Integrated high throughput system for the analysis of biomolecules

Abstract

Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An affinity microcolumn comprising a polymer contained within a housing and affinity reagents bound to the polymer, wherein the affinity reagents are either activated or activatable. 
     
     
         2 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is formed by molding. 
     
     
         3 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is exposed to at least one of chemical etching and electro etching. 
     
     
         4 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 1  wherein the affinity reagents that are bound to the polymer further comprise affinity receptors bound to the affinity reagents. 
     
     
         5 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 4  further comprising a tethering molecule that is activated or activatable and binds the affinity receptors to the affinity reagents. 
     
     
         6 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 4  further comprising an amplification media that is activated or activatable and is interposed between the affinity reagents and the affinity receptors, where the amplification media allows a high density of affinity receptors to be bound to the affinity reagents than in the absence of the amplification media. 
     
     
         7 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 4  further comprising an amplification media interposed between the affinity reagents and the affinity receptors, where the amplification media allows better access by an analyte to the affinity receptors than in the absence of the amplification media. 
     
     
         8 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 6  wherein the amplification media comprises at least one of a biological polymer, a non-biological organic polymer, and an inorganic polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 7  wherein the amplification media comprises at least one of a biological polymer, a non-biological organic polymer, and an inorganic polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 1  wherein the housing is a micropipette. 
     
     
         11 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 10  wherein the housing further comprises at least one projection that supports the polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The affinity microcolumn of  claim 1  wherein the housing is a manifold having more than one microchannel, the polymer fitting into at least one of the microchannels.