Low-Cost, High-Performance Digital Microfluidic Chips for Real-Time PCR Using Reworkable Substrates

This research presents a digital microfluidic (DMF) array chip for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Combining cleanroom-based chip fabrication process with a facile, cleanroom-free rework method, the DMF chip exhibits high droplet-manipulating performance, flexible structural design, and low implementation cost. Meanwhile, consistent real-time PCR results can be acquired from repeatedly used DMF substrates, demonstrating the applicability of the rework strategy on PCR assay, and potential of widespread application of DMF technology on miniaturized and automated nucleic acid detection.