MINIATURIZED PCR-CHIP FOR DNA AMPLIFICATION WITH AN EXTERNAL PERISTALTIC PUMP

Since 1985, the polymerse chain reaction (PCR) became very popular among the field of molecular biology. It is very powerful for amplification DNA segment and it had a variety of applications in medicinal, virus, disease, and monitoring. In this study, a simple and miniature PCR chip will be presented with an external peristaltic pump utilized to driving liquid into PCR chip.1 The PCR chip was made of PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylate) and glass. The hot embossing technique was used to fabricate the micro channel on the PMMA. The copper was sputtered on the glass as the heater. The glass and PMMA were bonded by PDMS. In typically, heater temperature was 94°C for denature, 55°C for annealing, 72°C for extension. Therefore, the heaters formed three different zones of temperature along the channel that the length ration on each temperature zone was 1:1:2 for denature, annealing and extension, respectively.2,3 For temperature control, the PID control mode was used to regulate the temperature on reaction and the DC power was as the power supplier. The thermal sensors were adhered on the heater beside the channel.