Multianalyte Sensor Array using Capillary-Based Sample Introduction Fluidic Structure: Toward the Development of an "Electronic Tongue"

Abstract

A micromachined fluidic structure for the introduction of liquid samples into a chip-based sensor array composed of individually addressable polymeric microbeads has been developed. The structure consists of a separately attached cover glass, a single silicon chip having micromachined channels and microbead storage cavities, and a glass carver. In our sensor array, transduction occurs via colorimetric and fluorescence changes to receptors and indicator molecules that are covalently attached to termination sites on the polymeric microbeads. Data streams are acquired for each of the individual microbeads using a CCD. One of the key parts of the structure is a passive fluid introduction system driven only by capillary force. The velocity of penetration of a horizontal capillary for the device having a rectangular cross section has been derived, and it is quite similar to the Washburn Equation calculated for a pipe with a circular cross section having uniform radius. The test results show that this system is useful in a <TEX>${\mu}$</TEX>-TAS and biomedical applications.