High-throughput PCR in silicon based microchamber array

Highly integrated hybridization assay and capillary electrophoresis have im proved the throughput of DNA analysis. The shift to high throughput analysi s requires a high speed DNA amplification system, and several rapid PCR sys tems have been developed. In these thermal cyclers, the temperature was con trolled by effective methodology instead of a large heating/cooling block p reventing rapid thermal cycling. In our research, high speed PCR was perfor med using a silicon-based microchamber array and three heat blocks. The hig hly integrated microchamber array was fabricated by semiconductor micro fab rication techniques. The temperature of the PCR microchamber was controlled by alternating between three heat blocks of different temperature. In gene ral, silicon has excellent thermal conductivity, and the heat capacity is s mall in the miniaturized sample volume. Hence, the heating/cooling rate was rapid, approximately 16 degreesC/s. The rapid PCR was therefore completed in 18 min for 40 cycles. The thermal cycle time was reduced to 1/10 of a co mmercial PCR instrument (Model 9600, PE Applied Biosystems-3 h). (C) 2001 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.