Biochips encompass a large area, which includes the field of microfluidics, microchips and lab on chip technologies. They can be broadly defined as measurement devices, prepared using microlithographic or microarraying technologies, that incorporate a biological recognition component. Biochips share much in common with biosensors but are distinguished from biosensors by the use of microlithography fabrication techniques in their production, hence chip.
Tremendous interest in microfabricated fluidic channel structures (biochips) has grown over the past decade due to the large number of powerful demonstrations that have appeared in the literature.
The diversity of chemical and biochemical measurement techniques implemented on biochips is large including various electrophoretic and chromatographic separations, chemical and enzymatic reactions, noncovalent recognition interactions, sample concentration enhancement, and cellular manipulations.
These devices have low cost and small footprints while consuming miniscule quantities of reagents and producing rapid results. Moreover, the manufacturing strategy used to make these devices, i.e., photolithography, allows highly parallel systems to be fabricated at low incremental cost. Biochips open up a vast potential in the area of chemical analysis, however they rely on good fabrication techniques to ensure effective performance.
Biochips require good channel structure (height and width) and surface topography to ensure efficient flow of chemicals (bioagents) within them. Taylor Hobson offer biochip manufacturers a range of measurement solutions which assist in improving quality and performance. For product information click the link below.