Microarrays made easy: biofunctionalized hydrogel channels for rapid protein microarray production

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2011 Jan;3(1):50-7. doi: 10.1021/am100849f. Epub 2010 Dec 9.

Abstract

We present a simple, inexpensive, and sensitive technique for producing multiple copies of a hydrogel-based protein microarray. An agarose block containing 25 biofunctionalized channels is sliced perpendicularly to produce many identical biochips. Each microarray consists of 500 μm spots, which contain protein-coated microparticles physically trapped in porous SeaPrep agarose. Proteins diffuse readily through SeaPrep agarose, while the larger microparticles are immobilized in the hydrogel matrix. Without major assay optimization, the limit of detection is 12 pM for a sandwich assay detecting human IgG. These highly flexible, multiplexed arrays can be produced rapidly without any special instrumentation and are compatible with standard fluorescence-based read-out.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / chemistry*
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Microarray Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Microarray Analysis / methods*
  • Protein Array Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate