Photochemical immobilization of cells onto a glass substrate for in situ DNA analysis.

A simple and robust method to immobilize cells onto a glass substrate is presented. The method employs a photochemical reaction of benzophenone, which is modified on the substrate using a standard silane coupling agent, with cells. Cells were immobilized to an area irradiated with UV light from a standard light source under an inverted microscope. The dependence of immobilization on the light power intensity and irradiation time was investigated. In situ DNA analysis within the immobilized cells was demonstrated using target-primed rolling circle amplification and fluorescent detection.