Selection by compartmentalised screening

A method for preparing a compound, comprising the steps of:

• (a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule;
• (b) identifying and, optionally, sorting the microcapsules which have contain the compound(s) having the desired activity using a change in their optical properties;
• and
• (c) identifying and producing the compound having the desired activity.

A method for screening a compound or compounds capable of modulating the activity of a target, comprising the steps of:

• (a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule;
• (b) identifying and, optionally, sorting the microcapsules which contain the compound(s) having the desired activity using a change in their optical properties;
• and
• (c) contacting a target having a desired activity with the compound or compounds and monitoring the modulation of an activity of the target by the compound or compounds.

A method for preparing a target comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a synthesis protocol for a target wherein at least one step is facilitated by a compound;
• (b) preparing variants of the compound which facilitates this step;
• (c) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule;
• (d) identifying and, optionally, sorting the microcapsules which contain the compound(s) having the desired activity using a change in their optical properties;
• and
• (e) preparing the target using the compound identified in (d) to facilitate the relevant step of the synthesis.