Microstructure, method for manufacturing same, and molecule detection method using same

A method for detecting a molecule of interest using a microstructure or an array thereof, the method comprising:

• a) specifically modifying the molecule of interest with an electrochemiluminescent probe by contacting a sample containing the molecule of interest with the electrochemiluminescent probe,
• b) contacting the molecule of interest modified with the electrochemiluminescent probe obtained in step a) with a microstructure, to receive the test molecule in a cavity of the microstructure;
• c) applying a voltage to the microstructure that has received the molecule of interest;
• and
• d) detecting the molecule of interest by observing of the luminescence from the electrochemiluminescent probe,
• wherein the microstructure comprises:
• a nearly hemispherical shell-shaped structure made of a first conductive material, and
• an electrode layer made of a second conductive material disposed on the concave side of the nearly hemispherical shell-shaped structure, and wherein
• the first conductive material comprises a magnetic material,
• the second conductive material comprises an electrode material, and
• the cavity is formed by being surrounded by the electrode layer on the concave side of the microstructure, and the size (diameter) of the cavity is in the range of 10 nm to 50 μm.

A method for producing a nearly hemispherical shell-shaped microstructure, comprising steps of:

• a) preparing nearly hemispherical mold microparticles of a desired size disposed in a monolayer on a substrate, wherein the mold microparticles are made of a material that can be removed by a predetermined removal process;
• b) coating the mold microparticles disposed on the substrate in the monolayer with a second conductive material;
• c) further coating the mold particles coated with the second conductive material with the first conductive material;
• and
• d) removing the mold microparticles by the predetermined removal process to obtain microstructures having a nearly hemispherical shell-shaped structure made of the first conductive material and an electrode layer made of the second conductive material disposed on the concave side of the nearly hemispherical shell-shaped structure,
• wherein the first conductive material comprises a magnetic material,
• the second conductive material comprises an electrode material, and
• the size (diameter) of the mold microparticle is in the range of about 10 nm to about 50 μm.