Patent ID: 6258593
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: B01F,C07B,C07H,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A device for conducting hybridization assays within an enclosed hybridization chamber, comprising:a substrate having a surface with at least a portion of said surface representing a hybridization region, having an area of about 4 mm.sup.2 to about 500 mm.sup.2 wherein the substrate surface is functionalized with a mixture of a first silane providing surface --Si--R.sup.1 groups where R.sup.1 is a chemically inert moiety and a second silane providing surface --Si--(L).sub.n --R.sup.2 where L is a linking group, n is 0 or 1, and R.sup.2 is a functional group enabling binding of the oligonucleotide probes;a plurality of oligonucleotide probes bound to the substrate surface within the hybridization region and arranged in a spatially defined and physically addressable manner;a cover having a peripheral lip which sealingly contacts the substrate surface about the hybridization region, wherein the cover and the hybridization region form an enclosure having an interior space comprising a hybridization chamber having a height of about 50 .mu.m to about 500 .mu.m; and,containing within the hybridization chamber, a sample fluid comprising a target molecule which may hybridize to a surface-bound molecular probe within the hybridization region, and wherein the sample fluid additionally comprises a surfactant of a type and present at a concentration effective to substantially reduce non-specific binding and promote mixing of components within the sample fluid.