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: The device of the invention comprises a support having a surface comprising an attachment zone (Z) capable of being functionalized with a probe (A) capable of binding, according to the pH and reversibly, to a target (B) so as to attach it; a working electrode (WE) and a counterelectrode (CE) for this working electrode, arranged on the support in the vicinity of the attachment zone; and means for applying a given electric current or a given potential to said working electrode so as to cause, when said attachment zone and said electrodes are immersed in an aqueous solution, a local variation in pH in the region of said attachment zone. The method for attaching and/or detaching a target or an object according to the invention uses this device, the attachment and/or the detachment being electrochemically controlled with the working electrode.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a biochip support comprising a substrate supporting at least one porous layer of material on a first face, the said layer being designed to fix biological molecules onto the said layer and in the volume of this layer, the said support being characterized in that the said layer is a thin optical layer of material prepared by the sol-gel method and for which the refraction index is less than the refraction index of the substrate. The invention also relates to a process grafting of biological molecules onto and into the thin layer of material prepared by the sol-gel method on the first face of the biochip support.

Abstract: Microreactor comprising an inlet or feed channel, an inlet or feed zone (1) for a flow of fluid, a reaction zone (2), an outlet zone (3) and an outlet or evacuation channel, said zones (1, 2, 3) and channels (46, 48) 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 said flow of fluid, said compound being attached to the surfaces of said inlet zone (1), reaction zone (2), and outlet zone (3).

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: The invention relates to a solid support comprising sites intended for the immobilization of oligonucleotide probes or of proteins or of biological cells having ligands, the sites being provided with chemical species bound to the support by a chemical binding function. The chemical species have a diol group connected to the support by an alkyl chain. Application to biochips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for synthesizing nanorods of a carbide of one metal M1 on a substrate, which comprises: a) the deposition, on the substrate, of a layer of nanocrystals of oxide of the metal M1 and nanocrystals of oxide of at least one metal M2 different from metal M1, the M1 metal oxide nanocrystals being dispersed within this layer; b) the reduction of the M1 and M2 metal oxide nanocrystals into corresponding metal nanocrystals; and c) the selective growth of the M1 metal nanocrystals. The invention also relates to a process for growing nanorods of a carbide of one metal M1 on a substrate from nanocrystals of this metal, to the substrates thus obtained and to their applications: fabrication of Microsystems provided with chemical or biological functionalities, in particular the fabrication of biosensors; electron emission sources, for example for flat television or computer screens; etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analytical support for determining an analyte such as a DNA or RNA target, by carrying out a specific reaction of binding (hybridization) of said analyte with a ligand specific for this analyte, and determining the binding reaction by means of at least two fluorescent labels present on the analyte. This determination is carried out by applying an excitatory field and detecting the fluorescent emission of the various fluorescent labels. According to the invention, the support comprises a substrate coated with one or more layers of material(s) forming an assembly capable of decreasing or increasing the excitatory field for at least one of the fluorescent labels compared to the others. The ligands are attached to the final layer of the assembly. A layer of SiO2 on a substrate of silicon can be used with the fluorescent labels Cy3 and Cy5.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a biomimetic membrane, a biomimetic membrane and the applications of said membrane.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid support comprising sites intended for the immobilization of oligonucleotide probes or of proteins or of biological cells having ligands, the sites being provided with chemical species bound to the support by a chemical binding function. The chemical species have a diol group connected to the support by an alkyl chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analytical support for determining an analyte such as a DNA or RNA target, by carrying out a specific reaction of binding (hybridization) of said analyte with a ligand specific for this analyte, and determining the binding reaction by means of at least two fluorescent labels present on the analyte. This determination is carried out by applying an excitatory field and detecting the fluorescent emission of the various fluorescent labels. According to the invention, the support comprises a substrate coated with one or more layers of material(s) forming an assembly capable of decreasing or increasing the excitatory field for at least one of the fluorescent labels compared to the others. The ligands are attached to the final layer of the assembly.

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.

Abstract: The invention concerns a solid support (1) having a surface (4) for immobilizing oligonucleotides, characterized in that said surface (4) is the surface of a material (3) chosen from among HfO2, TiO2, Ta2O5, ZrO2 and a mixture comprising at least one of these materials, said surface (4) having undergone a treatment to make it hydrophilic.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds usable as liquid crystals in liquid crystal display devices utilizing the electrically controlled birefringence effect.These compounds comply with formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents an alkoxy or alkyl radical with 1 to 12 carbon atoms and Z represents a single bond or a radical chosen from among: ##STR2## provided that R.sup.1 represents an alkyl radical when Z represents a single bond and R.sup.2 represents an alkyl radical with 1 to 12 carbon atoms.They can be obtained by reacting an acid chloride of formula R.sup.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds usable as liquid crystals in liquid crystal display devices utilizing the electrically controlled birefringence effect.These compounds comply with formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents an alkoxy or alkyl radical with 1 to 12 carbon atoms and Z represents a single bond or a radical chosen from among: ##STR2## provided that R.sup.1 represents an alkyl radical when Z represents a single bond and R.sup.2 represents an alkyl radical with 1 to 12 carbon atoms.They can be obtained by reacting an acid chloride of formula R.sup.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture comprising a nematic liquid crystal and a non-mesomorphous compound. The non-mesomorphous compound makes it possible to improve the elastic behavior of the nematic liquid crystal by increasing the value of the ratio K.sub.33 /K.sub.11, in which K.sub.33 represents the elastic bending constant and K.sub.11 the elastic fanning constant of the liquid crystal. The non-mesomorphous compound can be in accordance with the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which can be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is an integer between 2 and 16 and can be associated with liquid crystals or liquid crystal mixtures containing a 1-(alkylcyclohexyl)-2-(alkylfluorobiphenylyl)-ethane. These mixtures can be used as a liquid crystal in a display device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for positioning the liquid medium in a liquid medium cell and to a corresponding cell.The cell comprises a liquid medium placed between two walls kept spaced from one another, e.g. by shims, and joined along the edge thereof, wherein it comprises first means for producing a first surface tension force in a first area and second means for producing a second surface tension force in a second area, the first surface tension force being higher the the second surface tension force, said means serving to correctly position the liquid medium between the two walls, the liquid medium then being located in the first area and outside the second area.