UK microfluidic expert Dolomite has been working on several projects relating to the use of microfluidic devices for the analysis of DNA, for such purposes as forensics and disease diagnosis
Dolomite's involvement has been in relation to the potential to automate and accelerate the processes involved in DNA analysis.
Microfluidics is an exciting new field of science and engineering that enables very small-scale fluid control and analysis, allowing instrument manufacturers to develop smaller, more cost-effective and more powerful systems.
With lab-on-a-chip technology, entire complex chemical management and analysis systems are created in a microfluidic chip and interfaced with, for example, electronic and optical detection systems.
"One key attribute of microfluidics is that it only needs very tiny amounts of fluid to do its job," said Gillian Davis, commercial manager at Dolomite.
"In the case of a crime scene or maybe even a rare disease, the DNA is often very scarce.
"Microfluidics can enable scientists to undertake multiple tests on even the smallest of DNA samples".
Analysing DNA requires a number of discrete steps using such techniques as polymerase chain reaction, purification using high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.
When studying DNA to understand rare diseases there may be many processing steps in order to isolate a certain gene and having a repeatable and consistent process is essential for success.
"Because microfluidic systems work using microscale fluid volumes, they are inherently very accurate and very repeatable," said Davis.
"Also, temperature and reagent mixing is very easily controlled in a microfluidic environment.
"It's this control and accuracy that is making microfluidics an exciting technique for those working with DNA".
At this stage, the main benefit of microfluidics to DNA analysis is the ability to load very small samples into a capillary for electrophoresis separations.
However, this technology also opens up the possibility of integrating the various process steps into a single device, offering the promise of highly automated equipment capable of carrying out rapid and accurate DNA analysis.
Such systems may, one day, be in the form of a hand held device or a computer peripheral that sits on a GP's desk or is used where extreme security is essential.
"We have undertaken work that has automated some aspects of DNA analysis and we feel sure that there will be many more projects to follow," said Davis.
"One such development was a method to purge and refill the microfluidic capillary with matrix after the electrophoresis had been carried out.
"This involved designing a high-pressure pump (100bar) that was coupled to the microfluidic device.
"This refilling process had previously been carried out manually and was time consuming and costly".
Dolomite will be giving a presentation about microfluidic systems at this year's Embedded Masterclass, a seminar and exhibition that explores new technologies for hi-tech development.
The event is to be held in London on 8 May and Bristol on 13 May 2008.
Dolomite will give the opening presentation at the Bristol event on 13 May.
