Abstract: Paramagnetic fine particles of 1 micron or less used under a strong magnetic field were shown to form beads-like aggregates along the magnetic flux, and become irregularly shaped as such a mass of particles combines with a flat particle layer. This phenomenon becomes a factor that degrades the quality of quantification in bioanalysis. By confining a solution of microscopic magnetic fine particles between flat substrates of high wettability as thin a vertical thickness as possible and attracting the magnetic fine particles under a magnetic field applied from the side of one of the flat substrates, the magnetic fine particles can be evenly immobilized in the form of a film on the substrate surface in a dispersion state, and the quality of the biomolecule quantification can be improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for binding microparticles to patterned bonding pads of a metal (e.g., gold) formed on a support. The microparticles each carry a nucleic acid synthetase or DNA probe immobilized thereon for capturing a nucleic acid sample fragment. The technique involves forming, on a support surface, a film having a thickness equivalent to that of the bonding pads; controlling the size of microparticles with respect to the size of bonding pads; and thereby immobilizing microparticles each bearing a single nucleic acid sample fragment to the bonding pads in a one-to-one manner in a grid form. This allows high-density regular alignment and immobilization of many types of nucleic acid fragment samples on a support and enables high-throughput analysis of nucleic acid samples. Typically, immobilization of microparticles at 1-micrometer intervals easily provides a high density of 106 nucleic acid fragments per square millimeter.

Abstract: Biomolecules are specifically captured with magnetic particles and the biomolecules are labeled with fluorescence. A magnetic field generator, for attracting the magnetic particles to the support substrate, is provided on the reverse face of the support substrate, and an adhesion layer is provided on the surface of the support substrate to hold the magnetic particles. First, a dispersing solution for the magnetic particles is placed on the surface of the support substrate with the magnetic field in an off state. Next, the magnetic field is turned on, and the magnetic particles in solution are attracted to the support substrate surface. The magnetic particles colliding with the support substrate adhere to the adhesion layer of the support substrate surface, and then the magnetic field is turned off. Thus, aggregations can be broken up while the magnetic particles are held, and a magnetic particle layer on the support substrate can be a single layer.

Abstract: The method for analyzing biomolecules, includes the steps of: immobilizing biomolecules to be analyzed on surfaces of magnetic microparticles; reacting labeled probe molecules with the biomolecules to be analyzed; collecting and immobilizing the microparticles on a support substrate; and measuring a label on the support substrate. Since single-molecule immobilized magnetic microparticles are used in the present invention, the number of biomolecules can be counted, and since hybridization and an antigen-antibody reaction are performed with the microparticles having biomolecules immobilized thereon dispersed, the reaction can be rapidly performed. Further, the type and the abundance of biomolecules of interest can be determined at a single molecular level, so as to evaluate, in particular, the absolute concentration of biomolecules.

Abstract: A convenient method for nucleic acid analysis is provided, which enables 1000 or more types of nucleic acid to be analyzed collectively with high comprehensiveness and with a dynamic range of at least four digits. In particular, provided is a very effective analytical method especially for untranslated RNAs and microRNAs, of which the types of target nucleic acids is 10000 or lower. Nucleic acids can be analyzed conveniently and rapidly with high comprehensiveness and quantitative performance at single-molecule sensitivity and resolution by following the steps of: preparing a group of target nucleic acid fragments one molecule at a time and hybridizing the nucleic acid molecules, which have known base sequences and have been labeled with the fluorescence substances, with the group of the target nucleic acid fragments to detect the fluorescence substances labeling the hybridized nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: In the conventional nucleic acid analysis devices and nucleic acid analyzers, there was no technique available for sequencing a single nucleic acid molecule easily and highly efficiently. The present invention enabled a highly efficient single molecule immobilization of nucleic acid with good reproductivity in a short time at a low price by providing small metallic bonding pads at predetermined positions on a support substrate, firmly fixing a hydrophobic linker on the bonding pads, and bonding on to the linker bulky microparticles onto which a single molecule of a nucleic acid sample fragment is immobilized. According to the present invention, in the nucleic acid analysis device which uses a nucleic acid analyzer, the nucleotide read length can be extended and many types of nucleic acid molecule to be analyzed can be analyzed at one time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for binding microparticles to patterned bonding pads of a metal (e.g., gold) formed on a support. The microparticles each carry a nucleic acid synthetase or DNA probe immobilized thereon for capturing a nucleic acid sample fragment. The technique involves forming, on a support surface, a film having a thickness equivalent to that of the bonding pads; controlling the size of microparticles with respect to the size of bonding pads; and thereby immobilizing microparticles each bearing a single nucleic acid sample fragment to the bonding pads in a one-to-one manner in a grid form. This allows high-density regular alignment and immobilization of many types of nucleic acid fragment samples on a support and enables high-throughput analysis of nucleic acid samples. Typically, immobilization of microparticles at 1-micrometer intervals easily provides a high density of 106 nucleic acid fragments per square millimeter.