Devices and methods for biochip multiplexing

Abstract

The invention is directed to devices that allow for simultaneous multiple biochip analysis. In particular, the devices are configured to hold multiple cartridges comprising biochips comprising arrays such as nucleic acid arrays, and allow for high throughput analysis of samples.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of analyzing a biochip comprising:
 a) providing a biochip comprising:
 i) an array of detection electrodes, and 
 ii) a plurality of different hybridization complexes each comprising a ligand, a ligand-specific analyte and an electrochemical detection label at least one of which is different as between said different hybridization complexes; and 
   b) detecting said labels as a measure of the presence or identity of said different hybridization complexes.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising using a plurality of different electrochemical detection labels of different electrochemical potential to measure the presence or identity of different ligand-specific analytes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein one or more of said labels comprises a multimer of the same label covalently bound to the same member of a hybridization complex. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  or  17  wherein said different labels comprises a member selected from the group consisting of ferrocene and ferrocene derivatives. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said ligands comprises a member selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids and nucleic acid analogs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said ligands comprises a member selected from the group consisting of peptides and proteins. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said ligands comprises an antibody or portion thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a plurality of different target analytes simultaneously using a plurality of different binding ligands. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said plurality of different ligands comprises different nucleic acid sequences. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said different nucleic acid sequences are each associated with different electrodes. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said plurality of target analytes comprises both nucleic acids and non nucleic acids. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said analytes comprise amplified nucleic acids. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said analytes are amplified on-chip. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said amplified nucleic acids are amplified using PCR. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said analytes or ligands is associated with a genetic disease. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said analytes or ligands is associated with an infectious disease. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least one of said ligands is a nucleic acid analog selected from the group consisting of peptide nucleic acids and analogs having positively charged backbones. 
     
     
         32 . A method of analyzing a biochip comprising:
 a) providing a biochip comprising:
 i) an array of detection electrodes, and 
 ii) a plurality of different hybridization complexes each comprising a ligand, a ligand-specific analyte and an electrochemical detection label, said label comprised of a transition metal or metal, and at least one of which said ligand, said ligand-specific analyte, and said electrochemical detection label is different as between said different hybridization complexes; and 
   b) detecting said labels as a measure of the presence or identity of said different hybridization complexes.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a plurality of detection electrodes in said array are independently addressable. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said biochip further comprises a memory chip or barcode and wherein said method further comprises reading said memory chip or barcode. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said detecting comprises transmission of a signal to a processor and filtering or amplifying said signal. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising adding said analytes to said biochip in the form of blood, tissue, sputum or saliva sample, and then processing said sample on-chip. 
     
     
         37 . A method of analyzing a biochip comprising:
 a) providing a biochip comprising:
 i) an array of detection electrodes, and 
 ii) a plurality of different hybridization complexes each comprising a ligand, a ligand-specific analyte and an electrochemical detection label at least one of which said is different as between said different hybridization complexes; 
   b) circulating and recirculating an aqueous sample comprising one or more of said ligand, said ligand-specific analyte, and said electrochemical detection label across said array in said biochip; and   c) detecting said labels as a measure of the presence or identity of said different hybridization complexes.   
     
     
         38 . A method of analyzing a biochip comprising:
 a) providing a biochip comprising:
 i) an array of detection electrodes, and 
 ii) a plurality of different hybridization complexes each comprising a ligand, a ligand-specific analyte and an electrochemical detection label at least one of which said is different as between said different hybridization complexes; and 
   b) detecting said labels as a measure of the presence or identity of said different hybridization complexes using one or more of AC voltametry, DC voltametry, digital lock-in, Fourier transform and joint time-frequency transformation.   
     
     
         39 . A method of analyzing a biochip comprising:
 a) providing a biochip comprising:
 i) an array of detection electrodes; 
 ii) a reference electrode; 
 iii) one or more auxiliary electrodes; and 
 iv) a plurality of different hybridization complexes each comprising a ligand, a ligand-specific analyte and an electrochemical detection label at least one of which said is different as between said different hybridization complexes; and 
   b) detecting said labels as a measure of the presence or identity of said different hybridization complexes.