title: Microfluidic handling of PCR solution and DNA amplification on a reaction chamber array biochip.
abstract: A microfluidic biochip for conducting an array of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) simultaneously was fabricated to understand the microfluidic loading process of PCR solution into microfabricated glass reaction chambers. The geometrical factors of the microfluidic structure, including the shape and depth of the microchamber, shape and size of the microchannels were investigated on the formation of air bubbles trapped within the microchamber during the PCR solution loading process. Furthermore, the effects of surface properties of the microfluidic structure, including hydrophilicity of the microchamber and inlet channel, and hydrophobicity of the outlet channel, on the loading of PCR solution, especially on the formation of air bubbles were studied. As a result, the surface wetting property of the microchamber was found to be the main reason for the formation of the air bubbles inside the microchamber during the loading of PCR solution in the biochips. A solution to avoid the air trapping has been proposed and investigated.
authors: BioMEMS Laboratory, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. mhqgong@ntu.edu.sg
authors: Haiqing
authors: H
authors: Gong
authors: Naveen
authors: N
authors: Ramalingam
authors: Longqing
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Che
authors: Qinghui
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Yuming
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Xinhao
authors: X
authors: Yang
authors: Peng Huat Eric
authors: PH
authors: Yap
authors: Chiew Hoon
authors: CH
authors: Neo