A Microfabricated, Electrochemiluminescence Cell For The Detection Of Amplified DNA

This paper reports the design, fabrication and testing of a microfabricated, electrochemical cell for the detection and quantitative analysis of DNA. The microcell was designed to be the detection unit in a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) micro-instrument. It employs tris(2,2' bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) as an electro-chemiluminescing (ECL) DNA label. The cell is a vertical assembly of micromachined silicon and glass and contains thin film electrodes. The eventual embodiment will contain an integrated photodiode for ECL detection.