A MINIATURE ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT FOR NUCLEIC-ACIDS BASED ON MICROMACHINED SILICON REACTION CHAMBERS

In this paper, we describe a miniature analytical thermal cycling inst rument (MATCI) to amplify and detect DNA via the polymerase chain reac tion in real-time. The MATCI is an integrated, miniaturized analytical system that uses silicon-based, high-efficiency reaction chambers wit h integrated heaters and simple, inexpensive electronics to precisely control the reaction temperatures. Optical windows in the silicon and solid-state, diode-based detection components are employed to perform real-time fluorescence monitoring of product DNA production. The entir e system fits into a briefcase and runs on rechargeable batteries. The applications of this miniaturized nucleic acid analysis system includ e clinical, research, environmental, and agricultural analyses as well as others which require rapid, portable, and accurate analysis of bio logical samples for nucleic acids. This paper describes the MATCI and presents results from ultrafast thermal cycling and real-time PCR dete ction. Examples include human genes and pathogenic viruses and bacteri a.