Polypyrrole DNA chip on a silicon device: example of hepatitis C virus genotyping.

We describe in this article an oligonucleotide array constructed on a silicon device bearing a matrix of addressable 50-microns microelectrodes. Each electrode was covered by a conducting polymer (polypyrrole) grafted by an oligonucleotide (ODN). The DNA chip was prepared by successive electrochemically addressed copolymerizations of 5' pyrrole-labeled ODN and pyrrole. Following hybridization of the biotinylated amplified sample on the chip bearing a series of probes, detection was carried out by fluorescence microscopy through an R-phycoerythrin label. This technology was successfully applied to the genotyping of hepatitis C virus in blood samples. Results show good sensitivity and a high degree of dimensional resolution.