Abstract: SPR-compatible substrates for high density microarray fabrication and analyses are provided. Novel carbon-on-metal thin film substrate architecture permits the integration of surface plasmon resonance detection with photolithographically fabricated biomolecule arrays for the analysis of biomolecular interactions. The utility of the technology is shown in the analysis of specific DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA and DNA-protein binding interactions. These new substrates may be used to determine the secondary structure of RNA molecules, to probe the sequence-specific binding kinetics and affinity of proteins and small molecules, and as substrates for small-molecule combinatorial chemistry platforms for drug discovery applications.

Abstract: A method for determining the density of contact trace objects with magnetic levitation is described. The density of samples of glitter and of gunpowder was determined, and the feasibility of magnetic levitation as a possible means of characterizing forensic-related evidence is discussed. The magnetic levitation device (composed of two permanent magnets with like poles facing) and the method described provides a means of accurately determining the density of trace objects that is inexpensive, rapid, verifiable, provides documentation, is independent of the specific apparatus or analyst, and provides numerical values (rather than a comparison between questioned and known samples) that may be entered into a searchable database.

Abstract: SPR-compatible substrates for high density microarray fabrication and analyses are provided. Novel carbon-on-metal thin film substrate architecture permits the integration of surface plasmon resonance detection with photolithographically fabricated biomolecule arrays for the analysis of biomolecular interactions. The utility of the technology is shown in the analysis of specific DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA and DNA-protein binding interactions. These new substrates may be used to determine the secondary structure of RNA molecules, to probe the sequence-specific binding kinetics and affinity of proteins and small molecules, and as substrates for small-molecule combinatorial chemistry platforms for drug discovery applications.