Polymer chain reaction apparatus using marangoni convection and polymer chain reaction method using the same

• US 20060216725A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, You-seop, Oh, Yong-soo, Shin, Su-ho, Kim, Min-soo, Kuk, Keon
• Application Number:
  US11/219,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20060216725A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/165 Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0442 thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0448 Marangoni flow; Thermocapillary effect
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0451 Thermophoresis; Thermodiffusion; Soret-effect
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones

Abstract

A polymerase chain reaction apparatus includes: a substrate; a high-temperature sidewall erected on the substrate; a low-temperature sidewall erected on the substrate and facing the high-temperature sidewall; and a reaction chamber consisting of the substrate, the high-temperature sidewall, and the low-temperature sidewall, wherein a sample contained in the reaction chamber is repetitively thermal-circulated between the high-temperature sidewall and the low-temperature sidewall using Marangoni convection generated by a surface tension gradient resulting from a temperature difference in an interface between the sample and air. The PCR amplification can be automatically accomplished by surface tension flow generated by Marangoni convection resulting from a temperature difference in an interface between the sample and air when a temperature difference between the sidewalls of the chamber is maintained constant. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption, simplify the configuration of a temperature control circuit, and reduce the time for a cycle of amplification.

Claims

1. A polymerase chain reaction apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a high-temperature sidewall erected on the substrate;

a low-temperature sidewall erected on the substrate and facing the high-temperature sidewall; and

a reaction chamber consisting of the substrate, the high-temperature sidewall, and the low-temperature sidewall,

wherein a sample contained in the reaction chamber is repetitively thermal-circulated between the high-temperature sidewall and the low-temperature sidewall using Marangoni convection generated by a surface tension gradient resulting from a temperature difference in an interface between the sample and air.

2. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover for covering the reaction chamber.

3. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-temperature sidewall is heated by a heater to a constant temperature of 92to 97°

C.

4. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heater is a thin film heater made of a material selected from a group consisting of Pt, poly-silicon, and tantal aluminum.

5. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the low-temperature sidewall is cooled by a cooler to a constant temperature of 44to 56°

C.

6. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cooler is a cooling fan, a heat exchanger, or a Peltier device.

7. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gap between the high-temperature sidewall and the low-temperature sidewall is 2 mm to 3 cm.

8. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber is made of a material selected from a group consisting of glass, quartz, silicon, plastic, polymer, ceramic, and metal.

9. The polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber has an optical detection window.

10. A polymerase chain reaction method comprising:

putting a sample into the reaction chamber of the polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1,

maintaining temperatures of the high-temperature sidewall and the low-temperature sidewall constant; and

repetitively thermal-circulating the sample contained in the reaction chamber between the high-temperature sidewall and the low-temperature sidewall using Marangoni convection.

11. The polymerase chain reaction method according to claim 10, wherein the high-temperature sidewall is maintained at a constant temperature of 92to 97°

C., and the low-temperature sidewall is maintained at a constant temperature of 48to 54°

C.

12. The polymerase chain reaction method according to claim 10, wherein the sample contains a fluorescent material to detect the amount of amplification of a nucleic acid in a real-time manner.

14. A lab-on-a-chip comprising the polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1 and an electrophoresis performing unit connected to the polymerase chain reaction apparatus in a fluidic manner.

15. An inkjet spotter comprising:

the polymerase chain reaction apparatus according to claim 1 formed on a substrate;

a restrictor connected to the polymerase chain reaction apparatus in a fluidic manner;

an ejecting chamber storing a DNA solution from the polymerase chain reaction apparatus via the restrictor;

an ejecting driving element providing a driving force of the DNA solution ejection; and

a nozzle ejecting the DNA solution from the ejecting chamber.

13. A method of manufacturing a polymerase chain reaction apparatus, comprising a photolithographic process, a wet etching process or a dry etching process such as a reactive ion etching, and a hydrophobic treatment process of a reactor cover.