Web material having wells for combinatorial applications

A method for manufacturing a web material having microwells for combinatorial experimentation comprising a substrate in web form and multiple microwells, arranged on said substrate in a predetermined pattern and separated from each other by separating zones, each microwell comprising a bottom and an upstanding surface formed by the adjacent separating zones, wherein the composition of said bottoms on the one hand and the composition of said separating zones and upstanding surfaces on the other hand show a different hydrophilicity and in which said bottom of each of said microwells is further divided by a wall having a hydrophilicity different from the hydrophilicity of said bottom into at least two “baby microwells”, said wall having a height at least 50% lower than the height of said upstanding surface, said method comprising the steps of, in order:

• providing a substrate in web form with a homogeneous hydrophilic surface covered with a heat or light sensitive hydrophobic layer having a particular degree of solubility in a developer,
• exposing pattern-wise said hydrophobic layer with heat or light to pattern-wise change said solubility to more or less soluble in said developer, and
• pattern-wise removing by said developer the soluble parts of said exposed hydrophobic heat or light sensitive layer, thereby forming a pattern of multiple microwells with hydrophilic bottoms and hydrophobic upstanding surfaces separated from each other by hydrophobic separating zones and in which said bottom of each of said microwells is further divided by a wall having a hydrophilicity different from the hydrophilicity of said bottom into at least two “baby microwells”, said wall having a height at least 50% lower than the height of said upstanding surface.

A method for manufacturing a web material having microwells for combinatorial experimentation comprising a substrate in web form and multiple microwells, arranged on said substrate in a predetermined pattern and separated from each other by separating zones, each microwell comprising a bottom and an upstanding surface formed by the adjacent separating zones, wherein the composition of said bottoms on the one hand and the composition of said separating zones and upstanding surfaces on the other hand show a different hydrophilicity and in which said bottom of each of said microwells is further divided by a wall having a hydrophilicity different from the hydrophilicity of said bottom into at least two “baby microwells”, said wall having a height at least 50% lower than the height of said upstanding surface, said method comprising the steps of, in order:

• providing a substrate in web form with a hydrophobic surface covered with a hydrophilic layer,
• pattern-wise ablating by heat parts of said hydrophilic layer, thereby forming a pattern of multiple microwells with hydrophobic bottoms and hydrophilic upstanding surfaces separated from each other by hydrophilic separating zones and in which said bottom each of said microwells is further divided by a wall having a hydrophilicity different from the hydrophilicity of said bottom into at least two “baby microwells”, said wall having a height at least 50% lower than the height of said upstanding surface.

An apparatus for rapid screening of substances for useful applications comprising:

• a holder, comprising an unwinding roll, for a web material having microwells for combinatorial experimentation comprising a substrate in web form and multiple microwells, arranged on said substrate in a predetermined pattern and separated from each other by separating zones, each microwell comprising a bottom and an upstanding surface formed by the adjacent separating zones, wherein the composition of said bottoms on the one hard and the composition of said separating zones and upstanding surfaces on the other hand show a different hydrophilicity and in which said bottom of each of said microwells is further divided by a wall having a hydrophilicity different from the hydrophilicity of said bottom into at least two “baby microwells”, said wall having a height at least 50% lower than the height of said upstanding surface,
• an application zone suited for applying at least one substance in at least one of said baby microwells present in said application zone,
• a screening zone for determining a useful property of said substance in said screening zone,
• a mechanism to transport said web material from said holder to said application zone and said screening zone, and
• optionally a rewinding section.