Design, visualization, and utilization of enzyme microstructures built on solid surfaces

Abstract

Immobilized bioelements offer additional sensitivity and/or selectivity in analytical techniques, in biotechnological devices, and in different medical applications. Great research interest has recently been focused in all these fields on miniaturization techniques, special attention being accorded to the patterning of biomolecules (e.g. enzymes) on solid surfaces with micrometer resolution. Novel microanalysis systems consider the use of enzyme microstructures as e.g. part of μ- Total Analysis System platforms as biochemical microreactors or detection units. This mini-review highlights recent advances in the creation of enzyme microstructures by indirect methods (photolithography, microcontact printing, etc.) and active placement methods (electrospraying, microdispensing, etc.). Some key visualization techniques of enzyme microstructures (fluorescence microscopy, scanning electrochemical microscopy, etc.) are also mentioned together with examples of their applications or application possibilities.