Rapid PCR in flow-through Si chip thermocyclers

摘要

Rapid micro flow PCR can be performed in chip devices made by silicon and glass and including heat transfer barriers for thermal decoupling of the three temperature zones. We tested the system in the PCR of 106 base pairs as template. The number of temperature cycles is given by the construction of chip or experimental arrangement, resp. Continous flow experiments were done using different chips and setups with 16 up to 32 temperature cycles within 16, resp. 32 minutes. The PCR product was characterized by gel electrophoresis and was fond to be identically with PCR products of the same template maplified slowlier in a conventional thermocycler. Gel electrophoresis showed a certain cross talk in products in case of a serial flow process caused by template dispersion, which can be minimized by the segmentation of aqueous samples by oil.