Chemical field effect transistor sensor array systems and methods

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.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for using a sensor array device, the method comprising:
 applying a first portion of a sample solution to a chemFET array device through a load port of a cap sealbly covering the chemFET array device; wherein each chemFET sensor of the chemFET array device is operably coupled to at least one reaction chamber in an array of reaction chambers;   loading the sample solution, wherein the sample solution contains a plurality of biomolecule-enhanced particles for depositing into the array of reaction chambers; each reaction chamber configured to contain a biomolecule-enhanced particle; and   determining a percentage of filled reaction chambers by detecting deposition of a biomolecule-enhanced particle in each reaction chamber using each corresponding chemFET sensor operably coupled to each reaction chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating applying a portion of the sample solution, loading the sample solution, and determining the percentage of filled reaction chambers until an acceptable percentage of filled reaction chambers has been determined. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the first portion of the sample solution includes-applying an amount of the first portion of the sample solution that is not greater than a volume formed over the chemFETarray device that is sealably covered by the cap. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the first portion of the sample solution includes applying an amount of the first portion of the sample solution that is greater than a volume formed over the chemFET array device that is sealbly covered by the cap and collecting a pass-through portion of the sample solution. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the sample solution into the chemFET array device further comprises:
 applying a second portion of the sample solution to the chemFET array device through the load port of the cap sealbly covering the chemFET array device; and   depositing a second plurality of biomolecule-enhanced particles from the second portion of the sample solution to the chemFET array device by centrifuging the chemFET array device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein applying the second portion includes withdrawing a remaining portion of the first sample solution from the chemFET array device after deposition of the plurality of biomolecule-enhanced particles and reapplying the remaining portion of the first sample solution to the array as the second portion of the sample solution. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after determining a percentage of filled reaction chambers, the method further comprises:
 analyzing the sample solution by detecting a change proximal to each biomolecule-enhanced particle in a local environment provided by each reaction chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each biomolecule-enhanced particle is a polynucleotide-enhanced particle, and analyzing the sample solution comprises:
 sequencing the sample solution by detecting a change proximal to each polynucleotide-enhanced particle in the local environment provided by each reaction chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the chemFET sensor is an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) and detecting the change proximal to each biomolecule-enhanced particle in the local environment comprises detecting a release of hydrogen ion during a nucleotide incorporation event. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the sample solution into the chemFET array device comprises loading a biomolecule-enhanced particle into a chemFET array device with at least 150 million reaction chambers. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the sample solution into a chemFET array device comprises loading a biomolecule-enhanced particle into a chemFET array device with at least 600 million reaction chambers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the sample solution into a chemFET array device comprises loading a biomolecule-enhanced particle into a chemFET array device with at least 1 billion reaction chambers.