Method for manufacturing hydrogel biochip by using star-like polyethylene glycol derivative having epoxy group

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a biochip and a biochip manufactured by the method are provided. In the biochip manufacturing method, a star-like polyethylene glycol derivative having an epoxy group at its terminal is reacted with a low molecular weight hydrophilic polymer to form a matrix, and a probe is covalently bound to the matrix and immobilized on a solid substrate. The biochip has a 3-dimensional structure where it spatially protrudes from its surface and improved chip sensitivity. In addition, the biochip can be conveniently and efficiently manufactured using an aqueous solution at low costs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a hydrogel biochip, comprising: 
 Mixing a star-like polyethylene glycol derivative having an epoxy group at its terminal, a hydrophilic polymeric cross-linking agent and a probe in a aqueous solution to form a mixture solution; and    Applying the mixture solution on a substrate to form a hydrogel such that the probe is immobilized to the substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing comprises mixing a star-like polyethylene glycol derivative having the epoxy group at its terminal and the hydrophilic polymeric cross-linking agent to form a matrix solution; and adding a probe to the matrix to form a mixture solution containing a matrix solution and a probe solution.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the mixture solution on a substrate is performed at a temperature of about 40-70° C. and a humidity of about 60-30%.  
     
     
         4 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  4 , wherein the hydrophilic polymeric cross-linking agent has an average molecular weight of about 60-100,000 and is a star-like polyethylene glycol derivative having a hydroxy group, an amino group, or a thiol group.  
     
     
         5 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  4 , wherein the probe is a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a ribonucleic acid (RNA), a peptide nucleic acid (PNA), a protein, or an oligopeptide.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  or  4 , further comprising treating a surface of the substrate to have an amine group.  
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  4 , wherein the substrate is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, quartz, silicon, plastic, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and activated acrylamide.  
     
     
         8 . A hydrogel biochip manufactured by the method according to one of claims  1  through  4 .  
     
     
         9 . An assay method for detecting a binding between a probe and a target substance, comprising: 
 Applying a sample containing a target substance to be bound to a probe, to the hydrogel biochip manufactured by the method according to one of claims  1  through  4 ; and    Detecting the target substance specifically bound to the probe.    
     
     
         10 . The assay method of  claim 10 , wherein the target substance is a fluorescence-labeled biomolecule.