Steps in miniaturizing analytical systems

The completion of the DNA sequence of several genomes, including the human one, has opened completely new scientific and technological frontiers. The huge amount of genetic information available requires the development of faster and cheaper analytical tools. This can be possible by miniaturising the analytical system itself and by the development of proper analytical procedures, involving fluidic processes. A precise genetic identifying technique is hybridization, that can be accomplished in an array format on very small bidimensional surfaces. In order to automate the fluidic process involved in the DNA hybridization, three micromachining techniques are approached by the authors team, for obtaining reservoirs with volumes ranging from 1nl to 2μl using different materials as polyimide, silicon and glass. Several configurations were proposed targeting a turbulence free fluid flow. A qualitatively fluid flow study was performed and the influence of the reservoir shape was revealed. One obtained device was tested in a Laser Induced Fluorescence detection set-up.