Guided deposition in spatial arrays

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for preparing and using a very large and diverse array of compounds on a substrate having rapidly accessible locations. The substrate contains cells in which the compounds of the array are located. Surrounding the cells is a non-wetable surface that prevents the solution in one cell from moving to adjacent cells. The compounds are delivered to the individual cells of the array by a micropipette attached to an X-Y translation stage.

1 . A method for conducting a plurality of reactions on a substrate, said substrate having a plurality of cells at predefined locations thereon, the location of each cell being encoded by information readable with electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic sensing means, said method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) selecting a first set of cells;    (b) decoding the locations of said first set of cells by said sensing means and delivering a first reactant to each of said first set cells;    (c) selecting a second set of cells;    (d) decoding the locations of said second set of cells by said sensing means and delivering a second reactant to each of said second set of cells; and    (e) simultaneously reacting said first reactant in each of said first set of cells and said second reactant in each of said second set of cells, wherein the first reactant is prevented from contacting the second set of cells and the second reactant is prevented from contacting the first set of cells.    
     
     
         2 - 20 . (canceled)