Glass-based nanofluidic device for biomolecule preconcentration study

The fabrication of a hybrid micro/nano-fluidic device to study electropreconcentration of biomolecules is presented. A nanoslit surrounded by glass is formed between two access microchannels and an H configuration bio-analysis system is developed. The optimized know-how for this biochip fabrication is transferred and the key steps are discussed. Fluorescence spatiotemporal profile in the preconcentration area is recorded and quantitatively analyzed. The reliability of the applied technology for studies of charged biomolecule transport phenomena across nanochannels is proven giving two examples for different preconcentration geometries.