Nanostructuring of a porous alumina matrix for a biomolecular microarray

This paper describes a nanoporous substrate for applications in biomedical diagnostics. A photolithographic microstructuring technique for an ordered nanopore array fabrication is reported. The process uses a negative resist with hydrophobic properties increasing specificity to biomolecule linking. Nanoporous alumina is formed by an anodic process and yields straight holes with high aspect ratio: its use as substrates for DNA-microarray or protein-chip application offers several advantages over conventional supports, making them very attractive to use as supports for biological sample microarray application.