 Collection of miniaturized test sites

of living entities (microarrays)

arranged on a solid substrate that
permits many tests to be performed
at the same time in order to achieve
higher throughput, speed, accuracy
and smaller size.
 A biochip can perform thousands of
biological reactions, such as decoding
genes, in a few seconds.
 A unity between electronics and
biology/medicine
Bio + Chip = Biochip
• Bio: stands for any
biological entity eg:
protein, DNA
•Chip: a computer chip
•Biochip: a combination of
biological entity and a
computer.
Genome chips,
Microarrays.
Merge Biology and
Electronics to overcome
the brick wall

Learn from natural

phenomena and improve
the current medical
technology

1980s was the first time

Biological entities were put
on nonliving substrate.
Consists of two components:
Transponder
Reader
Passive Biochip: No
Batteries and energy of its own.
The implantable biochip
It has a very long life, up to 99 years,
and no maintenance.
Composed of
•Microchip
•Antenna coil
•Tuning capacitor
• Glass Capsule
Computer Microchip: Stores the unique ID
number.
Using a nnn-nnn-nnn format, the chip has
the capability of storing of over 70 trillion
unique numbers.
Antenna Coil: Primitive Radio antenna to
receive and send signals from the reader.
Made up of coil of copper wire around a ferrite
or iron core.
Tuning Capacitor: Capacitor stores small
charge (1/1000 of Watt) sent by the reader.
 “Radio waves" are utilized to communicate
between the transponder and reader, the
capacitor is "tuned" to the same frequency as the
reader.
Glass Capsule: Made of biocompatible material
such as soda lime glass, hermetically (air-tight)
sealed, covered with Polypropylene polymer.
The small capsule measuring 11 mm in length
and 2 mm in diameter, about the size of an
uncooked grain of rice.
Transmits a small signal
Charges the tuning capacitor
Receives ID number transmitted
by the transponder.
Takes place very fast, in
milliseconds.
Displays the result in an
 LCD display. The reader
can include a RS-232 port
to attach a computer.
Injected by a Hypodermic syringe beneath
the skin.
Injection is safe and simple, comparable to
common vaccines. Anesthesia is not
required nor recommended.
Usually behind the neck in cats and dogs.
The right hand and forehead in humans.
DNA (Gene expression):
Human Genome Project started in 1990 to study
genomes
Study of interactions of individual genes in an
organism
 Biochips helped to dramatically accelerate the
identification of the estimated 80,000 genes in
human DNA.
Faster diagnosis of diseases
Medicine will improve
People will live longer healthier lives.
Biological warfare diagnoses
(eg: Anthrax)
Creates more jobs and improves the
economy.
Nanotechnology has made it possible for a single chip to
possess more than million features with its detection abilities
than that of conventional methods.
Nanotechnology has made biochips more applicable for
commercialization purpose where biochips could be
implanted inside body to dynamically transmit the information
and monitor any biological changes in vivo.
There has been significant progress on applications of
biochips such as DNA chips, protein chips, and carbohydrate
chips, and MEMS/NEMS in the field of medical
nanotechnology.
 One could believe that when fused together, biochips and
nanotechnology will endlessly bring scientists to newer and
promising researching aspects.
Biochips is a very broad field
•Many different types of biochips
Biochips is going to set the new trend in
Medicine
Still in research phase, but soon will be
commercially used