Integration of DNA molecules in microelectronic environment using dielectrophoresis

Abstract

The connection of biomolecules like DNA to a micro scale environment such as microarrays and Lab-on-a-chip systems is an imminent task in biochip technology. Especially in Lab-on-a-chip systems microscopic forces are used to separate the analyte from a complex mixture for further analysis [1]. In this contribution the sorting and manipulation of DNA using dielectrophoresis (DEP) on micro structured chips was investigated [2]. DEP represents an interesting approach to manipulate and control objects at the micro-[3, 4] and nanoscale range [5][6][7], and especially to position them at controlled locations in microelectrode arrangements. It could be shown that DNA can be reversible arranged but also permanently immobilized in micro scale electrode gaps. It was also demonstrated that it is possible to stretch and align DNA from a single molecule level to high DNA concentration in a parallel manner between microelectrodes [8]. Furthermore DNA was stretched between moveable electrodes.