Title: Bioaffinity limitations for anisotropically etched silicon microfluidics

Authors: Anas Alazzam, Arvind Chandrasekaran, Muthukumaran Packirisamy, Ion Stiharu, Rama Bhat

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 St. Catherine (o), Montreal QC, H3G 2W1, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 St. Catherine (o), Montreal QC, H3G 2W1, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 St. Catherine (o), Montreal QC, H3G 2W1, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 St. Catherine (o), Montreal QC, H3G 2W1, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 St. Catherine (o), Montreal QC, H3G 2W1, Canada

Abstract: Immobilisation of biological specimens is an essential process in biomicrofluidics for micro total analysis systems (μTASs) applications, to carry out high throughput bioassays. Closed microfluidic channels restrict immobilisation feasibilities to only direct conjugation of the biomolecules with the channel surface through appropriate flow control-based incubation techniques. In this work, the limitations of bioaffinity on anisotropically etched silicon microfluidic channels have been studied. The flow behaviour within the microchannels has been analysed by solving the Navier-Stokes equation using finite element method (FEM). The results have been used to predict the immobilisation and rinsing behaviour within anisotropically etched trapezoidal and triangular microfluidic channels.

Keywords: micro total analysis systems; μTASs; lab-on-a-chip; biosensing; microfluidics; finite element analysis; FEA; immobilisation; anisotropic etching; silicon etching; bioaffinity; stagnant flow; biomicrofluidics; Navier-Stokes equation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAT.2010.032838

International Journal of Abrasive Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.2, pp.122 - 132

Published online: 25 Apr 2010 *

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