Nanofluidic Devices for Genetic and Epigenetic Diagnostics

Silicon nano channel arrays with channel cross section on the order of 50-100nm are now routinely fabricated and have recently been commercialized. Nanochannels allow stretching individual DNA molecules by applying an electric field. By attaching fluorescent molecules to genetic and epigenetic marks on the DNA molecule, the stretched DNA is visualized as a pattern of fluorescent spots along the DNA molecules. We show how physical extension of long DNA molecules in nanofluidic channels reveals this information in the form of a linear, optical “barcode”. Recent results from our lab demonstrate our ability to detect genetic structural variations (SVs), DNA repeats, and various forms of DNA epigenetic modifications. We harness these findings for medical diagnosis of cancer and genetic disease.