Temperature analysis of continuous-flow micro-PCR based on FEA

Continuous-flow micro-PCR chip is a novel method, which is quite different from conventional PCR and micro-chamber PCR chip. A fast and continuous DNA amplification reaction can be obtained by moving the sample through three individual temperature zones whose temperature is constant during the course of reaction. In this paper, temperature patterns of two kinds of continuous-flow micro-PCR: glass-glass-bonding chip and silicon-glass-bonding chip are studied using finite element analysis (FEA). The temperature uniformity and temperature gradient on the chips surface are investigated. Based on analysis results, a simple method that can realize continuous-flow PCR on silicon-glass-bonding chip is introduced. Only denaturation zone is heated and the water is flowed through the renaturation zone and extension zone along a channel. Preliminary experiment is designed to prove the feasibility of the method. And an interface chip is designed to realize multi-times PCR using one chip. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.