Power-free poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic devices for gold nanoparticle-based DNA analysis

Lab Chip. 2004 Jun;4(3):181-5. doi: 10.1039/b403930k. Epub 2004 May 12.

Abstract

An extremely simple, power-free pumping method for poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS) microfluidic devices is presented. By exploiting the high gas solubility of PDMS, the energy for the pumping is pre-stored in the degassed bulk PDMS, therefore no additional structures other than channels and reservoirs are required. In a Y-shaped microchannel with cross section of 100 microm width x 25 microm height, this method has provided flow rate of 0.5-2 nL s(-1), corresponding to linear velocity of 0.2-0.8 mm s(-1), with good reproducibility. As an application of the power-free pumping, gold nanoparticle-based DNA analysis, which does not rely on the cross-linking mechanism between nanoparticles, has been implemented in a microchannel with three inlets. Target 15mer DNA has been easily and unambiguously discriminated from its single-base substituted mutant. Instead of colorimetric detection in a conventional microtube, an alternative detection technique suitable for microdevices has been discovered-observation of deposition on the PDMS surfaces. The channel layout enabled two simultaneous DNA analyses at the two interfaces between the three laminar streams.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / analysis*
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidics / methods
  • Nanostructures*
  • Silicones / chemistry*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Silicones
  • baysilon
  • Gold
  • DNA