Dolomite Enables Experiments With Nanoscale Volumes

Royston, UK (17th September 2009) – Dolomite, a world leader in microfluidic design and manufacture, has introduced the Mitos Wellplate for holding small reagent droplets or small groups of cells. With a 40 x 40 array of nano-litre wells, each standard plate has a well volume of 0.26 nl to enable experiments to occur using nanoscale volumes.

Covering a small area of 10 x 10 mm, the array of wells is designed to fit onto a microscope slide and under a standard coverslip. The wet etching process provides a surface roughness of <5 nm, enabling easy access for microscopy systems. Furthermore, with a depth of 2 mm, the wellplate provides excellent optical transmission for clear observation of each well.

With the ability to be etched to a range of depths or diameters, as required, each well can be customized to offer alternate volumes and two layers can be used to form more complex geometries. The surface of the chip is naturally hydrophilic; however custom coatings are available, which include a hydrophobic, gold or platinum layer that can be applied to the surface of the well.

For further information on the Mitos Wellplate, as well as the full range of microfluidic product offerings from Dolomite, including chips, connectors, pumps, valves and flow sensors, please visit www.dolomite-microfluidics.com.

The Dolomite Centre Limited

Dolomite is a global leader in the design and manufacture of microfluidics devices. With offices in the UK, US and Japan and distributors throughout the rest of the world, its clients range from universities developing leading-edge analytical equipment, to manufacturers of chemical, life sciences and clinical diagnostics systems.

Excellent microfabrication facilities that include cleanrooms, precision glass processing facilities and applications laboratories were established with £2m in funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) Manufacturing Initiative. Dolomite’s expertise includes top quality engineering and scientific staff with strong backgrounds across the broad range of disciplines required for success in bringing microfluidics applications to the market, including chemistry, biotechnology, control system development, electronics, physics and instrument design and supply.

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