5:00 PM - 6:40 PM
▲ [22p-P09-12] Simulation-Assisted Analysis and Design for High-Throughput Centrifugation-Driven Convective PCR
Keywords:microfluidics, PCR, simulation
By implementing PCR systems on centrifugal microfluidic platforms, ease in device automation and portability can be attained. We have previously reported the concept of our developed platform in detecting beta-actin and its utility in sensing the presence of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) from clinical stool samples. However, the previous microfluidic device prototype only contains four individual microchannels having separate pairs of heaters. To further develop the device, the microfluidic chip has been redesigned as well as the heater stage to maximize the space allowed (Fig. 1A – 1C) and increase the throughput. The new design is based on a previous simulation model (COMSOL) and experiment that reveals that a height depression of the microchannel provides a more stable flow. The rotation speed, temperature distribution, rotation direction, and chip alignment were the parameters studied in the model. The optimized setting was confirmed in the actual experiment that increasing the centrifugal force (>5G) further appears too high for efficient PCR. In addition, the mixing enhancement ensures the accelerated cycling, at high efficiency, of the agents comprising primers and samples. With this, a more efficient centrifugation-driven convective PCR has been realized that will be beneficial for bio-assays in clinical and field tests.