title: Fabrication of Polymerase Chain Reaction Plastic Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Rapid Molecular Diagnoses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to fabricate a thermoplastic poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) Lab-on-a-Chip device to perform continuous- flow polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for rapid molecular detection of foodborne pathogen bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A miniaturized plastic device was fabricated by utilizing PMMA substrates mediated by poly(dimethylsiloxane) interfacial coating, enabling bonding under mild conditions, and thus avoiding the deformation or collapse of microchannels. Surface characterizations were carried out and bond strength was measured. The feasibility of the Lab-on-a-Chip device for performing on-chip PCR utilizing a lab-made, portable dual heater was evaluated. The results were compared with those obtained using a commercially available thermal cycler.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A PMMA Lab-on-a-Chip device was designed and fabricated for conducting PCR using foodborne pathogens as sample targets. A robust bond was established between the PMMA substrates, which is essential for performing miniaturized PCR on plastic. The feasibility of on-chip PCR was evaluated using Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Cronobacter condimenti, two worldwide foodborne pathogens, and the target amplicons were successfully amplified within 25 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we present a novel design of a low-cost and high-throughput thermoplastic PMMA Lab-on-a-Chip device for conducting microscale PCR, and we enable rapid molecular diagnoses of two important foodborne pathogens in minute resolution using this device. In this regard, the introduced highly portable system design has the potential to enable PCR investigations of many diseases quickly and accurately.
authors.affiliation: Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kieu The Loan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5318-4742
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.affiliation: Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hainan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7897-0969
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5021-6502
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7053-0734
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kahng
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Ben D
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0399-3629
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Tall
authors.affiliation: Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.|Gil Medical Center, Gachon Medical Research Institute, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Nae Yoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5029-4009
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Diagnosis; Lab-on-a-Chip Devices; Plastics; Poly(methylmethacrylate); Polymerase Chain Reaction