BACKGROUND:  The automatic assembly of biological and chemical agents on marked nanoscale locations is an attractive technology, both scientifically and commercially. Desirable features of any practical immobilization device include functionality to a wide range of molecules, a high degree of spatial resolution, and the ability to control the surface coverage and orientation. Until now, most solid phase methods have not fully met the aforementioned considerations, mostly due to the optical diffraction effects of small mask features.

INNOVATION:  The innovation involves a novel method that combines solid-phase electrochemistry and a multiplex electrical circuit to control chemical and biological agents as well as synthesize peptide sequences and complex chemical compounds. The functionality of the device relies on the electrically induced reduction of nitro groups to primary amino moieties. The electrochemical approach invented, in conjunction with an electrical circuit, provides a programmable array with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency on nanoscale solid electrodes.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 

• Micron-distributed chemical sensors
• Genotyping and high performance DNA detection
• Medical chips for sensing pathogens and other bio-molecules

ADVANTAGES

• Can be applied to any solid-phase synthesis in which electrochemical stimulus can be used to reduce nitro groups to amino moieties.
• Multiple addressable nanoelectrodes yield many possible combinatorial synthesis and sensing strategies at nanoscale.

DEVELOPMENT TO DATE: The electrochemical conversion of the nitro groups, self-assembled on electrically addressable gold surfaces, to amino moieties had been tested and optimized for protein immobilization on large-scale electrodes.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2005-684