We present the first example of a microfabricated PCR thermocycling chip integrated with advanced sample pre-treatment. The device consists of a SU-8 based PCR thermocycler chip monolithically integrated with dielectrophoretic (DEP) sample pre-treatment. This allows on chip purification of samples by removing inhibitors that would otherwise prevent PCR amplification. Integrated thin film heaters and a resistive temperature sensor control the PCR thermocycling. The sample pretreatment system uses a combination of fluid flow and cell capturing by DEP to perform the sample treatment. The sample pre-treatment system was tested on a sample containing yeast cells and heparin that inhibits PCR. Only treated sample could be successfully amplified using PCR.
Keywords
Source
The 12th International Conference on Solid State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems, Boston, June 8-12, 2003