Tina H. Huang, Richard Cavicchi, Susan Barker, Steve Semancik, Michael J. Tarlov

Process Sensing Group, Process Measurements Division, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
 

The use of silicon machined microhotplate devices to study DNA hybridization and
melting reactions is demonstrated.  The microhotplates serve both as the surface
for immobilizing DNA probes and a heating source for study of thermal
transitions of double stranded DNA.  Two immobilization schemes are described
for attaching DNA probes to the surface of the microhotplates.  In the first
system, the DNA probes are attached to the microhotplate using a method
developed for forming thermally stable polyacrylamide copolymers that contains
the DNA probes.  The second system utilizes the self-assembly of thiolated ssDNA
on gold for surface attachment of probes.  DNA hybridization and melting events
are monitored using fluorescence microscopy/spectroscopy.  Parameters that can
influence the ability of the anchored probes to monitor DNA melting and
hybridization are investigated.