Droplet-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using infrared-mediated heating system

Abstract

We report progress towards a droplet-based microfluidic platform that enables fast, accurate, and integrated genetic analysis. Discrete nano- and pico-liter sized droplets can be quickly generated using a custom generation kit and moved to an area on a microchip where our patented 'infrared (IR) heating system' allows for the amplification of the target DNA for down-stream interrogation of the mutations found in genetic and infectious-agent mediated disorders. As an essential first step towards this platform, we demonstrate the potential for our integrated platform with a simple DNA amplification inside droplets using our IR heating system.