CHROMATOGRAPHY, Vol. 31 (2010), No. 1, pp. -17

High-throughput assay system using immobilized biomolecules with high accuracy and sensitivity would make drug discovery more efficient. To utilize the biomolecules into analytical systems, we created immobilization techniques of biomolecules, especially proteins, using hydrogels derived from sol-gel reaction of alkoxysilane or silica nanoparticles. The silicate formed networks around proteins, and then gelled, effectively entrapping the proteins. We analyzed in detail the network patterns formed by the silica nanoparticles by means of the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, FT-IR study indicated immobilized proteins maintained their structure even after encapsulation in the gel. This immobilization technique enabled the integration of biochemical reaction, separation, and detection into capillary electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography, microchip electrophoresis, and biochip systems.