Polypyrrole DNA chip on a silicon device:: Example of hepatitis C virus genotyping

We describe in this article an oligonucleotide array constructed on a silicon device bearing a matrix of addressable 50-mu m microelectrodes. Each electrode was covered by a conducting polymer (polypyrrole) grafted by an oligonucleotide (ODN). The DNA chip was prepared by successive electrochemically addressed copolymerizations of 5' pyrrole-labeled ODN and pyrrole. Following hybridization of the biotinylated amplified sample on the chip bearing a series of probes, detection was carried out by fluorescence microscopy through an R-phycoerythrin label. This technology was successfully applied to the genotyping of hepatitis C virus in blood samples. Results show good sensitivity and a high degree of dimensional resolution. (C) 1998 Academic Press.