Received on April 21, 2005
Accepted on July 22, 2005

Automation and Analytical Techniques

Microfluidic Device for Rapid (<15 min) Automated Microarray Hybridization

¹ Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l'Université Laval, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada
² Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Michel.G.Bergeron{at}crchul.ulaval.ca.

Methods: We have developed a microfluidic flow cell consisting of a network of chambers and channels molded into a polydimethylsiloxane substrate. The substrate was aligned and bound in reverse to the microarray printed onto a standard glass slide to form a functional microfluidic unit. The microfluidic units were placed onto an engraved, disc-shaped support fixed on a rotational device. Centrifugal forces drove the sample and buffers directly onto the microarray surface.

Results: This microfluidic system allowed us to increase the hybridization signal by 10fold compared with a passive system that made use of 10 times less sample. By means of a 15-min automated hybridization process, performed at room temperature, we demonstrated the discrimination of 4 clinically relevant Staphylococcus species that differ by as little as a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). This process included hybridization, washing, rinsing, and drying steps and does not require any purification of target nucleic acids. This platform was sensitive enough to detect 10 PCR-amplified bacterial genomes.

Conclusion: This microfluidic system for removing microarray hybridization onto glass slides is promising for molecular diagnostics and gene profiling.