A New Pico-Litre Fluid Dispensing Technology for New Possibilities

Abstract

Biosensors more often than not require the manipulation of liquids, either to produce a biosensor itself, or to facilitate the biosensor’s operation. As technological progress is made, the volumes of fluid involved have reduced and continue to do so. Reactions which may have previously required milli-litres now are accomplished using micro-litre, nano-litre and pico-litre volumes of reagents and biomaterials. There is an increasing desire for more reaction data points, cost savings in terms of material usage, a reduction in physical laboratory space requirements and miniaturization in general. To this end, the use of pico-litre volumes of fluids, where the biology and chemistry support it, is a logical step. Recently a new fluid handling instrument has been made available which is capable of dispensing pico-litre and low volume nano-litre volumes of fluid with high precision and accuracy. The PolyPico technology is not novel in being able to dispense pico-litre and nano-litre volumes of fluids, however it is novel in being able to do so by using disposable plastic cartridges.