Micropillar array chip for integrated white blood cell isolation and PCR.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics
• Genomics

Background:

• Efficient separation of white blood cells (WBCs) from whole blood is crucial for downstream molecular diagnostics.
• Current methods can be time-consuming and require complex laboratory setups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a microfluidic silicon chip for rapid WBC separation and subsequent on-chip Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
• To assess the efficiency of WBC separation and PCR amplification using the fabricated microchip.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of silicon chips with an array of 667 micro-pillars (10x20 µm cross-section, 80 µm depth, 3.5 µm separation).
• Experimental validation of chip fluid dynamics using microfluidic simulation software.
• On-chip separation of WBCs from whole human blood.
• On-chip PCR amplification of a specific genomic target (eNOS).
• Analysis of amplicon concentrations using microchip capillary electrophoresis.

Main Results:

• Successful separation of WBCs from whole blood in under 2 minutes.
• Achieved reproducible on-chip PCR with amplicon concentrations exceeding 40% of conventional PCR tubes.
• Demonstrated the utility of the micro-pillar design for efficient cell separation and PCR.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic chip offers a rapid and efficient platform for integrated sample preparation and molecular analysis.
• This technology has the potential to streamline diagnostic workflows by enabling on-chip WBC isolation and PCR.
• The micro-pillar design enhances fluid dynamics and PCR efficiency in microfluidic devices.