High-throughput biomolecular crystallization and biomolecular crystal screening
US6808934B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 11, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets from fluid-containing reservoirs to form arrays suitable for high-throughput combinatorial crystallization experiments. Such arrays may utilize very small fluid volumes, in the order of picoliters. The method is especially suited to preparing combinatorial libraries useful in developing techniques for crystallizing biomacromolecules, such as proteins. The small volumes conserve macromolecules that may be costly and rare, and permit the testing of a large number of experimental crystallization conditions for a given amount of a macromolecule. The time required for the experiments may be very short due to the small volumes. The invention is conducive to forming high-density microarrays of small volume crystallization experiments. Acoustic detection of crystals in situ, and distinction between biomacromolecular and non-biomacromolecular crystals, are also taught.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.