Methods, compositions and systems for sample deposition

Abstract

Methods, compositions, systems, apparatus, and kits are provided for depositing samples onto surfaces. The samples can include one or more particles, and the surface can include one or more reaction chambers. In some embodiments, the depositing can include the use of companion particles in combination with sample particles.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of analyzing a biomolecule, the method comprising:
 applying at least a portion of a sample to an array;   centrifuging the array; and   repeating applying and centrifuging.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying includes pipetting the at least a portion of the sample into a flow cell formed over the array. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein repeating includes withdrawing and reapplying the at least a portion of the sample to the array. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein centrifuging includes one of centrifuging with the array facing a center point of the centrifuge, centrifuging with the array facing away from a center point of the centrifuge, and centrifuging with the array perpendicular to a plane of rotation. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein centrifuging includes centrifuging with the array tilted relative to a plane of rotation, wherein the array is tilted at an angle that is at least 15° and not greater than 90°. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for depositing a plurality of particles into a plurality of reaction chambers, comprising:
 forming a particle mixture including a plurality of sample particles having a first average diameter and a plurality of companion particles having a second average diameter;   contacting the particle mixture with a surface including a plurality of reaction chambers having entries, wherein the average cross sectional diameter of the entries of the plurality of reaction chambers is greater than the first average diameter but less than the second average diameter.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the contacting includes depositing a sample particle of the particle mixture into a percentage of the reaction chambers, wherein the percentage is increased relative to the percentage of reaction chambers that are filled by a control particle mixture that does not include companion particles. 
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises agitating the particle mixture after contacting the surface. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the surface comprises an array, wherein the array comprises a bead array, a slide, a microfluidic array, a nanofluidic array, a chip or a semiconductor based array. 
     
     
         31 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the particle mixture comprises about 80% to about 98% by weight sample particles. 
     
     
         34 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one sample particle comprises a nucleic acid molecule attached to at least one bead. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one bead includes silica, glass, coated glass, coated polyacrylamide, acrylamide, nylon, plastic, ceramic, polystyrene, porous silicon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one bead includes a label, dye, magnet or detectable signal. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one companion particle comprises silica, glass, coated glass, coated polyacrylamide, acrylamide, nylon, plastic, ceramic, polystyrene, porous silicon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one companion particle is inert. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises applying a sequencing polymerase or a sequencing primer to the particle mixture. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising applying a foaming solution to the particle mixture. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising performing one or more nucleic acid sequencing reactions on the at least one sample particle. 
     
     
         45 - 48 . (canceled)