US 2003/0165998 A1 · Method and device for investigating substance libraries

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to investigate the bonding of substances to target molecules. This is achieved by means of a densely packed device wherein various target molecules are bonded in a large number of sample areas. Cross-contamination and evaporation need to be minimized. The active surface of the sample areas have to be maximized. The inventive solution resides in the use of carrier plates, containing densely packed capillary structures and having a very large inner surface despite small outer dimensions. 1000 times more molecules can be bonded than on a flat outer surface of a comparable size. Cross contamination is avoided by the lack of cross links between the capillaries. Evaporation is minimized by a small outer surface. After the inner surface of the capillaries has been silanized, peptides and peptidomimetics are synthesized in a locally targeted manner. The molecular interactions of components of the substance library with active substances in a solution or a suspension are investigated by means of a local resolution optical detection method. Handling, especially cleaning and covering with substances, is carried out in a simple manner by rinsing liquids through the capillary plate.

Claims44

Dependent claims

(amended) A device for producing peptidic or peptoid substance libraries on a planar structure that has areas which are laterally separated from each other by physical barriers, for receiving a plurality of individual peptidic or peptoid target molecules or the precursors thereof that define the substance library, the device comprising:

a synthesis table for fixing the structure in a defined position during the production method;
a pipetting robot which applies the necessary reagents for producing locally delimited sample areas from a respective group of areas and applies the necessary reagents for producing the individual target molecules at the same time or in time-displaced relationship in the respective sample areas of the structure, and
a variable-volume cavity with a discharge at an underside of the synthesis table for disposal of applied reagents.

(amended) A method of building up peptidic or peptoid substance libraries defined by a plurality of individual peptidic or peptoid target molecules or the precursors thereof on a planar structure having areas which are separated laterally from each other by physical parameters, the method comprising the following steps:

a) fixing the structure in a defined position on a synthesis table during the production method;
b) covering at least the laterally-separated areas of the structure with an organosilane layer which has functional groups for anchoring peptidic or peptoid target molecules;
c) defining locally delimited sample areas comprising a group of adjacent areas by selectively applying a reagent for protecting the functional groups or a protected anchor molecule for covalent bonding to the functional groups by a pipetting robot to the areas of the sample areas;
d) chemically deactivating the regions of the structure, which are outside the sample areas, with functional groups, by the application of a deactivation reagent;
e) deprotecting all protected functional groups or anchor molecules;
f) applying the amino-terminally and side chain-protected, reagents required for production of the individual target molecules to the sample areas of the structure selectively with the pipetting robot and covalently bonded to the de-protected functional groups or anchor molecules;
g) removing excess reagents by way of a variable-volume cavity with a discharge at an underside of the synthesis table for disposal thereof, and
h) repeating steps e) through g) as required.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for investigating substance libraries

Life of this patent

Method and device for investigating substance libraries

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44