Use of Stagnation Point Flows for DNA Trapping, Manipulation, and Target Sequence Detection

• Main Authors: Dylla-Spears, Rebecca, Sohn, Lydia L, Muller, Susan J
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0094-243X
• DOI: 10.1063/1.2964907

We use a stagnation point flow to manipulate single molecules of double-stranded genomic DNA for applications requiring detection of specific sequences along the DNA backbone. Fluorescent polystyrene beads are surface-functionalized with site-specific probes and incubated with fluorescently labeled double-stranded l-DNA. The solution is introduced into a microfluidic cross slot where the tagged DNA molecules are trapped and elongated at the stagnation point of the planar extensional flow. Beads bound along the stretched DNA may be directly observed, and their locations along the backbone determined, using fluorescence microscopy. We have demonstrated the feasibility of this method for detection of specific sequences.