Patent ID: 7247499
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: B01F,C07B,C07H,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: (a) providing a device comprised of a (i) a substrate having a surface with at least a portion of said surface comprising a molecular probe, and (ii) a cover which sealingly contacts the substrate surface, to form an enclosure having an interior space comprising a sealed hybridization chamber having a height ranging from about 50 μm to about 500 μm; and (b) introducing into the chamber, a sample fluid comprising (i) a target molecule which may bind to a surface-bound molecular probe, (ii) a hybridization buffer, (iii) a surfactant of a type and present at a concentration effective to substantially reduce nonspecific binding and promote mixing of components within the sample fluid and (iv) a bubble; and (c) mixing the sample fluid by moving the chamber to cause the bubble to displace the sample fluid and maintaining conditions within the chamber for a period of time sufficient to allow binding between the target molecule and a surface-bound molecular probe to occur.