Abstract: The present invention relates to computer-controlled automated high-throughput systems and/or computer-program products to design, prepare, process, and analyze a large number of samples having experimental formulations each containing a compound of interest formulated with differing component combinations and varying concentrations and component identities. The computer-controlled methods of the present invention allow determination of the effects of additional or inactive components, such as excipients, carriers, enhancers, adhesives, additives, and the like, on the compound of interest, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention thus encompasses the computer systems, computer methods, and computer-program products for computer-controlled automated high-throughput testing of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations in order to determine the overall optimal composition or formulation for an intended use or purpose.

Abstract: Computer-controlled automated high-throughput systems can be used to design, prepare, process, screen, and analyze a large number of samples in removable sample vials each containing a compound of interest formulated with differing component combinations and varying concentrations. The computer-controlled methods of the present invention allow for a determination of the effects of additional or inactive components, such as excipients, carriers, enhancers, adhesives, additives, and the like, on the compound of interest, such as a pharmaceutical. The invention thus encompasses the computer systems, computer methods, and computer-program products for computer-controlled automated high-throughput testing of experimental formulations in order to identify experimental formulations that can be further processed. Identified experimental formulations from multiple arrays can be removed and re-arrayed together to form a new array for further processing.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses for the production or formation of co-crystals. The methods and apparatuses can be used to grind two or more co-crystal components resulting in the formation of co-crystals. The resultant co-crystals can have several uses as disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method, apparatus (array assembly), and system for fabricating and formulating hydrogels using combinatorial techniques; a hydrogel array fabricated using the method, apparatus, and/or system of the invention; and methods and systems for testing the properties of arrayed hydrogels, such as bulk and interfacial mechanical properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for facilitating high throughput transcellular flux testing of compounds, such as pharmaceuticals or drugs, other compounds, or compound combinations. In one embodiment, the system and methods of the present invention may be used to identify the optimal components (e.g., solvents, carriers, transport enhancers, adhesives, additives, inhibitors, or other excipients) for pharmaceutical compositions or formulations that are delivered to a patient via tissue transport, including without limitation, pharmaceutical compositions or formulations administered or delivered transcellularly, topically, and ocularly.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods, systems, and devices for screening arrays comprising hundreds, thousands, or hundreds of thousands of samples. These methods are useful to optimize, select, and discover compositions, or conditions for cost-effective freeze-drying of preparations and freezing of biologicals while maintaining structural integrity and/or viability. Such freeze-dried compositions are easily reformulated for treating or preventing diseases, the cause of the diseases, or the symptoms of the diseases. Moreover, optimized freezing of biological samples enables viable preservation of a wide variety of biologicals.

Abstract: The assay plate includes a substrate having an substrate surface and at least one raised pad extending from the substrate surface. The raised pad includes a substantially planar sample receiving surface configured for holding a sample thereon for in-situ experimentation. The sample receiving surface preferably has at least one sharp edge at the junction between a sidewall coupling the sample receiving surface to the substrate surface. The sample receiving surface is preferably a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon shape that is sized to hold a predetermined volume of the sample. A method of using the above described assay plate is also provided. Once a raised pad extending from a substrate is formed, a sample is deposited on the raised pad. Experiments are subsequently performed using the sample on the raised pad.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the determination of miscibility of a mixture of two or more liquids. Measurements of the local deviation of a pattern characteristic or of the variation in light intensity are employed in such determinations.

Abstract: The assay plate includes a substrate having an substrate surface and at least one raised pad extending from the substrate surface. The raised pad includes a substantially planar sample receiving surface configured for holding a sample thereon for in-situ experimentation. The sample receiving surface preferably has at least one sharp edge at the junction between a sidewall coupling the sample receiving surface to the substrate surface. The sample receiving surface is preferably a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon shape that is sized to hold a predetermined volume of the sample. A method of using the above described assay plate is also provided. Once a raised pad extending from a substrate is formed, a sample is deposited on the raised pad. Experiments are subsequently performed using the sample on the raised pad.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that allow the high-throughput preparation, processing, and study of arrays of samples, each of which comprises at least one compound. Particular embodiments of the invention allow a large number of experiments to be performed in parallel on samples that comprised of one or more compounds on the milligram or microgram quantities of compounds. Other embodiments of the invention encompass methods and devices for the rapid screening of the results of such experiments, as well as methods and devices for rapidly determining whether or not similarities exist among groups of samples in an array. Particular embodiments of the invention encompass methods and devices for the high-throughput preparation of different forms of compounds (e.g., different crystalline forms), for the discovery of new forms of old compounds, and for the discovery of new methods of producing such forms.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that allow the high-throughput preparation, processing, and study of arrays of samples, each of which comprises at least one compound. Particular embodiments of the invention allow a large number of experiments to be performed in parallel on samples that comprised of one or more compounds on the milligram or microgram quantities of compounds. Other embodiments of the invention encompass methods and devices for the rapid screening of the results of such experiments, as well as methods and devices for rapidly determining whether or not similarities exist among groups of samples in an array. Particular embodiments of the invention encompass methods and devices for the high-throughput preparation of different forms of compounds (e.g., different crystalline forms), for the discovery of new forms of old compounds, and for the discovery of new methods of producing such forms.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for manipulating small amounts of solids. Specific embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for the automated transfer of small amounts of solids. In one embodiment, a uniform powder bed is lightly compressed into plugs of powder and dispensed. In another embodiment, the solid is placed in a liquid carrier to form a slurry, dispensed, and the liquid component is subsequently removed. In yet another embodiment, solids are manipulated using adhesive surfaces.

Abstract: The assay plate includes a substrate having an substrate surface and at least one raised pad extending from the substrate surface. The raised pad includes a substantially planar sample receiving surface configured for holding a sample thereon for in situ experimentation. The sample receiving surface preferably has at least one sharp edge at the junction between a sidewall coupling the sample receiving surface to the substrate surface. The sample receiving surface is preferably a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon shape that is sized to hold a predetermined volume of the sample. A method of using the above described assay plate is also provided. Once a raised pad extending from a substrate is formed, a sample is deposited on the raised pad. Experiments are subsequently performed using the sample on the raised pad.

Abstract: The assay plate includes a substrate having an substrate surface and at least one raised pad extending from the substrate surface. The raised pad includes a substantially planar sample receiving surface configured for holding a sample thereon for in-situ experimentation. The sample receiving surface preferably has at least one sharp edge at the junction between a sidewall coupling the sample receiving surface to the substrate surface. The sample receiving surface is preferably a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon shape that is sized to hold a predetermined volume of the sample. A method of using the above described assay plate is also provided. Once a raised pad extending from a substrate is formed, a sample is deposited on the raised pad. Experiments are subsequently performed using the sample on the raised pad.