title: A versatile snap chip for high-density sub-nanoliter chip-to-chip reagent transfer.
abstract: The coordinated delivery of minute amounts of different reagents is important for microfluidics and microarrays, but is dependent on advanced equipment such as microarrayers. Previously, we developed the snap chip for the direct transfer of reagents, thus realizing fluidic operations by only manipulating microscope slides. However, owing to the misalignment between arrays spotted on different slides, millimeter spacing was needed between spots and the array density was limited. In this work, we have developed a novel double transfer method and have transferred 625 spots cm(-2), corresponding to >10000 spots for a standard microscope slide. A user-friendly snapping system was manufactured to make liquid handling straightforward. Misalignment, which for direct transfer ranged from 150-250 μm, was reduced to <40 μm for double transfer. The snap chip was used to quantify 50 proteins in 16 samples simultaneously, yielding limits of detection in the pg/mL range for 35 proteins. The versatility of the snap chip is illustrated with a 4-plex homogenous enzyme inhibition assay analyzing 128 conditions with precise timing. The versatility and high density of the snap chip with double transfer allows for the development of high throughput reagent transfer protocols compatible with a variety of applications.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.|McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Huiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.|McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Munzar
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.|McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.|McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.|Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Juncker
mesh_terms: D003101:Collodion / Q000737:chemistry; D007118:Immunoassay; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D055616:Microtechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011108:Polymers; D003101:Collodion