Abstract: The use of sugar-containing hydrogels as very highly porous, aqueous support material for the immobilization of oligonucleotides, peptides, proteins, antigens, antibodies, polysaccharides, and other biomolecules for sensor applications. Unusually large sizes of interconnected pores allow large target molecules to pass rapidly into and through the gel and bind to immobilized biomolecules. Sugar-containing hydrogels have extremely low non-specific absorption of labeled target molecules, providing low background levels. Some hydrogel materials do not have this type of homogeneous interconnected macroporosity, thus large target molecules cannot readily diffuse through them. Additionally, they nearly always experience non-specific absorption of labeled target molecules, limiting their usefulness in sensor applications. A method is provided for preparing sugar polyacrylate hydrogels with functional chemical groups which covalently bond oligonucleotides and peptides.

Abstract: The use of sugar-containing hydrogels as very highly porous, aqueous support material for the immobilization of oligonucleotides, peptides, proteins, antigens, antibodies, polysaccharides, and other biomolecules for sensor applications. Unusually large sizes of interconnected pores allow large target molecules to pass rapidly into and through the gel and bind to immobilized biomolecules. Sugar-containing hydrogels have extremely low non-specific absorption of labeled target molecules, providing low background levels. Some hydrogel materials do not have this type of homogeneous interconnected macroporosity, thus large target molecules cannot readily diffuse through them. Additionally, they nearly always experience non-specific absorption of labeled target molecules, limiting their usefulness in sensor applications. A method is provided for preparing sugar polyacrylate hydrogels with functional chemical groups which covalently bond oligonucleotides and peptides.

Abstract: The wall thickness of lipid microtubules are controlled by selecting a methanol/water system and determining the required amount of a lipid to form the desired wall thickness. The lipid is dissolved in a small portion of the heated methanol and that clear solution is added to the remaining amount of the heated methanol/water system. By slowly cooling the solution, microtubules are formed which have the desired wall thickness. Preferred microtubules have a wall thickness of just 2 bilayers and they are robust so they can be further coated. They can be made with a large aspect ratio and with lengths of greater than 250 microns. The process permits production of microtubules in very high yields.