A Novel Three-Dimensional Hydrogel-Based Microarray Platform

Abstract

T hree dimensional (3D) microarrays utilizing hydrogel matrixes are becoming increasingly attractive as a desired format for bio-analysis. These materials offer significant advantages as a scaffolding for capture agents over more conventional two dimensional (2D) printed formats in both captures per site and the ability to provide an environment more closely resembling that of a free solution. Biocept has developed a flexible three dimensional polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer based platform suitable for a variety of biological assays. This novel approach is simple, biocompatible and provides a high degree of reproducibility and very low variability in the final array.

Single-Step Printable Hydrogel Microarray Integrating Long-Chain DNA for the Discriminative and Size-Specific Sensing of Nucleic Acids

“…To overcome such challenges, much effort has been pursued to engineer the surface geometry, surface chemistry, DNA conformation, and DNA packing density on a microarray chip. − Among these strategies, the creation of hydrogel-based DNA microarrays has attracted particular interest, given the multiple beneficial properties of hydrogels , in addressing the key drawbacks associated with conventional DNA microarrays. , The hydrated microenvironment of a hydrogel minimizes both conformational changes of the sensing DNA upon drying and nonspecific protein adsorption on the sensor surface . The porosity of a hydrogel can be tuned to enable stable physical entrapment of the sensing DNA, avoiding the need for expensive chemically modified oligonucleotides that are required for covalent − or high-affinity noncovalent DNA immobilization while facilitating improved sensor stability relative to DNA immobilization via physical adsorption. , Concurrently, the three-dimensional (3D) (or at least “2.5D”) dimensionality of a hydrogel enables the immobilization of two to three orders of magnitude higher DNA loadings per unit surface area than are achievable with 2D systems, , in most cases more than offsetting any enhanced mass transfer resistance associated with transport of the probe (i.e., the target to be detected) into the hydrogel .…”

“…10−13 Among these strategies, the creation of hydrogelbased DNA microarrays 14 has attracted particular interest, given the multiple beneficial properties of hydrogels 15,16 in addressing the key drawbacks associated with conventional DNA microarrays. 17,18 The hydrated microenvironment of a hydrogel minimizes both conformational changes of the sensing DNA upon drying 16 and nonspecific protein adsorption on the sensor surface. 19 The porosity of a hydrogel can be tuned to enable stable physical entrapment of the sensing DNA, avoiding the need for expensive chemically modified oligonucleotides that are required for covalent 20−22 or high-affinity noncovalent DNA immobilization 23 while facilitating improved sensor stability relative to DNA immobilization via physical adsorption.…”

Reduction of Non-Specific Protein Adsorption Using Poly(ethylene) Glycol (PEG) Modified Polyacrylate Hydrogels In Immunoassays for Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Detection

“…Hydrogels have demonstrated their potential as a useful platform for the development of immunoassays [ 1 – 8 ]. These porous materials can be tailored to possess high surface areas and inter-penetrating networks that can be readily functionalized with receptor ligands for the immobilization of biomolecules.…”