Interdigitated electrode arrays are very promising devices for
multi-parameter (bio)sensing, for example the label-free detection of
nucleic acid hybridisation for diagnostic applications. The current
disclosure provides an innovative method for the affordable manufacturing
of polymer-based arrays of interdigitated electrodes with
.mu.m-dimensions. The method is based on a combination of an appropriate
three-dimensional structure and a single and directional deposition of
conductive material. The three-dimensional structure can be realized in a
polymer material using a moulding step, for which the moulds are
manufactured by electroplating as a reverse copy of a silicon master
structure. In order to ensure sufficient electrical isolation and
individual, but convenient, accessibility of the sensors in the array,
the interdigitated electrode regions need to be complemented with
specific features on the three-dimensional structure. Combined with the
use of e.g. shadow masks in the deposition step, these features allow for
the site-specific deposition of the conductive material. The technology
described has the additional advantage to integrate highly miniaturized
and arrayed electronics elements into polymer micro-fluidics technology,
which leads to the affordable manufacturing of (bio)sensor arrays.