Patent ID: 8114589
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: B01J,B01L,B82Y,C07B,C07H,C07K,C12Q,C40B,G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for electronically stabilizing hybridization of nucleic acids bound at a test site of a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: providing a first negatively charged nucleic acid bound to the test site, wherein said test site is generated using a technique selected from the group consisting of a microlithographic technique and a micromachining technique; providing a solution including a second negatively charged nucleic acid; applying a zwitterionic buffer having a conductance of less than 100 mS/cm to the microelectronic device; and applying current to the test site to positively bias the test site, wherein the second negatively charged nucleic acid is transported to the positively biased test site having the first negatively charged nucleic acid, wherein the first and second negatively charged nucleic acids hybridize, wherein the zwitterionic buffer acquires a net positive charge under influence of the current, wherein the positively charged zwitterionic buffer stabilizes the hybridization by reducing the repulsion between the first and second negatively charged nucleic acids.