On-chip pressure injection for integration of infrared-mediated DNA amplification with electrophoretic separation

• Published in: Lab on a chip 2006-01, Vol.6 (5), p.601-610
• Main Authors: Easley, Christopher J, Karlinsey, James M, Landers, James P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DNA Replication; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Electrophoresis - methods; Infrared Rays; Microarray Analysis - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pressure; Salmonella typhimurium; Salmonella typhimurium - genetics
• ISSN: 1473-0197; 1473-0189
• DOI: 10.1039/b600039h

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane valves were utilized for diaphragm pumping on a PDMS-glass hybrid microdevice in order to couple infrared-mediated DNA amplification with electrophoretic separation of the products in a single device. Specific amplification products created during non-contact, infrared (IR) mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were injected via chip-based diaphragm pumping into an electrophoretic separation channel. Channel dimensions were designed for injection plug shaping via preferential flow paths, which aided in minimizing the plug widths. Unbiased injection of sample could be achieved in as little as 190 ms, decreasing the time required with electrokinetic injection by two orders of magnitude. Additionally, sample stacking was promoted using laminar or biased-laminar loading to co-inject either water or low ionic strength DNA marker solution along with the PCR-amplified sample. Complete baseline resolution (Res = 2.11) of the 80- and 102-bp fragments of pUC-18 DNA marker solution was achieved, with partially resolved 257- and 267-bp fragments (Res = 0.56), in a separation channel having an effective length of only 3.0 cm. This resolution was deemed adequate for many PCR amplicon separations, with the added advantage of short separation time-typically complete in