Microfluidic genetic analysis system

Easley, C. J., Karlinsey, J. M., Bienvenue, J. M., Legendre, L. A., Roper, M. G, Feldman, S. H., Hughes, M. A., et al., A fuUy integrated microfluidic genetic analysis system with sample-in-answer-out capability, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103, 19272-19277, 2006. 

Easley, C.J. et al., A fully integrated microfluidic genetic analysis system with sample-in-answer-out capability. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103, 19272, 2006. 

Easley et al. [6] reported a microfluidic genetic analysis system capable of accepting whole blood as a crude biological sample with the endpoint generation of a genetic profile (Fig. 3). 

Fig. 16 Microfluidic genetic analysis (MGA) system, (a) Dyes are placed in the channels for visualization Scale bar. 10 mm). Domains for DNA extraction yellow), PCR amplification red), injection green), and separation blue) are connected through a network of channels and vias. SPE reservoirs are labeled for sample inlet ST), sidearm ( 4), and extraction of waste (EW). Injection reservoirs are labeled for the PCR reservoir PR), marker reservoir (MR), and sample waste (5W). Electrophoresis reservoirs are labeled for the buffer reservoir (BR) and buffer waste (BW). Additional domains patterned onto the device included the temperature reference TR) chamber and fluorescence alignment (FA) channel. The flow control region is outlined by a dashed box. Device dimensions are 30.0 x 63.5 mm with a total solution volume < 10 pL Scale bar. 10 mm), (b) Flow control region. Valves are shown as open rectangles. VI separates the SPE and PCR domains. V2 and V5 are inlet valves for the pumping injection, V3 is the diaphragm valve, and V4 is an outlet valve, (c) Device loaded into the manifold, (d) Intersection between SI and SA inlet channels, with the EW channel tapering to increase flow resistance Scale bar. 1 mm).

Finally, on-chip DNA quantitation will undoubtedly be an important feature of microfluidic sample processing for a number of different applications where the amount of input DNA for downstream genetic analysis is crucial. As discussed more extensively in Chapter 37, quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods in microfluidic systems have not been demonstrated to date. However, there are a number of publications describing real-time PCR in microdevices and it is likely only a matter of time before... 

Liu, R. H., and Grodzinski, R, Development of integrated microfluidic system for genetic analysis, J. Microlith. Microfab. Microsyst., 2, 340, 2003. 

Tang, T., Badal, M.Y., Ocvirk, G., Lee, W.E., Bader, D.E., Bekkaoui, F., Harrison, D.J., Integrated microfluidic electrophoresis system for analysis of genetic materials using signal amplification methods. Anal. Chem. 2002, 74, 725-733. 

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