Multiphase microarrays and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous two-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. Additional embodiments are described herein.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising
 a) a first polymer solution;   b) a second polymer solution, wherein the second solution is denser than the first solution, and the first and second solutions are at concentrations above the binodal curve concentrations for aqueous two-phase system formation when mixed; and   c) a solid or semi-solid support comprising at least the second polymer solution dehydrated on the support.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the dehydrated polymer is arrayed or patterned on a surface of the support. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein one of the first and second polymer solutions is dehydrated, which is hydrated upon mixing with the other polymer solution that is not dehydrated. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein both of the first and second polymer solutions are dehydrated. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the first and second polymer solutions are rehydrated by an aqueous solution 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the system further comprises one or more reagents for performing an assay. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the assay is an immunoassay or a nucleic acid detection assay. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first polymer solution for purposes of forming an aqueous two-phase system consists essentially of polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the second polymer solution for purposes of forming an aqueous two-phase system consists essentially of dextran. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the first polymer solution or the second polymer solution comprises two or more polymers. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the two or more polymers are selected from the group consisting of dextran, polyethylene glycol, dextran-methylcellulose, dextran-polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol-dextran sulfate, polyvinyl alcohol-dextran sulfate, hydroxypropyldextran-dextran, and dextran sulfate-methylcellulose. 
     
     
         44 . A method comprising contacting at least a portion of a coated support with an aqueous first polymer solution, wherein the coated support comprises a dehydrated second polymer and the second polymer is denser than the first polymer;
 rehydrating the second polymer with the first polymer solution; and   mixing the first and second solution to form an aqueous two-phase system.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the aqueous solution is selected from the group consisting of blood, urine, saliva and serum. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the coated support comprises the first polymer and the second polymer that have been dehydrated, the method comprising rehydrating the polymers with an aqueous solution 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first and second polymer solutions further comprise a reagent for performing an assay. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the assay is selected from the group consisting of an immunoassay or a detection assay. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first polymer solution is arrayed or patterned on the support. 
     
     
         50 . A method comprising
 a) arraying a plurality of first solutions comprising a first polymer and one or more reagents for performing an immunoassay onto a solid or semi-solid support;   b) dehydrating the solutions to form dehydrated spots on the support;   c) contacting the dehydrated spots with a second polymer solution and a test sample under conditions such that the second solution rehydrates the dehydrated spots and forms an aqueous two-phase solution.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising identifying the presence of one or more antigens in the test sample. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of first solutions each comprise an antibody specific for a different antigen.