Patent ID: 7736888

Claim:
A biochip comprising: a carrier, optionally with a hydrophilic surface; at least one light-blocking matrix layer comprising at least one of a gelatin, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone, an agarose, and a polyacrylamide, and further comprising a light-blocking agent, wherein the at least one light-blocking matrix layer is coupled to the carrier and the optional hydrophilic surface and is effective to render the carrier optically inactive; a coupling matrix layer coupled to the light-blocking matrix layer, and a cross-linking agent suspended within the coupling matrix layer, wherein the cross-linking agent is optionally covalently coupled to the coupling matrix layer; a plurality of distinct nucleic acids, each of the plurality of nucleic acids having a capture portion that non-covalently binds to the cross-linking agent, and wherein the distinct nucleic acids are non-covalently bound to the cross-linking agent in the coupling matrix layer at respective distinct and predetermined positions on the coupling matrix layer; an optional modification matrix layer coupled to the coupling matrix layer, wherein the modification matrix layer provides at least one of a chromatographic function, a light absorbing function, a penetration delay function, and an assay function; and wherein the light-blocking matrix layer is disposed between the carrier and the coupling matrix layer, and wherein the coupling matrix layer is disposed above the light blocking matrix layer and below the optional modification matrix layer.