Herein, we demonstrate a simple, versatile and efficient method for immobilization of unmodified carbohydrates onto a solid surface. The method employs a photoreactive-cellulose membrane which is prepared by the introduction of a photoreactive group to a cellulose membrane through 1-fluoro-2-nitro4-azidobenzene (FNAB). Upon exposure to UV light photo-reactive azido group of the activated cellulose membrane transforms itself into highly reactive nitrene which covalently binds to underivatized carbohydrates through an insertion reaction. Maximum immobilization of carbohydrate is achieved at the UV exposure time of 60 min and carbohydrate concentration of 100 mu g/disk. The immobilized carbohydrate is assayed by affinity binding of biotin-labeled lectins. The amount of Con A required for detecting immobilized carbohydrate ranges from 4-10 mu g/ml. The binding affinities of the lectin to the immobilized carbohydrates are analyzed by calculating their IC50 values. Overall, the present work demonstrates an efficient immobilization of underivatized carbohydrate onto cellulose surface and has the potential to be applied to other surfaces. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.