Rapid PCR amplification using a microfluidic device with integrated microwave heating and air impingement coolingElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Details of temperature measurement technique used; description of the microwave cavity and power source developed. See DOI: 10.1039/c000357n

A microwave heating system is described for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a microfluidic device. The heating system, in combination with air impingement cooling, provided rapid thermal cycling with heating and cooling rates of up to 65 °C s −1 and minimal over- or under-shoot (±0.1 °C) when reaching target temperatures. In addition, once the required temperature was reached it could be maintained with an accuracy of ±0.1 °C. To demonstrate the functionality of the system, PCR was successfully performed for the amplification of the Amelogenin locus using heating rates and quantities an order of magnitude faster and smaller than current commercial instruments. An 8 GHz microwave based heating system with air impingement cooling offering rapid PCR thermal cycling with heating and cooling rates of up to 65 °C s −1 and minimal over-shooting or under-shooting (±0.1 °C).