AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuP

Paper BI-TuP11
The Influence of Material Surface Properties on the Polymerase Activity in Microchip-Based PCR

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 6:00 pm, Room 3rd Floor Lobby

Session: Biomaterial Interfaces Poster Session
Presenter: S. Forti, ITC-irst, Italy
Authors: S. Forti, ITC-irst, Italy
R. Canteri, ITC-irst, Italy
R. Dell'Anna, ITC-irst, Italy
C. Della Volpe, University of Trento, Italy
L. Lunelli, ITC-irst, Italy
L. Pasquardini, ITC-irst, Italy
L. Vanzetti, ITC-irst, Italy
C. Pederzolli, ITC-irst, Italy
M. Anderle, ITC-irst, Italy
Correspondent: Click to Email
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) represents the most widely used method for amplification of defined DNA sequences for medical and biological applications. As a result of the increasing demand for high performance PCR devices with high sample throughput, but low reagent consumption, PCR has recently become the focus of investigation for miniaturization in order to enhance its efficiency. However, in order to perform PCR in microchips, because of the increased surface-to-volume ratio upon miniaturization, special attention must be paid to the internal surface, which comes into contact with the PCR-reaction mixture. Effects related to the non specific surface adsorption of PCR reagents (e.g. the replicating enzyme DNA polymerase) may become significant and reduce the efficiency of DNA amplification in microchip PCR. Therefore, effects of silicon (with different deposited oxide layer), glass, chromium and titanium nitride surfaces on Taq (Thermus aquaticus) DNA polymerase adsorption will be investigated by immunofluorescence, using anti-Taq DNA polymerase monoclonal antibody. Surface distribution as well as protein amount will be determined and a correlation with surface morphological and physico-chemical properties, as determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and contact angle (CA) analysis, will be presented.@footnote 1@ @FootnoteText@ @footnote 1@This work was accomplished in the framework of LaTEMAR (Laboratorio di Tecnologie Elettrobiochimiche Miniaturizzate per l'Analisi e la Ricerca - Laboratory of Miniaturized Electrobiochemical Technologies for Analysis and Research), Centre of Excellence funded by MIUR (Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research) grants - FIRB 2003-2004 - for public/private structures involved in research fields characterized by strategic value.