Automated histo-cytochemistry apparatus and encapsulation system for processing biological materials

Abstract

There is disclosed an automated apparatus, reagents and process for immunocytochemical staining of biological materials using ligand pairing. The present invention provides a method for storing a ligand in a macroscopic solid support and releasing the ligand into contact with a biological sample mounted on a surface of a substrate. The process includes providing a macroscopic solid support formed of a solidified matrix material encapsulating a ligand therein with the macroscopic solid support being disintegratable to release the ligand therefrom. The solid support is placed in a first chamber which is in flow communication with a second chamber containing the substrate with the biological sample affixed thereto. The step of disintegrating the macroscopic solid support may include heating the macroscopic solid support to liquefy it when the matrix material is gelatin or a wax. An alternative method of disintegrating the solid support is to dissolve it using a solvent such as an aqueous solution added to the first chamber, in this case a water soluble wax is required. The apparatus includes an array of sample cells interconnected with reagent supply and drainage lines. Each cell defines the second chamber or well into which a sample substrate is inserted. The cell includes a cell head defining the first chamber. The chamber in the cell head is in flow communication with the fluid well so that when the ligand is released from confinement in the cell head, the disintegrated solid support flows into the fluid well thereby contacting the mounted biological sample. The ligand support matrix may be gelatin or wax. The cell body and cell head may be differentially heated or cooled so that the mounted sample may be held at the preferred temperature for the reaction of interest and the cell head may be heated to a temperature sufficient to cause thermal degradation of the support.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.