• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.213-220
• /
• 2003

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most widely used analytical tool and is an important module that would benefit from being miniaturized and integrated onto diagnostic or analytical chips. There are potentially two different approaches for the miniaturization of the PCR module: chamber-type and flow-type micro-PCR. These miniaturized PCRs have distinct characteristics and advantages. In this article, we review the necessity of micro-PCR, the materials for the chip fabrication, the surface modification, and characteristics of the two types of micro-PCR. The motivation underlying the development of micro-PCR, the advantages and disadvantages of the various materials used in fabrication and the surface modification methods will be discussed. And finally, the precise features of the two different types of micro-PCR will be compared.

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
• /
• v.4C no.4
• /
• pp.176-180
• /
• 2004

This paper presents the fabrication and test of a micro cell exciter actuated by an electromagnetic force for the study on the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The micro cell exciter is designed to apply compressive loading to the alginate gel mixed with the MSCs. The magnetic cell exciter consists of an actuator component and a cartridge-type chamber component. An actuator is composed of a permanent magnet, a core and a coil. The chamber has seven PMMA wells and a cell culture Petri dish. Two types of alginate gels were stimulated by the cell exciters for 10 minutes every 12 hours for 7 days. In order to determine the expression of these matrix components during differentiation, RT-PCR analysis was performed. Collagen type II was expressed in the MSCs subjected to the compressive stimulation.