Rapid PCR amplification using a microfluidic device with integrated microwave heating and air impingement cooling.
A microwave heating system is described for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a microfluidic device. The heating system, in combination with air impingement cooling, provided rapid thermal cycling with heating and cooling rates of up to 65 degrees C s(-1) and minimal over- or under-shoot (+/-0.1 degrees C) when reaching target temperatures. In addition, once the required temperature was reached it could be maintained with an accuracy of +/-0.1 degrees C. To demonstrate the functionality of the system, PCR was successfully performed for the amplification of the Amelogenin locus using heating rates and quantities an order of magnitude faster and smaller than current commercial instruments.
Shaw
Kirsty J
KJ
Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, UKHU6 7RX.
Docker
Peter T
PT
Yelland
John V
JV
Dyer
Charlotte E
CE
Greenman
John
J
Greenway
Gillian M
GM
Haswell
Stephen J
SJ
D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008872:Microwaves; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation*