A Micro Polymerase Chain Reaction Module for Integrated and Portable DNA Analysis Systems

Elisa Morganti,Leandro Lorenzelli,Cristina Ress,Cristina Potrich,Cecilia Pederzolli,Andrea Adami,Cristian Collini

doi:10.1155/2011/983430

Elisa Morganti, Leandro Lorenzelli + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/983430

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Abstract

This work deals with the design, fabrication, and thermal characterization of a disposable miniaturized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) module that will be integrated in a portable and fast DNA analysis system. It is composed of two independent parts: a silicon substrate with embedded heater and thermometers and a PDMS (PolyDiMethylSiloxane) chamber reactor as disposable element; the contact between the two parts is assured by a mechanical clamping obtained using a Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC). This PLCC is also useful, avoid the PCR mix evaporation during the thermal cycles. Finite Element Analysis was used to evaluate the thermal requirements of the device. The thermal behaviour of the device was characterized revealing that the temperature can be controlled with a precision of ±0.5°C. Different concentrations of carbon nanopowder were mixed to the PDMS curing agent in order to increase the PDMS thermal conductivity and so the temperature control accuracy.

Highlights

This work shows the design, fabrication, and thermal characterization of a μPCR module to be inserted in a primary care diagnostic Lab-On-Chip platform for genetic analysis
It is composed of two independent parts: a silicon substrate with embedded heater and thermometers and a PDMS (PolyDiMethylSiloxane) chamber reactor as disposable element; the contact between the two parts is assured by a mechanical clamping obtained using a Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC)
The two modules will be mounted on a custom made PCB board and all the microfluidics will be integrated in the same PDMS layer connecting the devices

Summary

Introduction

This work shows the design, fabrication, and thermal characterization of a μPCR module to be inserted in a primary care diagnostic Lab-On-Chip platform for genetic analysis. In the final LOC device, the designed μPCR module will be integrated with a label-free detector of DNA hybridization based on piezoresistive cantilever. The two modules will be mounted on a custom made PCB board and all the microfluidics will be integrated in the same PDMS layer connecting the devices. Considering the benefitsand drawbacks of the two mostly diffused PCR configurations, this work is focused on the development of a micro chamber since it does not require complex microfluidics in the prospective of an easier fluidic handling for the final integrated system. The PCR device is composed of two different parts: a silicon fixed part for temperature control and a cheap disposable PDMS chamber for single use applications such as DNA amplification

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