High-performance genetic analysis on microfabricated capillary array electrophoresis plastic chips fabricated by injection molding

We have developed a novel technique for mass production of microfabricated capillary array electrophoresis (μ-CAE) plastic chips for high-speed, high-throughput genetic analysis. The μ-CAE chips, containing 10 individual separation channels of 50-μm width, 50-μm depth, and a 100-μm lane-to-lane spacing at the detection region and a sacrificial channel network, were fabricated on a poly-(methyl methacrylate) substrate by injection molding and then bonded manually using a pressure-sensitive sealing tape within several seconds at room temperature. The conditions for injection molding and bonding were carefully characterized to yield μ-CAE chips with well-defined channel and injection structures. A CCD camera equipped with an image intensifier was used to monitor simultaneously the separation in a 10-channel array with laser-induced fluorescence detection. High-performance electrophoretic separations of φX174 HaeIII DNA restriction fragments and PCR products related to the human β-globin gene and SP-B gene (the surfactant protein B) have been demonstrated on μ-CAE plastic chips using a methylcellulose sieving matrix in individual channels. The current work demonstrated greatly simplified the fabrication process as well as a detection scheme for μ-CAE chips and will bring the low-cost mass production and application of μ-CAE plastic chips for genetic analysis. © 2005 American Chemical Society.