access to all sub-wells of the well. The samples may be allowed to adhere, bind, or otherwise attach themselves to the bottoms and/or inner walls of the sub-wells, and then the sample-bearing fluid medium may be removed. The result is a plurality of sub-wells that have been prepared from a continuous fluid medium so that the samples are likely to be very similar, or effectively identical, in their substantive properties.

[0075] FIG. 3A shows exemplary addition sequences for exposure of the sample array to reagents. Different reagents 44 and/or identical reagents 46 may be added to the various sub-wells in any suitable sequence and any suitable number of times until the procedure is stopped, shown at 48. Exposure of the sample array to different reagents 44 or identical reagents 46 is determined by the level to which the reagent(s) is added. Different reagents 44 are added to levels less than or equal to the height of the inner walls of the sample well, such that each reagent fluid is only in fluid communication with the sample of only one of the identically prepared sub-wells. In some embodiments, due to surface tension, sub-wells may be addressed individually with fluid added to a level that is slightly greater, locally at the sub-well, than the height of the inner walls. In all cases, sub-wells are addressed individually by adding a volume of fluid to each sub-well that is small enough to maintain fluid isolation of the sub-wells. Alternatively, or in addition, identical reagents, shown at 46, may be added before or after addition of the different reagents by adjusting the volume to a level above the sub-well level so that all sub-wells are in fluid communication.

[0076] FIG. 3B shows a method 50 in which subdivided wells, as described herein, may be used to perform procedures requiring or benefiting from the exposure of different samples 52 to various reagents in a single or a multi-step process. Different samples 52 may be prepared separately and inserted into the sub-wells of the apparatus by adding the sample fluid to one or more sub-wells to a level less than the height of the inner walls of the well, to prevent fluid communication between sub-wells. The samples may be allowed to adhere, bind, or otherwise attach themselves to the bottoms and/or inner walls of the sub-wells, and then the sample-bearing fluid medium may be removed. The result is an array of different samples. Different reagents 44 and/or identical reagents 46 may be added to the various sub-wells indefinitely as is appropriate to the procedure.

[0077] The various methods described above are not the only possibilities, and are not intended to limit or define the entire scope of the invention. These methods may be generalized to include any procedure where reagents are added to differently or identically prepared samples in one or more steps, where the method utilizes the sub-well structure of the apparatus to facilitate either the preparation of identical (or different) samples or the exposure of samples to an identical (or different) reagent(s).

[0078] FIG. 4 shows exemplary methods for analyzing cells in positional arrays that are formed in sub-wells. The sub-wells are addressable individually or as a group based on the fluid volume/level added, as described above.

[0079] FIG. 4A shows a method 60 using sub-wells to form and analyze a positional array of different cell types. The sub-wells are each addressed individually, as shown at 62, with a different type of adherent cell 64, without overfilling sub-wells 66 (and mixing the different cell types). The cells are allowed to adhere to the sub-wells, as shown at 68, thereby transforming the sample well into a positional array 70 of different cell types 64. In some embodiments, the sub-wells may be placed in fluid communication after cell types 64 have attached, but before a test reagent is introduced, thereby reducing problems associated with evaporation of cell media as the cells are incubated. Alternatively, or in addition, cell types that grow in suspension may be introduced into the sub-wells, if the suspension cell types are attached to the sub-wells, or structures therein, for example, via specific (e.g., biotin-avidin) and/or nonspecific interactions. Next, different reagents may be added separately to the individual sub-wells, using a volume that does not exceed the capacity of each sub-well, so that each cell type experiences a different reaction condition. Alternatively, or in addition, reagent 72 may be added to overfill all of the sub-wells, as shown, so that each cell type experiences the same reaction condition.

[0080] FIG. 4B shows a method 80 using sub-wells to modify and analyze a single cell line by transfection with different transfection reagents. Sub-wells 66 each are filled with cells 82 of the same type, as shown at 84. Next, the cells are allowed to adhere and/or bind to surfaces of the sub-wells, as shown at 86, to form a positional cellular array 88 of substantially identical members. For example, a suspension of the cells in media may be added in a volume that addresses all the sub-wells together. Next, the media are removed, and a different transfection may be performed in each sub-well, as shown at 90, by individually addressing each sub-well with a different transfection reagent 92. By individually transfecting each sub-well, a positional array 94 of transfected cells is formed within a single sample well 96. Positional array 94 may be treated together with a reagent 72, by overfilling the sub-wells, as shown at 98, or the transfected cell populations 100 within the array may be treated individually by partially filling the sub-wells. Transfection of cells in sub-wells may be especially powerful in assays that reduce gene expression for target validation and/or functional genomics, for example, assays that use antisense nucleic acids, RNAi, etc.

[0081] An array of subarrays may be used to perform experiments in which cell populations are exposed to different reagents. The reagents may be candidate cell modulators, for example, drug candidates, chemical compounds, ligands, viruses, transfection materials (such as nucleic acids), extracts, lysates, and/or the like. In some embodiments, cell populations may be disposed so that each subarray includes the same set of cell populations, attached at the same relative or absolute position within the subarray. Accordingly, the cell populations may be identified by their positions within the subarray. By contrast, each subarray may be contacted with a different reagent in each well in an array, so that the well position identifies the reagent added to that particular well. This approach may allow candidate cell modulators each to be tested for the potency and selectivity of their effect on a plurality of different cell populations.

[0082] Further examples of arrays, including positional and nonpositional arrays, exemplary transfection materials and transfection assays, and other assays that may be conducted with arrays, particularly cell arrays, are described in more detail in the patents and patent applications identified above under Cross-References, which are incorporated herein by reference, particularly U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/549,970, filed Apr. 14, 2000; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/694,077, filed Oct. 19, 2000; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/120,900, filed Apr. 10, 2002.

[0083] III. Detection Systems

[0084] Sample signal (or characteristics) from an array may be measured before, during, and/or after an assay procedure. Sample signal may be an averaged signal from all samples over the entire subarray, for example, to identify the presence of a rare positive sample among many subarrays in a library screen. Alternatively, sample signal may be individual signals from each sub-well in the subarray or plural signals from within a sub-well, such as signals from individual cells or subcellular structures. Before, during, or after measuring sample signal, the subarray, and thus samples, reagents, and/or assay conditions for the array, also may be identified by determining the position of the subarray within a higher order array, such as identification of well position with a microplate. Alternatively, or in addition, a code carried by the subarray may be read to identify the subarray. The steps of measuring sample signal and identifying the subarray generally may be performed in any order, and each step may be performed selectively on specific subarrays. For example, in some cases, the subarray may be identified only for subarray inserts that exhibit a specific sample characteristic, such as showing a positive signal. Alternatively sample signal may be measured only for subarrays that have a specific code(s) or position among subarrays in a microplate. Moreover, these steps may be performed using any suitable detection device, such as a microscope, a film scanner, a fiber optic bundle, or a plate reader, among others.

[0085] Sample signals or characteristics, array codes, and other measured quantities may be determined using any suitable measurement method. The measured quantities generally comprise any measurable, countable, and/or comparable property or aspect of interest. The detection methods may include spectroscopic, hydrodynamic, and imaging methods, among others, especially those adaptable to high-throughput analysis of multiple samples. The detection methods also may include visual analysis. Measured quantities may be reported quantitatively and/or qualitatively, as appropriate. Measured quantities may include presence or absence, or relative and/or absolute amounts, among others.

[0086] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary system 110 for optically detecting assay results from a microplate 112 with subdivided sample wells 114. System 110 generally includes a light source, 116 or 116′, to illuminate samples in microplate 112, and a detector 118 to receive and measure optical signals produced by sample illumination. The system also may include a stage 120 to support the microplate, optics 122 disposed between source 116, 116′ and detector 118, and/or a digital processor 124.

[0087] Light source 116, 116′ generally comprises any device for producing light of any suitable spectrum, intensity, and/or coherence, among others. Suitable light sources may include arc-lamps, light-emitting diodes, and lasers. Light source 116 may be disposed on an opposite side of microplate 112 as detector 118, in this case above microplate 112, to provide trans-illumination. Trans-illumination may be used, for example, to measure absorbance, scattering, photoluminescence, or microscopic pattern (bright field, dark field, DIC, Nomarski, phase contrast, etc.). Alternatively, light source 116′ may be disposed on the same side of microplate 112 as detector 118, in this case below the microplate, to provide epi-illumination. Epi-illumination may be used, for example, to measure photoluminescence, such as fluorescence or phosphorescence, among others. Alternatively, light source 116 or 116′ may be disposed at any other suitable angle(s) or position relative to detector 118 and microplate 112 to perform, for example, measurements of total internal reflection. In some embodiments, such as measurements of sample bio-, chemi-, or electroluminescence, a light source may not be required.

[0088] Detector 118 generally comprises any device for measuring light. Detector 118 may be a point detector, that is, a detector configured to measure a single value at a time, such as a photomultiplier tube or a photodiode. Alternatively, or in addition, detector 118 may be an image detector, configured to measure plural signals that are spatially distributed, generally using a detector array. Exemplary image detectors include CCD, CMOS, or photodiode arrays, among others.

[0089] Detector 118 may be configured to detect a whole microplate, part of a microplate, a well, a sub-well, or any portion thereof, to provide a single value or spatially distributed values, such as values from each sub-well in a well or set of wells. The detector may read from more than one well or sub-well, simultaneously and/or sequentially. For example, the detector may detect (typically image) light from two or more wells (or sub-wells) at the same time, distinguishing wells (or sub-wells) by their relative positions. Alternatively, or in addition, the detector may detect light by moving from (sub-)well(s) to (sub-)well(s), through movement of the detector, the sample holder, or both. Accordingly, detector 118 may be fixed or may be configured to move relative to microplate 112, to enable scanning. When detector 118 is fixed, stage 120 may be configured to move portions of microplate 112 past detector 118. In some embodiments, an optical element (see below) may be movable to direct light from different portions of the microplate to the detector.

[0090] Detector 118 may have any suitable position relative to microplate 112. Accordingly, the detector may be separated from the microplate by optics 122. Alternatively, the detector may be positioned close to the microplate without intervening optics or may be in contact with the microplate. The detector may be disposed above the microplate, or, as shown here, the detector may be disposed below the microplate to read signal from the bottom of the microplate.

[0091] In some embodiments, detector 118 includes a compensation mechanism that measures and compensates for fluctuations in the intensity of source 116 or 116′ to correct the detected signal based on these fluctuations.

[0092] In yet other embodiments, array holders may be physically coupled to imaging devices, to enhance the imaging capability of the assay system, increasing reliability and throughput. For example, glass-imaging fibers may be constructed to contain small recesses at one end, so that the recesses are an extension of the optical detection fibers.

[0093] Optics 122 generally comprises any optical elements for modifying, focusing, and/or collecting light. Exemplary optical elements include lenses, filters, gratings, mirrors, apertures, optical fibers, and/or the like. Optics 122 may alter light intensity, wavelength, polarization, spatial distribution, coherence, direction, and/or the like. The optics may be disposed at any suitable position(s) within system 110, including between the light source and the microplate/sample and/or between the microplate/sample and detector. For example, an array of photodetectors and the sample wells may be separated by an intervening array of optical fibers, which direct light to the detector(s) from the sample wells (or sub-wells).

[0094] Processor 124 generally comprises any digital processing system that interfaces electrically with electronic or electrical components of system 110. Accordingly, processor 124 may be configured to send signals to and receive signals from the components and thus control operation of the components or store data received therefrom. Suitable components for electrical interfacing may include light source 116 or 116′, detector 118, stage 120, optics 122, and/or a user interface (for example, a keyboard or keypad, a monitor, and/or a printer). Accordingly, processor 124 may receive, store, and process data from detector 118. Alternatively, or in addition, processor 124 may activate, move/position, and/or coordinate operation of a light source, a detector, a stage, and/or optics, among others.

[0095] IV. Examples

[0096] The following examples describe selected aspects and embodiments of the invention, including methods and apparatus for forming and analyzing sample subarrays in individual wells of a microplate. These examples are included for illustration and are not intended to limit or define the entire scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

[0097] Microplates with Subdivided Wells

[0098] This example describes embodiments of microplates having integral sub-wells; see FIG. 6.

[0099] FIG. 6A shows microplate 130 having a frame 132 and a plurality of wells 134 disposed in the frame. Here, microplate 130 is configured to have 96-wells in eight rows of twelve columns. However, the size, shape, number, and disposition of wells 134 may be selected based on the application, as described above in Section I.

[0100] FIGS. 6B and 6C show magnified and sectional views, respectively, of one of wells 134 with sub-wells 136 visible. Here, each well 134 includes nine sub-wells that are frustoconical. However, sub-wells 136 may have any suitable size, shape, number, and disposition within each well, as described above in Section I. FIG. 6C shows sub-wells 136 formed as recesses 138 in the material of microplate 130. As shown, bottom portion 140 defined below each sub-well may be thinner than the average thickness of microplate 130 and/or thinner than adjacent portions 142 of well 134, which may form the walls that separate the sub-wells. A thinned bottom portion below each sub-well may facilitate improved optical access to the sample in sub-well 136 for detection from below microplate 130, as described above in Section III. Alternatively, the bottom portion of the sub-well may have a thickness that is substantially the same as, or greater than, adjacent portions 142 of well 134 or the average thickness of microplate 130.

EXAMPLE 2

[0101] Conversion of a Standard Microplate

[0102] This example describes how a standard microplate may be converted into a microplate with subdivided wells. A standard microplate typically has wells with uniform depth, but may be converted into a superpositional array of wells and sub-wells, where the wells have different relative depths, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0103] Standard microplates may be configured as superpositional arrays of wells and sub-wells by reducing the height of one or more inner walls of the microplate. For example, an industry-standard 1536-well microplate may be converted into a superpositional array of 96 wells, each containing 16 sub-wells. To make such a conversion, various inner walls of the standard microplate may be machined to a lower height than the other walls, to create the desired superpositional array. More generally, any desired sub-well structure may be created by altering (e.g., lowering or raising) the height of some of the walls of a standard microplate (e.g., by removing or adding material), or by adding new walls within a standard microplate, or by a combination of these two techniques among others.

EXAMPLE 3

[0104] Subarray Inserts

[0105] This example describes embodiments of subarray inserts that may be placed in microplate wells to subdivide the wells; see FIGS. 7-16. These embodiments may include features that decrease background, amplify signal, and/or increase sample/reagent capacity or retention.

[0106] FIGS. 7-16 show exemplary subarray inserts. These inserts, also termed buttons, may be designed to subdivide sample wells within a microplate or may be used as subarray holders for other purposes, such as forming nonpositional arrays, as described above. The inserts comprise an array of compartments or holes, formed in a planar holder, where each hole is an aperture or sub-well. The apertures may extend completely between upper and lower surfaces of the holder. Alternatively, the holes may be recesses or wells that extend incompletely from the upper surface toward the lower surface, but that are not in fluid communication with the lower surface. The holes within a subarray insert may be arrayed in a regular pattern of rows and columns, or they may have an irregular pattern that is defined or random. Some or all of the holes in an array may extend in a generally parallel arrangement.

[0107] FIG. 7A shows a microplate assembly 150 having a microplate 151 with a plurality of wells 152 carrying subarray inserts 154. FIGS. 7B and 7C shows subarray insert 154 in more detail submerged in fluid within a well. The subarray inserts may have a generally planar structure so that each insert abuts the bottom of each well. Subarray insert 154 defines plural sub-wells 156 forming a subarray of sample assay sites. Sub-wells 156 may be spaced from each other by side walls 158 and from well surface 160 by sub-well floor 162. Accordingly, sub-wells 156 may be addressed independently and as a group by adding fluid to a level that is below and above, respectively, the top of side walls 158.

[0108] FIG. 8 shows an alternative subarray insert 170 supported by the bottom of well 152 and submerged in fluid. Subarray insert 170 includes plural through-holes or apertures 172 that extend between opposing surfaces of insert 170. As shown here, subarray insert 170 may cooperate with horizontal surface 160 of wells 152 to define sub-wells using the apertures.

[0109] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of another subarray insert 180 supported by the bottom of wells 152 and submerged in fluid. Subarray insert 180 may include plural apertures 182 as in subarray insert 170 described above. However, each aperture may be surrounded by optically distinct layers or sleeves of material, a light-transmissive inner layer or sleeve 184 and an outer optical cladding 186 that transmits light poorly.

[0110] FIG. 10 shows a plan view of insert 180 and indicates how these layers may be arranged, with sleeve 184 surrounding aperture 182 and cells 188, and optical cladding 186 surrounding sleeve 184. Cladding 186 may be formed of any opaque or other relatively nontransmissive material, such as dark glass. Accordingly, the cladding may minimize cross talk between samples during signal detection.

[0111] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a subarray insert 190, viewed as in FIG. 10. Aperture 192 may be defined by sleeve 194 with an involuted surface structure. For example, sleeve 194 may include a rosette cross-section for increased surface area and thus increased capacity for sample/reagent bound to the aperture wall. In some embodiments, the width of the opening between each rosette cavity “petal” and the central portion of the aperture may be configured to retain cells in the petals of the rosette, while maintaining a fluid connection to the central portion of the aperture.

[0112] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of FIG. 10 that illustrates how sleeve 184 and cladding 186 of subarray insert 180 may function to direct optical signals. Light directed through sleeve 184 to cladding 186 at less than the critical angle (measured relative to normal from the interface between the sleeve and the cladding) may be absorbed by the cladding, as shown at 202. However, light directed through sleeve 184 to cladding 186 at greater than the critical angle may be totally reflected internally and thus directed within sleeve 184 toward the exterior surface of the insert, as shown at 204.

[0113] FIG. 13 shows a subarray insert 210 with a reflective layer 212. Layer 212 may amplify signal from an aperture, because layer 212 can reflect light back to a detector. For example, layer 212 may be formed by coating an exterior surface with a reflective material, such as a metal. In use, cells 188 may be excited with light 214 directed at subarray insert 210 at greater than the critical angle (measured relative to normal from the aperture/sleeve interface), so that the light does not enter sleeve 184, but instead produces fluorescence emission from cells 188. Direct signals and reflected signals 216 may be measured together from sleeve 184.

[0114] FIG. 14 shows a subarray insert 220 with covers 222 over apertures 182. The cover(s) may be disposed over one or both ends of the apertures on an exterior surface(s) of subarray insert 220 and may be membranes formed of a semi-permeable or impermeable material. Cover 222 may facilitate retention inside apertures and may be disposed on insert 220 before or after addition of samples or reagents.

[0115] FIG. 15 shows a subarray insert 230 defining plural recesses or sub-wells 232 rather than apertures. Cells may attach to side walls 234 and/or to a bottom surface 236 of sub-wells 232. The sub-wells may be formed, for example, by controlled etching to a given depth or by ablation or molding, among others.

[0116] FIG. 16 shows another subarray insert 240 defining plural recesses or sub-wells 242 rather than apertures. Here, sheet 244 is attached to an exterior surface of subarray insert 180 (see FIG. 9), so that apertures 182 are sealed at one end to form sub-wells 242. Sheet 244 may be formed of any suitable material, such as glass or plastic, among others, and may be attached by heat, pressure, an adhesive, light, and/or other suitable mechanism

EXAMPLE 4

[0117] Exemplary Embodiments of Subarray Inserts I

[0118] This example describes subarray inserts that define plural apertures.

[0119] An exemplary subarray insert may include one-hundred apertures in a rectangular array, for example, formed of ten rows and ten columns of apertures. The apertures may be formed in a glass matrix as through-holes that extend between opposing faces of the matrix. Exemplary dimensions are four millimeters in length and width, with aperture centers disposed every 400 microns along orthogonal axes. Each aperture may have a diameter of 200 microns, so that the minimum distance between adjacent aperture walls is about 200 microns.

[0120] In other embodiments, the apertures generally may have any suitable arrangement and any suitable dimensions. For example, the pattern of holes may be hexagonal, which generally fits more holes in the same area while being easier to manufacture. The corresponding holders/inserts are easy to manufacture, and may be scaled up or down as needed.

[0121] The position of each aperture within a subarray insert, and thus of sample and/or reagent loaded into each aperture, may be unambiguously defined by one or more orientation marks asymmetrically positioned within the insert. These marks may comprise any structure suitable for identifying orientation, such as a “dead” (i.e., nonetched or unformed) hole in the array.

[0122] In cell assays, each aperture may hold a distinct cell type or cell population. Each cell type or population may be individually loaded into each aperture as a pure population, or cell selectors (generally, antibodies) may be bound to the aperture walls first, to select specific cells out of a mixed population passed through each aperture. Cells may be bound and then directly analyzed, or cells may be grown on the aperture walls before analysis. In some embodiments, all apertures may be exposed to a common reagent after loading cells into the array.

EXAMPLE 5

[0123] Exemplary Embodiments of Subarray Inserts II

[0124] A subarray insert may be designed to fit into a standard square or circular 96-well microplate, for example, dividing each well into a plurality of one mm-deep sub-wells. The insert may include a 100-micron thick, optically transparent bottom surface, which may be used for detection through the bottom of the sub-wells.

[0125] Subarray inserts may be formed using glass fibers to form a fiber assembly. In some embodiments, the fiber assembly may be drawn only (but not fused), leaving interstitial voids between apertures. In an exemplary embodiment, the fiber assembly may include 600-micron apertures created by etching away place-holder glass fibers used to create the initial fiber assembly. Each aperture may include an internal sleeve, which is made from optical glass with a refractive index of 1.56. The sleeve may be impervious to the acid used in the etching process, and the thickness of the sleeve wall may be changed to alter the ratio of open to solid area.

[0126] Each aperture also may include a black ring or optical cladding around the sleeve, which may be constructed from Extra-Mural Absorber (EMA). The optical cladding may provide optical isolation for each aperture and sleeve, and reduces or prevents optical cross-talk between apertures. The refractive index of glass used to form the optical cladding may be lower than the refractive index of the sleeve, to provide an interface condition between the cladding and sleeve for total internal reflection within the sleeve (see Example 3), and thus increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the optical detection system. The amount of EMA glass may be changed to alter the ratio of open to solid area.

[0127] A spacer layer or outer cladding may be formed around the optical cladding and sleeve to appropriately space the apertures. The spacer layer may be formed of a relatively low temperature optical glass, which flows into the interstitial voids when the entire assembly is fused. The thickness of the spacer layer may be modified to change the center-to-center spacing of the holes, and the ratio of open to solid area.

[0128] In some embodiments, the fiber assembly may be both drawn and fused. An exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of 200-micron apertures, each of which includes the same internal sleeve, EMA ring, and outer cladding as described above. However, when drawn and fused, there may be no interstitial voids due to the fusion of the glass fibers.

EXAMPLE 6

[0129] Exemplary Methods of Loading Samples/Reagents

[0130] This example describes methods for loading samples and/or reagents into a subdivided sample well or a subarray insert. An array-loading device may include a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle may include a tip that extends into the interior of a sample compartment, that is, a sub-well or aperture, or each nozzle may mate by contact with an exterior surface of the subdivided sample well or subarray insert. The array-loading device may include an array of loading nozzles, with the array matching the spacing and positioning of sub-wells or apertures in the subdivided sample well or subarray insert. Each nozzle may widen at its distal portion to allow connection to a nozzle-specific reservoir. Thus, the entire nozzle array may taper towards the nozzle tips. Each reservoir may be loaded with a distinct sample and/or reagent. Aperture action, pressure exerted on the reservoir contents, or a vacuum exerted on the unmated side of a subarray insert (with apertures) may promote loading of sample or material into each sample compartment of an array. Loading may be carried out before or after placing a subarray insert into an array, such as that provided by the wells of a microplate.

[0131] Each nozzle also may have ports along the lateral cylindrical surface, instead of at the proximal end, such that by rotating the nozzle, specific portions of the interior surface, or individual rosette cavities, can be individually loaded or sampled. Similarly, a fiber optic bundle may be used to “read” assay results from individual interior surfaces or individual rosette cavities.

EXAMPLE 7

[0132] Chemical Isolation of Sub-Wells

[0133] This example describes the results of several experiments that illustrate the chemical isolation of sub-wells in a superpositional array of wells.

[0134] The division of sample wells into sub-wells may provide several advantages over undivided wells, including an ability to hold sub-wells in and out of fluid isolation/communication with each other, as described previously. It therefore is desirable that there be no cross contamination between sub-wells, unless they are brought into fluid communication with each other by adding fluid reagent above the height of the sub-well walls. This example describes experimental results showing, using the embodiments described herein, that each sub-well remains effectively isolated from the other wells, so that there is little or no cross contamination between sub-wells loaded with sample materials (cells, for example) and empty sub-wells.

[0135] Experiments were performed using an array of machined sub-wells produced from a 1536-well microplate, as described above in Example 2. Some of the sub-wells were loaded with cells and adjacent sub-wells were left empty. No cross-contamination of the empty sub-wells with cells from adjacent sub-wells was observed, thus illustrating the fluid isolation of the individual sub-wells.

[0136] In other experiments, chemical isolation was tested using cell arrays. First, nine cell types were loaded into an array of nine sub-wells contained in each of two subdivided wells to form two positional cell arrays. Each subdivided well was treated with a different compound, with only one of the two compounds being toxic. In the well treated with the nontoxic compound, eight out of nine sub-wells contained live cells. By contrast, treatment with the toxic compound in the other wells killed every cell, so that no live cells were detected in any of the sub-wells. In both cases, there were no signs of cross-contamination between wells or sub-wells.

[0137] Similar results were obtained using a subarray insert having apertures to hold samples. Some of the apertures were loaded with fluorescently labeled cells and others were left empty. No cross contamination between loaded and empty wells was detected.

EXAMPLE 8

[0138] Sub-Wells with Fluid-Control Structure

[0139] This example describes sub-well structures that may facilitate control of fluid entry into the sub-wells.

[0140] Adding the fluid to a subdivided well may produce significant turbulence within the sub-wells, especially for those sub-wells near a wall of the well or adjacent to a sub-well with a greater wall height. This may lead to uncontrolled mixing and other unwanted problems. At fluid deposition rates low enough to avoid this problem, samples in different sub-wells may be exposed to reagents for substantially different time periods, particularly for assays conducted over short time periods.

[0141] To minimize such problems, sub-wells may be configured to include a lip or ledge about the inside periphery near the top of each sub-well, at the mouth or fluid-entry point of the sub-well. The lip may be configured to narrow the sub-well near its top region but would leave an aperture through which materials and fluid are deposited, for example, via a pipet tip. Such sub-wells may be manufactured, for example, by injection molding followed by a heat press process. The lip may provide a horizontal flow diversion for fluid added above the height of the sub-wells, as well as a smaller cross section for fluid mixing. This may significantly restrict vertical fluid turbulence from entering the sub-wells.

[0142] The use of a lip or ledge in a sub-well at its mouth may have other advantages. By coating the opposing faces of the ledge (the inside face of the aperture) or the tops of the ledges with a hydrophobic material, the degree of control over adjustable fluid communication may be improved, as follows. Sub-wells may be filled to various heights via the mouth of each sub-well. Next, fluid may be deposited in the well region above the sub-wells. Due to the hydrophobic surface near each aperture, the deposited fluid may not enter any sub-well in which the fluid level in the sub-well is below the ledge, thereby forming an air bubble between the fluid in the sub-well and the fluid in the region of the well above the sub-well. Accordingly, plural wells may be addressed with fluid before there is fluid communication between the sub-wells and the overlying region of the well. In alternative embodiments, a ring about the interior surface near the top of the sub-well may be coated with a suitable hydrophobic material without the use of a lip or ledge on the sub-well. For example, in experiments performed with coatings, an allyl-silane coating on the sub-well top surface and top interior perimeter prevented aqueous liquid from entering the sub-well.

[0143] Vacuum may be used to initiate fluid communication between the sub-well fluid and the fluid placed in the well above the sub-well. The well, or more typically, a frame or microplate holding the well, may be briefly subjected a mild vacuum treatment to provide uniform mixing The mild vacuum draws the fluid-separating air bubbles out the sub-wells, and the evacuated space is replaced with the fluid in the well that overlies the sub-well, thereby generating a controlled direct fluid communication between the two fluids. Application of vacuum provides a “zero time point” for an experiment. Alternatively, it may be possible to accomplish the above using internal plumbing and valving.

[0144] Such controlled fluid communication may be used to add different amounts of reagent to different sub-wells. For example, different sub-wells may be addressed initially with fluid to different heights, and then fluid may be added to overlie all sub-wells as described above. However, when fluid communication is initiated, such as with the vacuum treatment described above, sub-wells filled to a lower level are infused with a larger volume, due to the larger air bubble that is displaced. Therefore, the initial concentration of reagent to which the sample is exposed can also be controlled in a sub-well-to-sub-well manner without additional pipeting to the sub-wells. Eventually, all the wells fully equilibrate with the reagent, but with a smaller aperture or mouth provided by a lip or ledge, this time may be significant. In any event, samples may be exposed to different initial concentrations of reagent and then assayed as the reagent concentration for the samples within the sub-wells is equalized.

EXAMPLE 9

[0145] Selected Embodiments

[0146] This example describes selected embodiments of the invention, presented as a series of numbered paragraphs.

[0147] 1. A multi-well microplate, comprising (1) a frame, and (2) a plurality of discrete sample wells disposed in the frame, at least one of the wells including (a) a bottom, (b) one or more outer walls, and (c) one or more inner walls, such that the at least one well is subdivided into at least two sub-wells by the inner walls, at least one such inner wall extending from the well bottom to a height lower than the outer walls of the at least one well.

[0148] 2. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the at least one well is shaped as a rectangular hexahedron.

[0149] 3. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the at least one well is shaped as a cylinder.

[0150] 4. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the at least one well is shaped as a frustum of cone.

[0151] 5. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the sample wells are arrayed in a rectangular format of 8×12 wells.

[0152] 6. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the sample wells are arrayed in a rectangular format of 16×24 wells.

[0153] 7. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the sample wells are arrayed in a rectangular format of 32×48 wells.

[0154] 8. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein the sub-wells are constructed from the wells by machining the inner walls.

[0155] 8A. The microplate of paragraph 1, the sample wells being arrayed in a rectangular format of 32×48 wells, wherein the sub-wells are constructed from the sample wells by machining the inner walls of arrays of 4×4 wells, resulting in an 8×12 array of wells, each of which contains 16 sub-wells.

[0156] 9. The microplate of paragraph 1, the at least two sub-wells being shaped as rectangular hexahedrons.

[0157] 10. The microplate of paragraph 1, the at least two sub-wells being shaped as cylinders.

[0158] 11. The microplate of paragraph 1, the at least two sub-wells being shaped as frustums of cone.

[0159] 12. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein each of the sample wells is symmetrically subdivided into sub-wells of equal cross-sectional area.

[0160] 13. The microplate of paragraph 1, each of the inner walls having a height, wherein the heights of the inner walls are at least substantially equal.

[0161] 14. The microplate of paragraph 1, wherein each of the sample wells is subdivided by one or more inner walls into sub-wells of equal volume.

[0162] 15. A method for exposing a plurality of biological or chemical samples to the same reaction conditions, the method comprising:

[0163] inserting a plurality of samples into the at least two sub-wells of one of the at least one wells of paragraph 1; and

[0164] subsequently bringing the samples into fluid contact with one or more reagents in a single-step or multi-step procedure by adding and/or removing fluid from the at least two sub-wells to heights greater than or less than the height of the at least one inner wall.

[0165] 16. A method for exposing a plurality of biological or chemical samples to the same reaction conditions, comprising:

[0166] independently inserting a plurality of samples into the at least two sub-wells of one of the at least one wells of the microplate of paragraph 1;

[0167] adding reagent fluid to a height within the one well, the height being greater than the height of the at least one inner wall of the well, such that the reagent fluid is in fluid communication with each of the samples inserted into the at least two sub-wells.

[0168] 17. A method for exposing a plurality of biological or chemical samples to different reagents or reaction conditions, comprising:

[0169] independently inserting a plurality of samples into the at least two sub-wells of one of the at least one wells of paragraph 1; and

[0170] adding one or various reagent fluids to the sub-wells to a height, the height being less than the height of the at least one inner wall of the one well, such that each reagent fluid is in fluid communication with only one of the plurality of samples.

[0171] 18. The method of paragraph 17, wherein a second reagent fluid is subsequently added to the one well to a height within the well that is greater than the height of the inner walls of the one well, such that the second reagent fluid is in fluid communication with the sample of each of the at least two sub-wells.

[0172] 19. A method for preparing a plurality of similar biological or chemical samples and then exposing them to plural reaction conditions in a multi-step process, comprising:

[0173] preparing samples in a fluid medium and inserting them into the at least two sub-wells of one of the at least one wells of paragraph 1 by adding said fluid medium to the one well to a height within the well that is greater than a height of the inner walls of the well;

[0174] allowing the samples to adhere to the bottoms or inner walls of the at least two sub-wells;

[0175] removing the fluid medium; and

[0176] adding one or various reagent fluids to the at least two sub-wells to heights less than the height of the inner walls of the one well, such that each reagent fluid is only in fluid communication with the sample adhered to one of the at least two sub-wells.

[0177] The disclosure set forth above may encompass multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. Although each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred forms(s), the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed in applications claiming priority from this or a related application. Such claims, whether directed to a different invention or to the same invention, and whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method of assaying a plurality of biological or chemical samples, comprising: selecting a sample holder having a frame and a plurality of discrete wells disposed in the frame, at least one of the wells having an outer wall and at least one inner wall, the inner wall subdividing the at least one well into a plurality of sub-wells, the height of the at least one inner wall being lower than the height of the outer wall; disposing a plurality of samples in the sub-wells of the at least one well; and contacting the plurality of samples with at least one reagent by adding or removing fluid from the sub-wells to levels greater than or less than the height of the at least one inner wall.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes removing fluid from the sub-wells to levels less than the height of the at least one inner wall and adding the at least one reagent individually to each of the sub-wells.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes adding fluid to the sub-wells to a level greater than the height of the at least one inner wall and exposing the plurality of samples to the at least one reagent as a group.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fluid added to the sub-wells includes the at least one reagent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of samples are disposed in the sub-wells independently.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of samples is different.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of samples is a plurality of cell populations, the step of disposing including attaching the cell populations to the sub-wells.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least two of the cell populations are at least substantially identical when disposed.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of transfecting at least one of the cell populations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of disposing includes sequentially placing the samples into the sub-wells.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one well includes a bottom from which wall heights and fluid levels are measured, the method further comprising the step of detecting an optical property of the sub-wells from below the bottom.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-wells are in fluid communication during at least a portion of the step of disposing and in fluid isolation during at least a portion of the step of contacting.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-wells are in fluid isolation during at least a portion of the step of disposing and in fluid communication during at least a portion of the step of contacting.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one well includes a plurality of wells, the step of disposing including forming substantially identical subarrays in each of the wells, the step of contacting including exposing the subarrays to different reagents.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the wells are formed integrally with the frame.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-wells are separable from the wells.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the wells are separable from the frame.