The goal of this research is to develop a continuous flow microchip reactor for producing RNA transcripts of cDNA. The idea is to linearly amplify RNA through its conversion to cDNA and then linearly amplify this by repeated transcription of new RNA. This has advantages over PCR, in that the amplification is linear in time or throughput rather than exponential as in PCR, and thus less prone to bias than is PCR. Preliminary results include creation of a microfluidic particle-bed reactor, and mastery of the basic biochemical reactions. The proposed work includes considerable optimization of channel dimensions and reaction conditions. One aim of the research is the creation of a kinetic model of the reactor.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2006-08-15
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$299,728
Indirect Cost
Name
Brown University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02912