Time-resolved measurements of DNA interactions in an electrowetting-on-dielectric system using confocal microscopy

To identify new drug candidates a deep and profound knowledge of molecule interactions is needed. In the current work, a combination of an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) system with a confocal microscopy is presented for the first time. The aim of this research is to attain time-resolved information about nucleic acid interactions at a single molecule level. Confocal microscopy is a promising technique for reaction analysis on a molecular scale. But the liquid handling of the needed tiny volumes of highly diluted solutions is very challenging. An EWOD based system for droplet handling can address this demand. In this paper the development of an EWOD system for droplet handling in nanoliter scale is discussed and the combination of the EWOD system with a confocal microscope, to investigate nucleic acid interactions, is evaluated.