Integration of heat-transfer resistance measurements onto a digital microfluidic platform towards the miniaturized and automated label-free detection of biomolecular interactions

In this paper the successful integration of heat-transfer resistance measurements with a digital microfluidic chip is shown. The integrated miniaturized platform allows the automated label-free detection of biomolecular interactions. To immobilize biomolecules on the hydrophobic chip surface, hydrophilic gold sensing patches are created by means of a recently described dry lift-off technique that leaves the chip surface unaffected. DNA melting analysis was performed for validating the integrated device.