On-Chip Control of DNA Immobilization and Hybridization with Nanosecond Electric Field Pulses

The application of on-chip single voltage pulses is used to achieve both temporal and spatial control of the biological reactions in DNA chips. Single square and sinusoidal voltage pulses with amplitudes between 0.1 and 5 V and durations between 20 ns and 10 ms are used to achieve specific DNA oligonucleotide probe covalent immobilization to a functionalized surface and complementary DNA oligonucleotide hybridization to an immobilized DNA probe. Square voltage pulses are shown to be more effective for DNA immobilization and sinusoidal pulses for DNA hybridization. The electrode configuration allows controlling the spatial confinement of this electric-field effect.