The Development of Novel Miniaturized Immuno-sensing Devices: A Review of a Small Technology with a Large Future

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Abstract
Miniaturized screening devices (MSDs) are an emerging technology with a variety of possible applications e.g., detection of diseases, analysis of antibiotics or illicit drugs. MSDs include a variety of different working principles and components. They are generally referred to in the literature as biochips, nanochips, micro-arrays, µTas systems and high throughput screening devices. They consist of a miniaturized device or ‘chip’ with different probes immobilized on the surface that may carry out multiplex analysis (i.e., detection of genes, proteins, illicit or novel drugs etc.,). Such a device is envisaged to be fully autonomous, incorporating micro-fluidics and appropriate means of signal transduction. The vast majority of MSDs that have been developed, to date, are based on DNA probes. DNA-based arrays have been generated to analyse genomes, detect diseases e.g., cancer, and cellular responses to various stimuli e.g., carcinogens, at the genetic level. MSDs may provide a relatively inexpensiv...