Droplet libraries

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An emulsion library comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises the same aqueous fluid and comprises a different library element. 
     
     
         2 . An emulsion library comprising at least a first aqueous droplet and at least a second aqueous droplet within a fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein the at least first and the at least second droplets are uniform in size and comprise a different aqueous fluid and a different library element. 
     
     
         3 . An emulsion library comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises at least a first antibody, and a single element linked to at least a second antibody, wherein said first and second antibodies are different. 
     
     
         4 . An emulsion library comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets within an immiscible fluorocarbon oil comprising at least one fluorosurfactant, wherein each droplet is uniform in size and comprises at least a first element linked to at least a first antibody, and at least a second element linked to at least a second antibody, wherein said first and second antibodies are different. 
     
     
         5 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein each droplet comprises no more than one library element. 
     
     
         6 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein each droplet comprises a plurality of library elements. 
     
     
         7 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein each droplet is less than 100 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein the fluorosurfactant is a block copolymer consisting of one or more perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) blocks and one or more polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks. 
     
     
         9 . The emulsion library of  claim 8 , wherein the fluorosurfactant is a triblock copolymer consisting of a PEG center block covalently bound to two PFPE blocks by amide linking groups. 
     
     
         10 . The emulsion library of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein the emulsion library is stable for at least 30 days.