Patent ID: 6864101

Claim:
An automated method of forming an array of ligands on a support having localized areas comprising (a) locating a dispenser to dispense a solution a distance away from a surface of the support; (b) dispensing a first monomer in a volume of solution in a single coupling step of less than 5 nl onto the surface of the support to occupy a localized area smaller than 1 cm 2 ; (c) allowing the first monomer to attach directly or indirectly to the surface of the support at the localized area; (d) repeatedly dispensing an additional group of added monomers in a volume of solution in a single coupling step of less than 5 nl at a same or different localized area in a manner to couple with a compound at one or more localized areas until an array of at least 100 different ligands, each at an individual localized area is formed and wherein density of localized areas on the support is at least about 1000 localized areas per cm 2 of surface of the support.