Surface Initiated Photopolymer Amplification Events using Acrylated Detection Monomers

     The recent developments of DNA microarray technology have allowed for rapid advancement in infectious disease research.  One potential application of this research is in disease diagnosis.  Using microarrays or other biosensors requires pathogen identification on  a genetic or antigenic level, and then amplification of this biorecognition event, as limited amounts of RNA or antegenic material from a patient sample may be available.  In my research, the amplification of a positive signal is achieved through surface-initiated photopolymerization to polymerize acrylated detection monomers.  Once fully developed, this method may provide lower costs, greater reliability, less analysis time, better sensitivity, and a more robust protocol then existing biodetection methods.

Fluorescent image of a DNA microarray.  The labeled target oligonucletide was hybridized to the complementary DNA in the positive control (PC) spots and shows no significant interaction with noncomplementary DNA capture sequences in the negative control spots (NC).  DNA was crosslinked to the surface using UV light.