Disc-based immunoassay microarrays

Microarray technology as applied to areas that include genomics, diagnostics, environmental, and drug discovery, is an interesting research topic for which different chip-based devices have been developed. As an alternative, we have explored the principle of compact disc-based microarrays. This new methodology successfully combined high-density microarrays applied via a piezoelectric inkjet applicator with circular indexing on a polycarbonate disc. As a demonstration of the principle, we ran competitive inhibition immunoassays for hydroxyatrazine, carbaryl, and molinate. The resulting microspots were approximately 75 micrometers in diameter and were visualized by using an antibody labeled with a fluorescent tag and a commercially available fluorescence scanner. The results of this work suggest that compact disc-based microarray technology can give qualitative and quantitative results and has potential for simultaneous multianalyte analyses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.