Emerging Technologies in Lab-on-a-Chip: Microarrays and Biochips

This publication has been discontinued on July 19, 2011.

Introduction

Abstract

Rapid Development in the Microarray Industry Encourages Companies to Produce Nanoarrays

The microarray industry has evolved very rapidly from providing highly specialized techniques for a few genetic researchers to becoming a laboratory standard in molecular biology and clinical research. Heartened by this phenomenal growth, several research groups have started producing nanoarrays, in which thousands of binding sites can be printed into the area of a single conventional microarray spot. Novel, high-throughput methods for expressing and purifying proteins can also help companies build vast libraries of recombinant proteins to place on chips.

This Technical Insights study, Emerging Technologies in Lab-on-a-Chip: Microarrays and Biochips, examines various technology developments in the microarray industry. These include applications, design, fabrication, new detection methods, microfluidic arrays, and further miniaturization down to the nanoarray level. It also summarizes the research conducted by top scientists and companies as well as start-ups. Furthermore, it discusses the drivers and challenges that stand in the way of commercial success of the technology.

Microarrays Useful in Discovery, Sequence Analysis and Monitoring of Protein Expression

Microarray technologies are likely to find significant scope in genomics and proteomics, with miniaturization enabling high-throughput processing. The applications they cover include genotyping, mutation screening, gene expression, and protein-interaction studies. "Ultimately, DNA microarray studies promise to expand the size of existing gene families, reveal new patterns of coordinated expression across gene families, and uncover entirely new categories of genes," says the analyst of this research. It will also aid clearer understanding of co-ordination among genes and their inter-relation.

The potential of microarrays extends beyond peptides and nucleotides. Another segment that could receive a boost from the developments in microarray technology is disease diagnosis. Promising results from the use of DNA microarrays to classify subtypes of cancer may help determine the most appropriate treatment strategy. Other microarray technologies in the pipeline include carbohydrate chips, and cell, tissue, and chemical arrays. Microarrays portability, rapid assay times, and smaller sample requirements could be major factors in encouraging their uptake in the healthcare sector despite their current high costs. Conversely, increased use should bring costs down.

Reliability and Standardization Issues Need to Be Resolved for Wider Acceptance of Microarrays

The precision of microarray assays has been a significant concern among end users, since current tests still produce a fairly high level of false positives and false negatives. This can be a debilitating problem in the diagnostics industry, which traditionally requires robust and cost-effective test platforms with a high degree of precision. Since this is a major market for microarray technologies, research centers are already working on remedial measures.

Standardization is also receiving a lot of attention from researchers -- especially with the current need to compare data obtained from different platforms now available. The various participants need to agree on a unified technology platform to design, process, read, and analyze DNA arrays. "Until precision and standardization are improved, researchers will have to continue to discard the raw data (the data on the chips) in the event that some information needs to be rechecked," notes the analyst.

Table of Contents

• 1. Executive Summary
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. History
  • 2. Background
    • 1. Microarrays and Biochips
    • 2. DNA Microarrays
    • 3. Proteomics and Protein chips
    • 4. Analyzing Microarrays
  • 3. Applications
    • 1. Pharmacogenomics
    • 2. Bioinformatics
• 2. Markets; Drivers; and Challenges to Commercialization
  • 1. Markets and Market Forecasts
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Markets and Market Forecasts
    • 3. Pharmaceuticals Industry
    • 4. Diagnostic Applications
    • 5. Nanotechnology and Nanobiotechnology
  • 2. Market Drivers
    • 1. Life-Sciences Research
    • a. Pharmacogenomics
    • b. Mass Production and Standardizatrion
    • c. SNP Scoring
    • d. Proteomoics
    • e. PCR Technology Goping Off-Patents
    • f. Simpler Method to Replace PCR
    • g. Further Miniaturization
    • h. Cross Pollination from the Electronics and Semiconductor Industry
    • i. One-Stop Shopping
    • 2. Point-of-Care Diagnostics/Biodefense
    • a. Drug Screening in the Pharmaceuticals Industry
    • b. Diagnostics
    • c. Rapid Results
    • d. MEMS Evolution
    • e. Bio- and Chemical-Weapons Defense Application
  • 3. Technical Challenges and Barriers to Commercialization
    • 1. Money; As Usual
    • a. Sample Preparation
    • b. Variability, Reliability and Durability
    • c. Too much data
    • d. Too many chips
    • e. Prices Dropping
    • 2. Standardization
  • 4. Diagnostics
    • 1. Industry Conservatism
    • 2. DNA Chips--Optimization of Hybridization
• 3. Technologies
  • 1. DNA and RNA Arrays
    • 1. GeneChip: The Original Disposable DNA Probe Arrays--Affymetrix
    • 2. Entire Human Genome on a Single Chip--Agilent Technologies Inc
    • 3. Really Big Chip for Whole Genome Gene Search--Upstate Medical University
    • 4. Diagnostic Rival to PCR Sets DNA Detection Sensitivity Record--Northwestern University
    • 5. Array Uses Chemiluminescence for Femtomolar-Level Sensitivity--Applied Biosystems
  • 2. Protein Chips
    • 1. SELDI Protein Chip--Ciphergen Biosystems Inc
    • 2. Affinity Binding Immobilizes Proteins but Retains Function--Prolinx Inc.
  • 3. Microarrays as Sensors for Chemicals and Microbes
    • 1. Microelectrode-Array-Based Cell Sensor to Detect Chemicals--University of California
    • 2. Tiny Microheaters as Protein Sensors--University of Washington
    • 3. Xerogel Arrays Sense Numerous Chemicals--University at Buffalo;University of New York
    • 4. Laser-Based Fluorescence for DNA Adduct Detection--Ames Laboratory
    • 5. Gold Nanoparticles and Color Changes for Microbe Detection--Nanosphere Inc.
  • 4. Other Types of Biochip Arrays
    • 1. Brain-on-a-Chip--University of Illinois
    • 2. Glycan Array for Glycomics Applications--Consortium of Glycosciences
  • 5. Detection Methods
    • 1. Nanowire Detectors Instead of PCR--Harvard University
    • 2. Detecting Genetic Variants via Base Stacking--Nanogen Inc.
  • 6. Microfluidic Arrays
    • 1. Miniaturized Liquid Array Bioassays--Luminex Corporation
    • 2. Ultrahigh-Throughput Via Flow-Through Array--BioTrove Inc.
  • 7. Biochip Design and Assembly: Microprinting; Lithography; Coatings
    • 1. Nanofabrication Combines Best of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processes--Nanogen Inc.
    • 2. Miniaturized Biochips: A Million Spots in One--NanoInk Inc.
    • 3. Additional Companies
• 4. International Efforts
  • 1. Australia
    • 1. Australia and Japan: Chemical Inkjet Printer
    • 2. Universal Array Hopes to Identify Everything
  • 2. Denmark and France
    • 1. A Novel Fabrication Process for Cantilever-Based Mass Sensors
    • 2. Speed DNA Separations on Chip
  • 3. Canada
    • 1. DNA Switch Senses Big And Small Molecules
    • 2. Multiplexed Biological Detection Using Luminescent Quantum Dots
    • 3. Self-Assembling DNA Wire
    • 4. Isothermal DNA Tags
  • 4. Germany
    • 1. Benchtop Arrayer Digital In; Microarray Out
    • 2. CMOS Biochips
  • 5. Israel and Italy
    • 1. Novel Pollution Biosensor Uses Enzyme Induction
    • 2. MEMS DNA Lab-on-a-Silicon Chip
  • 6. Japan and South Korea
    • 1. Wet Protein Chips Help Biology Labs
    • 2. Charge Sensors Can Detect DNA Sequences
  • 7. Norway; Spain; Sweden
    • 1. Nucleic Acid Clues for Homeland Security
    • 2. Microarray Analyzes Gene Function in Bacteria
• 5. Patents and Contacts
  • 1. Patents
    • 1. Patents I
    • 2. Patents II
    • 3. Patents III
  • 2. Contacts
    • 1. Companies
    • 2. Universities
• 6. Frost & Sullivan 2004 Science and Technology Awards
  • 1. Technology Leadership Award
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 2. Technology Innovation Award
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
• 7. Decision Support Database Tables
  • 1. Decision Support Database Relevant to This Study
    • 1. Number of Biotech Companies (1999 to 2006)
    • 2. Goverment Biotech R&D Investment (1999 to 2006)
    • 3. Government Healthcare Expenditure (1999 to 2006)
    • 4. Healthcare Expenditure as Percentage of GDP (1999 to 2006)
    • 5. Private Healthcare Expenditure (1999 to 2006)
    • 6. Pharmaceuticals R&D Expenditure (1999 to 2006)
    • 7. Percentage of Pharmaceuticals R&D Expenditure (1999 to 2006)

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