Remotely programmable matrices with memories

A solid phase matrix support for use in assays in which a ligand reacts with an anti-ligand therefor, comprising:

• (A) a combination of a matrix with memory, comprising:
• (i) a memory device having encoded information stored therein;
• and
• (ii) a matrix material, wherein:
• the matrix material is either comprised of particles of a size such that at least one dimension is no more than 100 mm or the matrix material is in the form of a container selected from the group consisting of vials, test tubes, culture dishes, vessels of a volume of about 100 ml or less, and microtiter plates or is in the form of a continuous surface that encases the memory device;
• and
• at least a portion of the surface of the matrix is adapted for linking the anti-ligand or ligand;
• and
• (B) a molecule selected from a ligand or receptor, wherein the ligand or receptor is linked directly or indirectly to the surface of the matrix adapted for linking.

A method of detecting a member of a biomolecular binding pair in a sample, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least one solid phase particle, said particles having a transponder located inside or attached to each of said particles, the transponders having a memory element and an index number encoded on the memory elements creating at least one class of transponders, each class having a different index number;
• (b) the solid particles having a first member of said biomolecular binding pair attached to a surface thereof;
• (c) contacting the solid phase particles with a sample to cause a second member of the biomolecular binding pair to specifically bind to the first member attached to the solid phase particle;
• (d) adding a label reagent to the sample, said label reagent specifically binds the second member of the biomolecular binding pair on the solid phase particle, and analyzing the solid phase particles to detect the presence of the label indicative of binding of the second member present in the sample to said first member;
• and
• (e) decoding the index number encoded on the transponders using a scanner device to identify the class of the transponders to which the second member of the biomolecular binding pair is bound.

A method of detecting at least two biomolecules in a sample, said biomolecules being a second member of a biomolecular binding pair, comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into the sample at least two populations of solid phase particles, said particles having a transponder located inside or attached to each of said particles, each population of particle having a first member of a biomolecular binding pair attached to its surface, and the transponders in the first population being encoded with a different index number from the transponders of the second population, wherein, the first member on each population of particles specifically binds one of said second members present in said sample;
• (b) contacting the solid phase with a label reagent that specifically binds to the second member of the biomolecular binding pair, and analyzing the particles to detect a label indicating binding of the second biomolecular binding pair member to the first biomolecular binding pair member;
• and
• (c) decoding at least a portion of the transponders to determine the populations of the transponders to which the second member is bound.

A method of performing a multiplex solid phase assay for biomolecules in a sample, said biomolecules being a second member of a biomolecular binding pair comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing multiple solid phases comprising particles, said particles having a transponder located inside or attached to each of said particles, the transponders having memory elements encoded with an index number creating two or more classes of transponders, each class having a different index number, each class of solid phase particles having a first biomolecular binding member immobilized on a surface thereof, wherein, the first member on each class of particles specifically binds one of said second members present ill said sample:
• (b) contacting the solid phase particles with a sample to cause two or more different second members of a biomolecular binding pair in the sample to bind one of said first biomolecular binding pair member on the particles;
• (c) contacting the solid phase particles with label reagents that specifically bind to the second member of the biomolecular binding pair;
• (d) washing the solid phase particles to remove unbound sample components;
• (e) analyzing the solid phase particles to detect the label, which indicates binding of the second biomolecular binding pair member to the first biomolecular binding pair member;
• and
• (f) decoding the index number encoded on at least a portion of the transponders to identify the class of transponders to which a biomolecule is bound.

A method of detecting a member of a biomolecular binding pair in a sample comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least one solid phase particle, said particles having a transponder located inside or attached to each of said particles, the transponders having memory elements and an index number encoded on the memory elements creating at least one class of transponders, each class having a different index number;
• (b) the solid particles having a first member of said biomolecular binding pair attached to the surface of the solid phase particles;
• (c) contacting the solid phase particles with a sample and a label reagent to cause a second member of the biomolecular binding pair present in said sample, and the label reagent to competitively bind to the first member attached to the solid phase particle;
• (d) analyzing and detecting the presence of the label on the solid phase particle as an indirect determination of the presence of the second member in said sample;
• (e) decoding the index number encoded on the transponders using a scanner device to identify the class of transponders to which the second member of the biomolecular binding pair is bound.

A method of detecting at least two biomolecules in a sample, said biomolecules being a second member of a biomolecular binding pair, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least two populations of solid phases comprising particles, said particles having a transponder located inside or attached to each of said particles, each population of particle having a first member of a biomolecular binding pair attached to its surface, and the transponders in the first population being encoded with a different index number than the transponders of the second population, wherein, the second members present in said sample competitively binds one of said first member on each population of the solid phase particles;
• (b) contacting the solid phase particles with a sample and label reagents to cause the second members present in said sample, and the label reagents to competitively bind to one of said first member on the solid phase particles;
• (c) analyzing the particles to detect a label to indirectly determine the presence of the second biomolecular binding pair member in the sample;
• (d) decoding at least a portion of the transponders to determine the populations of the transponders.

A method of performing a multiplex solid phase assay for biomolecules in a sample, said biomolecules being a second member of a biomolecular binding pair, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing multiple solid phases comprising particles, said particles having a transponder located inside or attached to each of said particles, the transponders having memory elements encoded with an index number creating two or more classes of transponders, each class having a different index number, each class of solid phase particles having a first biomolecular binding member immobilized on a surface thereof, wherein, the second members present in said sample competitively bind to one of said first member on the multiple solid phase particles;
• (b) contacting the solid phase particle with a sample and label reagents to cause the second members and the label reagents to competitively bind to one of said first member on the multiple solid phase particles;
• (c) washing the solid phase to remove unbound sample components;
• (d) analyzing the solid phase to detect the label, which indirectly indicates binding of the second biomolecular binding pair member to the first biomolecular binding pair member;
• and
• (e) decoding the index number encoded on at least a portion of the transponders to identify the class of transponders to which a biomolecule is bound.