ISSN: 2041-6792

Clinical Investigation

Free Biochips Journals

Biochips are small specimen trays onto which biological material has been applied for analysis. Biochips also are mentioned as arrays, whereby target molecules* are aligned during a specific order on the chip surface, making it possible to match the results. (*Here the term target molecule is used for molecules that are bound to the chip surface with a known identity. The free molecules whose identity is to be determined are referred to as assay molecules). Immobilised spots of under 200-µm diameter are referred to as microarrays; if larger than 300-µm they are called macroarrays. There are now arrays with up to several 100,000 spots on one chip. Different procedures are used for biomolecules that are to be immobilised, to bind them to the surface of the biochip. The binding are often an immediate adsorption to the chip surface, or appropriately activated surfaces. Furthermore, special coatings have been developed that enable a maximally reproducible biomolecule binding. These include special hydrophobic coatings and a coating with nitro-cellulose or with special matrices, also utilized in protein clearing. Biochips for various applications are produced by a corresponding manufacturer and therefore the user carries out the analysis of materials. But now there are complete systems for a biochip assay. Immobilisation of the target molecule on the chip surface is the first fully automated step, then the binding reaction with corresponding molecules from samples to be analysed and finally the detection and evaluation of the results by using specific software.      

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