OPTIMIZATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN SILICON-BASED MICROSTRUCTURES

We have demonstrated the ability to perform real-time homogeneous, seq uence specific detection of PCR products in silicon microstructures. O ptimal design/ processing result in equivalent performance (yield and specificity) for high surface-to-volume silicon structures as compared to larger volume reactions in polypropylene tubes. Amplifications in volumes as small as 0.5 mu l and thermal cycling times reduced as much as 5-fold from that of conventional systems have been demonstrated fo r the microstructures.