The present invention relates to polymer-bead composites having a single layer planar, crystalline assembly of encoded beads embedded in a hydrophilic polymeric matrix. The composite may be unattached to a solid support. The encoded beads have different biomolecules attached to their surfaces, and the encoding permits distinguishing beads having different biomolecules attached thereto. The present invention also relates to a systematic process for the creation of functionally organized, spatially patterned assemblies of polymer-microparticle composites, including the AC electric field-mediated assembly of patterned, self-supporting organic (polymeric) films and organic-polymer-microparticle composites of tailored composition and morphology. The present invention also relates to the application of such functional assemblies in materials science and biology. Additional areas of application include sensors, catalysts, membranes, and micro-reactors, and miniaturized format for generation of multifunctional thin films.