Vesicle-based method and apparatus for collecting, manipulating, and chemically processing trace macromolecular species

A system for rapidly mixing two or more chemical and/or biological reagent species, comprising:

• a plurality of synthetically prepared vesicles, wherein said vesicles comprise an aqueous volume surrounded by a single phospholipid bilayer approximately 1-20 μm in diameter;
• a microchannel column terminating at a first end in a vesicle supply reservoir, and at a opposite second end in an vesicle unloading chamber, wherein said vesicle supply reservoir comprises at least a first field electrode, and means for introducing a fluid, and wherein said unloading chamber comprise at least a second field electrode, and a discharge channel;
• a plurality of branching compartments disposed along said microchannel column between said vesicle supply reservoir and said vesicle unloading chamber, wherein each of said branching compartments is in fluid communication with said microchannel column, and wherein each of said branching compartments comprise;
• a separate preloading chamber;
• a supply channel connecting said preloading chamber to a reagent supply reservoir;
• a short, small diameter inlet port opposite said supply channel, and opening to said microchannel column;
• at least two poration electrodes, wherein one of said poration electrodes is disposed in said preloading chamber, and another of said poration electrodes is disposed opposite said small diameter inlet port on, or near, or recessed into, an interior wall of said microchannel column;
• and
• means for inserting at least one chemical or biological specie into an individual vesicle;
• and
• means for moving said vesicles through said microchannel column and sequentially through each of said branching compartments.