Microfabrication of Bio-Analytical Devices: Microelectrode Array and Traveling-Wave Electrophoresis

Abstract

The need for potable water is increasing with the ever-increasing world population. Further development of fast, portable, and cost effective analytical tools is necessary in order to create diagnostic techniques capable of supporting the water needs of the world’s population. Within the last decade microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) technologies have increased the portability and speed of detection for aqueous samples. Photolithography techniques serve as a cost effective fabrication tool to create LOC electrodes on the micron scale. An in-depth look at the fabrication process is undertaken in this paper in order to further the development of micro-scale detection techniques. An electrode array capable of detecting multiple targets within one aqueous sample was designed and fabricated. The electrode array was assessed for performance characteristics to determine if reproducibility is possible. The fabrication process was also detailed for a new chemical separation technique, traveling-wave electrophoresis (TWE). TWE could serve as a separation tool capable of separating out specific charged molecules for biological and chemical samples. The TWE device was assessed on the capabilities to move charged molecules.