Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Proteomic and genomic studies have generated an enormous amount of samples for various types of analysis. Current analytical techniques are not able to keep up with the current rate of demand creating an analysis bottleneck. Microfluidics, the manipulation of extremely small volumes of fluids is seen as a possible solution to mounting analysis backlog. The handling of liquids on such a small scale has a number of advantages for the field of analytical chemistry including the ability to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze samples as small as a few picoliters at greatly enhanced speeds. Also as a result of miniaturization most processes involved with the analysis can be integrated within a single microchip. This proposal outlines research into the development of a novel light induced fabrication process to immobilize commercial reagent laden microspheres in capillaries and lab-on-a-chip devices. The microspheres, with various functionalized surfaces, will be used to perform chemical separations, reactions and enhance detection. The novel microsphere/polymer materials described within this proposal will enable microspheres to be photo-patterned anywhere within a device greatly simplifying construction and will ultimately increase the types of analyses conducted within a chip. The goal is to integrate the hybrid materials into low cost polymeric devices to develop a powerful, yet inexpensive proteomic tool.