<p>A 3D model was created using the software Solidworks, then from it, a resin mold was fabricated through 3D printing, the mold was used to create a base for the actual microchip model that created a chamber by PDMS (Poly-di-methyl-Siloxane) with a mixture of 1:10 and a heating process of 45 degrees celsius for around four hours. This microchip will count with eight channels in total, four channels (forming a cross) for the fluid to move through them, each with a circular chamber at the end, and the other four (that will form an "x" towards the center) which will be used to induce voltage into the fluid. This last-mentioned will be done by inserting copper tips into these four channels, sticking CU tape into these tips, and clipping AC and DC voltage into each (power and ground of each voltage to each copper tip). A specific DC voltage will be maintained along with the frequency from the AC voltage throughout the whole process, however, the AC voltage will also begin a specific amplitude voltage, but it will increase also a specific amount every "t" time until the final AC voltage is acquired. For the experiment itself, strands of Lambda DNA will be used (around 100um per try) and will be inserted into the chip by a pinched injection scheme in one of the channels chambers. In order to be able to use the DNA samples, first, we need to get rid of the bubbles in the samples so they do not interfere with the recordings, due to this, the samples will be put in a vacuum for 7 hours without interruption, nevertheless, since the samples need to be in a -20 degrees celsius temperature, they will be put in a bowl with ice inside the vacuum, from which the ice will be changed around every 15 to 20 minutes. Finally, in order to be able to notice the movement of the DNA strands, the microchip will be observed through a microscope with a laser connected to a computer with the Insight 4G software, in which 100 pictures will be taken while the AC voltage is applied and changed until the desired voltage is obtained, however, in order to be able to visualize the movement, we have to mix the DNA samples with fluorescent particles so the microscope and software can detect the fluid. This experiment has the main goal to contribute to the gene therapy field by being able to divide DNA strands through voltage in a cheap way.</p>

Low Cost Manufacturing Process of Microfluidics Channel for Dna Separation by the Dielectrophoresis Method

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IMECE/IMECE2021/volume/85543

ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2021)

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