Rapid microarray processing using a disposable hybridization chamber with an integrated micropumpElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2lc21110f

We present a disposable microarray hybridization chamber with an integrated micropump to speed up diffusion based reaction kinetics by generating convective flow. The time-to-result for the hybridization reaction was reduced from 60 min (standard protocol) down to 15 min for a commercially available microarray. The integrated displacement micropump is pneumatically actuated. It includes two active microvalves and is designed for low-cost, high volume manufacturing. The setup is made out of two microstructured polymer parts realized in polycarbonate (PC) separated by a 25 m thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) membrane. Pump rate can be controlled between 0.3 l s 1 and 5.7 l s 1 at actuation frequencies between 0.2 Hz and 8.0 Hz, respectively. We present a low-cost microfluidic device made of polycarbonate (PC) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) membrane to speed up diffusion based microarray reaction kinetics.