Opto-electronic DNA chip: high performance chip reading with an all-electric interface

Reading of DNA chips is usually based on fluorescence labeling of hybridised target molecules. Combined with the use of confocal fluorescence scanners, this approach shows very high performances in terms of accuracy and sensitivity. However, fluorescence readers remain costly and cumbersome. This prevents the use of DNA chips as a decentralised testing tool. Electrical monitoring of hybridisation is one way to reduce the cost and size of the reader. However, the multiplexing of electric detection-based systems in a miniaturised form remains challenging. Here, we present a system based on the use of a low cost CMOS photodetector array as a solid support for a DNA chip, coupled with revelation by enzyme-catalysed chemiluminescence. This system is shown to allow the detection of low pM target concentrations with a 3 logs dynamic range on dense DNA microarrays, with excellent inter-spot reproducibility. Combining electric interface and high analytical performances, this opto-electronic DNA chip is one attractive solution for nucleic acids detection and analysis in disposable, fully automatised, total analysis systems developed for decentralised testing.