Transcript and gene analyses by gel electrophoresis on microchips

VTT QB3 project aims at implementing analytical tools based on molecular recognition in new low cost diagnostic platforms. The scientific research within the project is performed in University of California Berkeley (UCB) and at VTT. This presentation compiles the project results obtained from transcript and gene analyses on microfluidic platforms. In UCB, the studies focus on quantification of selected transcripts of prostate cancer cells on microfluidic borosilicate chips. Prostate cancer has various types that differ in the way the genes are expressed in the carcinoma cells. A gene expression fingerprint revealing the cancer type would be very valuable for prognosis and treatment decisions. Here, the TRAC (transcript analysis with the aid of affinity capture) method is used for transcript analysis. TRAC is based on quantifying selected mRNA molecules with differently sized target-specific oligonucleotide probes. After sample pre-treatment, the probes are separated in an electric field and identified with a laser-induced fluorescence detector. In this project, gene expression in different prostate cancer cell lines is determined by quantifying the target-specific fluorescent probes on a microchip combining in-line affinity capture and gel electrophoresis. At VTT, the QB3 focus is on developing and producing low cost polymer chips for bioanalytical and diagnostic purposes. At VTT, a roll-to-roll (R2R) hot-embossing manufacture process has been developed for microfluidic platforms. R2R fabricated poly(methyl metacrylate) (PMMA) chips, designed for electrophoretic separation of oligonucleotides, are currently being tested for selected gene analysis.