Abstract: A self-addressable, self-assembling microelectronic device is designed and fabricated to actively carry out and control multi-step and multiplex molecular biological reactions in microscopic formats. These reactions include nucleic acid hybridizations, antibody/antigen reactions, diagnostics, and biopolymer synthesis. The device can be fabricated using both microlithographic and micro-machining techniques. The device can electronically control the transport and attachment of specific binding entities to specific microlocations. The specific binding entities include molecular biological molecules such as nucleic acids and polypeptides. The device can subsequently control the transport and reaction of analytes or reactants at the addressed specific microlocations. The device is able to concentrate analytes and reactants, remove non-specifically bound molecules, provide stringency control for DNA hybridization reactions, and improve the detection of analytes. The device can be electronically replicated.

Abstract: Methods for electronic perturbation of fluorescence, chemilluminescence and other emissive materials provide for molecular biological analysis. In a preferred method for hybridization analysis of a sample, an electronic stringency control device is used to perform the steps of: providing the sample, a first probe with a fluorescent label and a second probe with a label under hybridization conditions on the electronic stringency control device, forming a hybridization product, subjecting the hybridization product to an electric field force, monitoring the fluorescence from the hybridization product, and analyzing the fluorescent signal. The label preferably serves as a quencher for the fluorescent label.