Application of micromachine techniques to biotechnological research

Novel methods to construct a multianalyte biosensing chip are described. A method is two-step immobilization in which materials are not immobilized di rectly but indirectly via small support materials. Biomaterials are immobil ized on a certain support particle in the first step. The particles are pla ced or stuck on a chip in the second step. The other method is random fluid ic self-assembly of the microsupports for reducing the complication in the second step on the chip. The combination of the methods enables us to immob ilize various kinds of biomaterials densely on a chip. The ways to avoid po ssible problems due to random distribution are discussed. Several examples are also described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.