Development of the MGX 4D Array System Utilizing Flow-Thru Chip Technology

A novel automated microarray platform, the MGX 4D™ Array System, for gene expression analysis based on the patented Flow-thru Chip™ (FTC) technology has been developed. FTC technology uses a well-defined porous substrate constructed of microchannels that connect the upper and lower faces of the array. The porous structure of the FTC enables fluid to flow through the channels and is amenable to automated assay procedures. The probe is bound along the inner surfaces of the channels giving a large surface area-to-volume ratio when compared to flat surface arrays. This increases the probe binding capacity by approximately 100 fold. The MGX 4D Array System is a result of combining microfludics with the FTC technology. This integrated system consists of three main components: (1) The 4D Array; (2) the MGX 2000, a microfluidic controller on which hybridization assays are performed; and (3) the MGX 1200CL, a microfludic detection station using a CCD camera for image capture and the MetriSoft™ software package for data analysis.