DNA tracking within a nanochannel: device fabrication and experiments

• Published in: Lab on a chip Vol. 11; no. 16; p. 2711
• Main Authors: Mokkapati, V R S S, Di Virgilio, V, Shen, C, Mollinger, J, Bastemeijer, J, Bossche, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-01-2011
• Subjects: Bacteriophage lambda - chemistry; Carbon Compounds, Inorganic - chemistry; DNA, Viral - analysis; Electrodes; Equipment Design; Glass - chemistry; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; Nanotechnology - instrumentation; Nanotechnology - methods; Silicon - chemistry; Silicon Compounds - chemistry; Surface Properties; Titanium - chemistry
• ISSN: 1473-0189
• DOI: 10.1039/c1lc20075e

Fabrication of nanochannels is drawing considerable interest due to its broad applications in nanobiotechnology (e.g. biomolecular sensing and single DNA manipulation). Nanochannels offer distinct advantages in allowing a slower translocation and multiple sensing spots along the channel, both of which improve the read-out resolution. However, implementing electrodes inside the nanochannel has rarely been demonstrated to our knowledge. The device described in this work is a Si-Glass anodically bonded Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) device of a few millimetres in size capable of performing DNA manipulation. The LOC device structure is based on two mainstream microchannels interconnected by nanochannels. DNA, once trapped within the nanochannel, has been tracked throughout the length of the channel and the data have been recorded and analysed.