Microarray using laminar flow and method of preparing the same

• US 20060110760A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Min, Jun-hong, Kim, Su-hyeon, Lee, In-ho
• Application Number:
  US11/269,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20060110760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00432 Photolithographic masks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0052 in the shape of elongated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00641 the porous medium being continuous, e.g. porous oxide substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00657 One-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00673 Slice arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00677 Ex-situ synthesis followed by deposition on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00711 Light-directed synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00729 Peptide nucleic acids [PNA]
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00743 Cells
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

Abstract

A microarray including hydrogel and a plurality of probes which are immobilized in discrete regions of the hydrogel, and a method of preparing the same are provided. When using the microarray and method, a solid substrate is not required and many biomolecules can be immobilized in a small volume, thereby obtaining high sensitivity. Since gel can be cut to obtain many pieces, many microarrays can be prepared at once.

Claims

1. A microarray comprising hydrogel and a plurality of probes which are immobilized in discrete regions of the hydrogel.

2. The microarray of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel is prepared by polymerizing a monomer having an ethylene group.

3. The microarray of claim 2, wherein the monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and amides and esters having structures similar to the structures of said compounds.

4. The microarray of claim 1, wherein the probes are covalently bound to the hydrogel.

5. The microarray of claim 1, wherein the probes are immobilized in the hydrogel using spacers.

6. The microarray of claim 5, wherein the spacers are microparticles or nanoparticles.

7. The microarray of claim 6, wherein the microparticles or nanoparticles are immobilized in the hydrogel by covalent bonds or by embedding.

8. The microarray of claim 6, wherein the microparticles or nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of microbeads, nanobeads, colloidal particles, and bioparticles.

9. The microarray of claim 1, wherein the probes are biomolecules.

10. The microarray of claim 9, wherein the biomolecules are selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, protein, and cells.

11. A method of preparing a microarray using an apparatus comprising a plurality of channels and an integration channel connected to the plurality of channels, the method comprising:

introducing a mixture of a photopolymerizable compound-containing solution and probes into the integration channel via the plurality of channels such that the probes from the channels have laminar flow;

photopolymerizing the solution by irradiating radiation onto the integration channel to produce hydrogel; and

separating the hydrogel from the channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the irradiating radiation onto the integration channel is performed through a photomask to photopolymerize part of the solution.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising separating the photopolymerized hydrogel from the mixture.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising cutting the separated hydrogel.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the laminar flow of the probes is induced by sucking the probes from the integration channel through a pump.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the photopolymerizable compound is a monomer having an ethylene group.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and amides and esters having structures similar to the structures of said compounds.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the probes are immobilized on microparticels or nanoparticles.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the microparticles or nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of microbeads, nanobeads, colloidal particles, and bioparticles.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the probes are biomolecules.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the biomolecules are selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, protein, and cells.

22. A laminar flow generating apparatus for the preparation of a hydrogel microarray, comprising a plurality of channels and an integration channel connected to the plurality of channels.