Petal-array support for use with microplates

An analyte-manipulation apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of wells defining an array, each of said wells including an opening at an upper end thereof;
• a stack of supports disposed above said openings, each support of said stack including a plurality of petal-shaped purification members formed therein, and each petal-shaped purification member of each support being disposed at a position corresponding to a respective one of said wells of said array, said petal-shaped purification members including an ion-exchange material;
• wherein each of said petal-shaped purification members is movable between (i) a first position, outside of a corresponding respective well, and (ii) a second position, extending at least partially into such corresponding respective well;
• a platen including a major surface facing said stack of supports and a plurality of ring-shaped projections extending outwardly from said major surface, said platen being adapted for movement toward and away from said stack of supports, whereby upon moving said platen toward said stack of supports, said projections can pressingly engage said petal-shaped purification members, thereby deflecting said petal-shaped purification members from said first to said second position.

A method for biochemical interactions, comprising:

• providing a plurality of petal-shaped purification members, wherein the petal-shaped purification members are disposed in an array on a support and include an ion-exchange material;
• providing a microplate including a plurality of wells disposed in an array corresponding to the array of petal-shaped purification members;
• placing respective samples in the wells of the microplate;
• positioning the petal-shaped purification members above the microplate, so that each petal-shaped purification member is situated above a corresponding one of the plurality of wells;
• pressingly engaging the petal-shaped purification members from a side opposite that of the wells, so that the petal-shaped purification members are simultaneously moved into their corresponding wells, thereby contacting the respective samples therein;
• purifying the respective samples by contacting the respective samples with the ion-exchange material of the petal-shaped purification members, in the wells;
• and
• withdrawing the petal-shaped purification members from the wells.

A method for purification of a sample, comprising:

• providing a plurality of petal-shaped purification members, wherein the petal-shaped purification members are disposed in an array on the support;
• providing a microplate including a plurality of wells disposed in an array corresponding to the array of petal-shaped purification members;
• placing respective samples for purification in the wells of the microplate, the respective samples including one or more components;
• positioning the petal-shaped purification members above the microplate, so that each petal-shaped purification member is situated above a corresponding one of the plurality of wells;
• pressing engaging the petal-shaped purification members from a side opposite that of the wells, so that the petal-shaped purification members are simultaneously moved into their corresponding wells, thereby contacting the respective samples for purification therein;
• ion-exchanging one or more components of the sample with the ion-exchange material of the petal-shaped purification members, in the wells;
• and
• withdrawing the petal-shaped purification members from the wells.