Materials for DNA sequencing chip

Summary form only given. The rapid progress in the field of microfluidic devices, among them capillary electrophoresis microchips for DNA sequencing, stimulates a desire to exploit further the possibilities of such devices. Modem DNA sequencers are automated, small and allow very rapid separations (up to seconds). Different detection techniques are applied into the existing systems, among them the most common is fluorescence. However, a novel technique, based on the intrinsic absorption in nucleic acids of ultraviolet (UV) light, will solve a lot of detection problems. With regard to the advantages of the absorption technique, a material to manufacture a DNA sequencer should transmit UV light in the range of 260 nm where nucleic acids absorb strongly. Selection of material is therefore limited to wide band gap materials. Presented here are investigations focused on the optimization of a DNA chip. Different materials such as diamond, sapphire, polymers and quartz are compared with regard to optical and electrical properties, biological and chemical inertness and heat transfer Different phenomena occurring during capillary electrophoretic separations are taken into consideration. The advantages and drawbacks of using different materials are discussed, taking into consideration the technological problems of manufacturing microstructures and economical aspects.