Researchers from the University of Alberta and National Institute for Nanotechnology have created a microfluidic device capable of transporting solutions to desired spots on a gold-patterned substrate for biomolecule analysis. The detection of the molecules is performed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which obviates the use of labels (such as fluorescent molecules). The SPR signal emanating from the gold layer is modified by the presence of molecules on its surface.
The sensor device can accommodate between 50 to 100 spots, making it an attractive personal tool for laboratory analysis of biological samples. The device can thus perform analyses in the range that manual pipetting (about 20 spots) and expensive robotic pin or ink jet printers (1,000-10,000 spots) cannot do. The fabrication of this microfluidic device is based on a simple process. This device is customizable and compatible with existing technologies and techniques.