Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for functionalizing fluid lines (1b) in a micromechanical device, the walls of which include an opaque layer. For this purpose, the invention provides a method for functionalizing a micromechanical device provided with a fluid line including a peripheral wall (5) having a surface (2) outside the line and an inner surface (3) defining a space (1b) in which a fluid can circulate, the peripheral wall at least partially including a silicon layer (5a).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a droplet microreactor, i.e. a microreactor consisting of a droplet of a specific liquid, the microreactor being wall-less, wherein the interface of the specific liquid with the ambient environment and with the support on which the droplet is deposited defines the limits of the microreactor. The microreactor is characterized in that it consists of a droplet comprising at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also relates to methods for carrying out chemical or biochemical reactions and/or mixes using said droplet microreactor, and also to a lab-on-chip comprising a microreactor according to the invention.

Abstract: A substrate for biochips is manufactured so that the substrate has a substrate surface having a reaction region capable of reacting with biological substances and a non-reaction region not reacting with the biological substances, sunken bottomed wells formed in the substrate surface, and a layer of a material capable of reacting with the biological substances having a surface exposed only at the bottoms of the bottomed wells, the exposed surface forming the reaction region.

Abstract: A microreactor is shown having an inlet or feed channel, an inlet or feed zone for a flow of fluid, a reaction zone, an outlet zone and an outlet or evacuation channel, the zones and channels being in fluid communication, and at least one compound such as an enzyme capable of producing a biological or biochemical reaction with at least one constituent of the flow of fluid, the compound being attached to the surfaces of the inlet zone, reaction zone, and outlet zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds comprising a photolabile protecting group and to the use thereof as coupling agents for the functionalisation of solid supports. The invention also relates to the solid supports functionalised by said compounds and to the use of same for the immobilisation of biological molecules of interest, such as nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A substrate for biochips is manufactured so that the substrate has a substrate surface having a reaction region capable of reacting with biological substances and a non-reaction region not reacting with the biological substances, sunken bottomed wells formed in the substrate surface, and a layer of a material capable of reacting with the biological substances having a surface exposed only at the bottoms of the bottomed wells, the exposed surface forming the reaction region.

Abstract: A substrate for biochips has a substrate surface having a reaction region capable of reacting with biological substances and a non-reaction region not reacting with the biological substances, sunken bottomed wells formed in the substrate surface, and a layer of a material capable of reacting with the biological substances having a surface exposed only at the bottoms of the bottomed wells, the exposed surface forming the reaction region.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for enhancing fluorescence comprising a support (10) carrying fluorescence enhancement means (11), the fluorescence enhancement means offering a reception surface for chemical or biological elements intended to be read by detection of a fluorescence signal emitted by a fluorophore, associated with the chemical or biological elements, under the effect of an excitation light beam. The fluorescence enhancement means (11) is made up of a thin, transparent, dielectric layer or a stack of thin, transparent, dielectric layers (12 to 16) ensuring a mirror function for the fluorescence signal and excitation light beam, the material of the thin layer or of each thin layer of the stack being chosen from among the following materials: TiO2, Ta2O5, HfO2, ZrO2, MgO, SiO2, Si3N4, MgF2 and YF3. The fluorescence enhancement device may be used for a biological or chemical optic sensor.

Abstract: The invention concerns the field of microfluidics and in particular that of electrophoresis on a micro- or nanofluidic device. More particularly, the invention concerns the use of a reactive polymer coating adapted to be submitted to a phase separation under the influence of an external stimulation of chemical or physical type, to modulate the electrokinetic flows (electroosmotic or electrophoretic flows during electrophoresis for example) in a micro- or nanofluidic device. The invention also concerns a method for varying the electrokinetic flows in such a device using said coating, as well as the micro- or nanofluidic devices comprising at least one channel or one capillary tube whereof the inner surface is covered at least partly with such a coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to ?-silanyl n-alkanal compounds, method for production and use thereof in the fuctionalization of solid supports, solid supports functionalized by the compounds and the use of solid supports thus functionalized for the immobilization and/or synthesis of biological molecules of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molecular spacer arm, to a process for attachment of a molecular unit to a solid support, and also to the use of this spacer arm on analytical chips comprising molecules or biomolecules. The spacer arm has the formula (I): in which X0, X4?C, O, S, Se, N, P, As; X1-3?C, O, N, S, Se, P, As, or C1-6 aryl or heteroaryl; Z1-2?C—R, Si—R, N, P and As, where R?C1-6 alkyl; R1-3?H, or C1-6 alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; [Gp]=protective group for >N; n, m and p=integers ?1; [Sup]=H or a silanized solid support; and [mo]=H or a molecular unit intended to be covalently attached to said silanized solid support by means of said spacer arm.

Abstract: A process for characterizing, quantifying or mapping a nucleic acid or a nitrogenous base fixed on a support by using a photothermal (mirage effect) method. An improved process for manufacturing a nucleic acid biochip on which at least one nucleic acid synthesized in situ is fixed. A device for implementing these processes.

Abstract: A method for etching an organic dielectric material layer includes depositing an inorganic barrier layer on the organic dielectric material layer, and depositing an inorganic masking layer on the inorganic barrier layer. A masking resin layer is deposited on the inorganic masking layer. The method further includes patterning the masking resin layer and etching through the inorganic masking layer to expose the inorganic barrier layer. Remaining portions of the masking resin layer are removed, and the exposed inorganic barrier layer is etched to expose the organic dielectric material layer. The method further includes removing remaining portions of the inorganic masking layer, and etching the exposed organic dielectric material layer while using the inorganic barrier layer as a mask.