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.
Embodiments of the invention also allow for the high-throughput
determination of how specific compounds or forms of compounds behave when
exposed to other chemicals or environmental conditions.