Simulation and experimental validation of micro polymerase chain reaction chips

This study used finite element analysis to simulate the temperature charact eristics of a micro polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chip. The micro-PCR chi p was fabricated on a silicon wafer and Pyrex glass using photolithography, wet etching, and anodic bonding methods. The main goal of this study was t o analyze the temperature uniformity and distribution of the micro-PCR chip , the temperature distribution of the DNA sample, and the transient tempera ture difference between the heater and DNA sample. The finite element analy sis results were also confirmed by one-dimensional theoretic analysis. The simulation results were used to improve the thermal cycling time of a rapid micro-PCR system, consisting of a rapid thermal cycling system and a micro -PCR chip. The improved thermal cycles of the rapid mu PCR system were veri fied using serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C. The hepati tis C virus (HCV) amplicon of the rapid mu PCR system was analyzed by slab gel electrophoresis with DNA marker separation in parallel. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.