Hybridization method and hybridization equipment

• US 20040115723A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaami, Takeo, Katakura, Hisao
• Granted Patent: US 7,384,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6837 using probe arrays or probe chips C12Q1/6874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/501 being an array of oligonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 being a sensor, e.g. electrode

Abstract

The equipment of the present invention can implement high-speed hybridization with a simple construction and is configured as described below.

The equipment comprises a biochip prepared by fixing biopolymers onto a plurality of sites on a substrate, positive and negative electrodes for generating an electric field along the surface of this biochip substrate, and a magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field along the surface of the above biochip substrate, and is configured to move biopolymers movable in the fluid stored over the above-mentioned biochip substrate along the surface of the above biochip substrate as well as to attract the above described biopolymers towards the surface of the above biochip substrate during hybridization of the above biopolymers, by making the above-mentioned electric and magnetic fields act along the surface of the above biochip substrate.

Claims

1. A hybridization method which hybridizes biopolymers fixed to a plurality of sites on a biochip substrate and biopolymers movable in fluid stored over the same substrate, on said substrate, further being devised that said biopolymers on the movable side are moved along a surface of said biochip substrate by making an electric field act along that surface of said biochip substrate.

2. A hybridization method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the direction of moving biopolymers on said movable side is changed over by changing over the direction of said electric field during hybridization of said biopolymers.

3. A hybridization method which hybridizes biopolymers fixed to a plurality of sites on a biochip substrate and biopolymers movable in fluid stored over the same substrate, on said substrate, further being devised that said biopolymers on the movable side are moved along a surface of said biochip substrate as well as are attracted towards the surface of said same biochip substrate by making an electric field and a magnetic field orthogonal to each other act along that surface of said biochip substrate.

4. A hybridization method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the direction of moving biopolymers on said movable side is changed over by changing over the directions of said both electric field and magnetic field at the same time during hybridization of said biopolymers.

5. Hybridization equipment comprising:

a biochip prepared by fixing biopolymers to a plurality of sites on a substrate, and

positive and negative electrodes for generating an electric field along the surface of this biochip substrate;

configured to move biopolymers movable in the fluid stored over said biochip substrate along the surface of said biochip substrate by making said electric field act along the surface of said biochip substrate.

6. Hybridization equipment in accordance with claim 5, configured to change over the direction of moving biopolymers movable in said fluid during hybridization of said biopolymers by changing over the direction of said electric field.

9. Hybridization equipment in accordance with any of claims 5 to 8, wherein said positive and negative electrodes are attached to said substrate directly, or indirectly through fixing members so that said sites are sandwiched between said electrodes.

12. Hybridization equipment in accordance with any of claims 5 to 9, wherein a DC power supply or an AC power supply is used as the power supply to apply a voltage to said electrodes.

7. Hybridization equipment comprising:

a biochip prepared by fixing biopolymers to a plurality of sites on a substrate,

positive and negative electrodes for generating an electric field along the surface of this biochip substrate, and

a magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field along the surface of said biochip substrate;

configured to move biopolymers movable in the fluid stored over said biochip substrate along the surface of said biochip substrate as well as to attract said biopolymers towards the surface of said biochip substrate during hybridization of said biopolymers, by making said electric field and magnetic field act along the surface of said biochip substrate.

8. Hybridization equipment in accordance with claim 7, configured to change over the direction of moving biopolymers on said movable side during hybridization of said biopolymers by changing over the directions of said electric and magnetic fields.

10. Hybridization equipment in accordance with any of claims 7 to 9, wherein magnets are used or a coil is used for said magnetic field generating means.

11. Hybridization equipment in accordance with claim 10, wherein said biochip substrate is placed inside said coil if said coil is employed for said magnetic field generating means.

13. Hybridization equipment in accordance with any of claims 5 to 12, wherein said fluid is liquid or gel.

14. Hybridization equipment in accordance with any of claims 5 to 13, wherein said substrate is formed with a plate or wire or mesh.