CBM2 Publishes Paper in March 2021 Lab on a Chip

CBM2 researchers published a paper in the March 2021 issue of Lab on a Chip titled, “Thermoplastic nanofluidic devices for identifying abasic sites in single DNA molecules.” Authors of the paper include Swarnagowri Vaidyanathan, Kumuditha M Weerakoon-Ratnayake, Franklin I Uba, Bo Hu, David Kaufman, Junseo Choi, Sunggook Park, and Steven A Soper.

"Fig.2 (A) SEM images of the multi-structured nanofluidic circuit comprised of a 3D funnel, non-trap, and a stretching nanochannel. Its equivalent circuit diagram with resistors including an adjustable resistor for the nano-trap (variable resistance is predicated on changing the trap size) is also shown. (B) Array of multi-structured nanofluidic circuits for high throughput processing of single DNA molecules to search for AP site. (C) Entrance funnel used to extend the electric field into the adjoining microchennel for assisting in loading single DNA molecules into the nanofluidic circuit from access microchannels. (D) SEM image of a 400 nm nano-trap (diameter and depth). The device shown was made from PMMA using thermal NIL from a resin stamp produced via UV-NIL from a Si master."
Lab on a Chip

The paper introduces a plastic nanofluidic device that the group has developed, that is able to stretch a single DNA molecule to about 50 nm and then label the DNA molecule with two fluorescent dyes. Once the molecule is labeled with the dyes, the entire DNA length is read with one dye under a microscope, and the second dye detects damaged sites along the strands. The presence of damaged DNA sites can be used to determine the capability of many drug therapies.