A laminated, flex structure for electronic transport and hybridization of DNA.
We have developed the first prototypes of a three-dimensional, electrophoretically driven microlaboratory for the analysis of proteins and DNA. By selecting the appropriate spacing and geometrical configuration, oligonucleotides were transported, in a controlled, rapid fashion, by electrophoresis in free-space. Transport efficiencies over 2 mm distances exceeded 70%. Electrodes of similar design were combined with an electronically addressed DNA hybridization chip to form a fully electrophoretic microlaboratory. In this instance, gold-plated copper electrodes were patterned on a 2 mil thick polyimide substrate. This polyimide layer was stiffened with 20 mil of polyimide to provide support for flip-chip bonding of our standard 100-site Nanochip. This composite structure illustrated three-dimensional transport of target oligonucleotides, through a via in the polyimide, along a series of electrodes and onto the diagnostic chip. Upon reaching the diagnostic chip, electronic hybridization was performed for a competitive reverse dot blot assay. The electronic assay showed a specific to nonspecific ratio in excess of 20:1. These results suggested that this type of structure might be of practical consequence with the development of a microlaboratory for biowarfare applications.
Forster
A H
AH
Department of Advanced Technology, Nanogen, Inc., 10398 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. aforster@nanogen.com
Krihak
M
M
Swanson
P D
PD
Young
T C
TC
Ackley
D E
DE
D001483:Base Sequence; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015342:DNA Probes; D004579:Electron Transport; D004867:Equipment Design; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*
D015342:DNA Probes