The long-term objective is to develop an incubator consisting of a highly efficient array of 96 separate microplate radiant heaters and thermistors for incubating microplate-based assays in conjunction with Chromogen, Inc.'s, acoustic microstreaming (AM) instrument. Individual control of microwell heating will provide highly precise incubation conditions for a wide variety of research and diagnostic applications when combined with the amplifying effects of AM. Phase I aims involve use of an existing heater prototype 96-position radiant heater assembly, mounted in an AM instrument, to experimentally determine ramping rate and time, precision, and accuracy; to determine the maximum temperature ramping rate for rapid heating without producing detectable diminution of solid-phase ELISA immunochemistry; and to design, build, and test an improved second-generation heater assembly, based on experimental results. Thermocouples will be installed in the microprobes of the AM instrument to provide temperature sensing during heating and acoustic stirring. A prototypical ELISA test will be used to determine how rapidly microwells can be heated to the desired maintenance temperature without inactivating the chemistry. The radiant heater array will allow for rapid and consistent microwell heating, well-to-well variation of +0.1_C, and elimination of the thermal inconsistencies (e.g., the "edge effect") that can result in spurious test results.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The technology will enable Chromogen, Inc., to develop its next product, the Sonata Opus 2 Acoustic Diffusion Accelerator. The integrated AM/radiant heater ELISA enhancement system would be attractive to microplate photometer manufacturers because of its low profile and significant enhancement of performance of ELISA methods.National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
