UK
microfluidics specialists Dolomite
have announced that they have been working with Newcastle
University as part of a project to explore the application of
microfluidics for the synthesis of nanoparticles for use in
biochemistry.
Microfluidics,
often called lab-on-a-chip, is an exciting new field of science and
engineering that enables very small-scale fluid control and analysis,
allowing instrument manufacturers to develop smaller, more
cost-effective and more powerful systems. With lab-on-a-chip
technology, entire complex chemical management and analysis systems are
created in a microfluidic chip and interfaced with, for example,
electronic and optical detection systems.
For
this project Dolomite created a custom glass microchip with multiple
reaction chambers. This was manufactured undertaking processes such as
lithographic patterning, isotropic etching of glass substrates and the
accurate thermal bonding of glass substrates.
"The
manufacture of this type of device is a very complex
process,” said Dr Gillian Davis, Commercial Director at
Dolomite. “However, microfluidics offers high efficiency,
versatility, speed, and economy of analysis. This technology also has a
very low consumption of reagents and analytes, so it brings both cost
and environmental benefits to bioscience and drug discovery
projects. Furthermore, its greatest advantage is the ability
to perform parallel-array or multidimensional types of analyses in a
small localised environment."
The
nanoparticle synthesis project at Newcastle University is headed by
Mike Loughran, Team Leader Microfluidics & Sensor Technologies,
at the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials. Working
with Dolomite and Dr Andrea Beck from HAS Budapest, Mike Loughran has
been exploring, how in the future, scientists will be able to control
specific chemical reactions in a localised microchip environment,
enabling different nanoparticles to be designed for a specific purpose
e.g the synthesis of silicon based fluorescent nanoparticles (quantum
dots) to label biomolecules for diagnostic assays, polymeric
nanosensors for intracellular analysis and drug delivery, and catalytic
nanoparticles for specific chemistries or for purification by adsorbing
pollutants.
"I
am very happy with the professionalism and attention to detail that I
have received from Dolomite," said Mike. "In particular I am very
impressed with the speed of the processing, alignment and bonding of
the glass microchips I received from Dolomite. Previously I waited
months for clean room glass processing. With Dolomite it was completed
within weeks and to a much higher standard."
Dolomite is now a
worldwide leader in this field. So much so, that in 2005 they won
funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Micro and Nano
Technology (MNT) Manufacturing Initiative. This £2m funding
has allowed Dolomite to establish excellent microfabrication
facilities, with cleanrooms, precision glass processing facilities and
applications laboratories. In addition to this, Dolomite has managed to
attract top quality engineering and scientific staff with strong
backgrounds across the broad range of disciplines required for success
in bringing microfluidics applications to the market, including;
chemistry, biotechnology, control system development, electronics,
physics and instrument design and supply.
Posted
2nd May 2008