Studying the current properties of buffer solution through micro-fluidic channels driven with the pulse bias

In the research of bio-molecular chips and sensors, extra electric biases are most often employed to control and manipulate the DNA and protein molecules moving through micro/nano-fluidic channels. In order to accurately and flexibly control the bio-molecules as they move within the channels, a clear understanding of how the current changes within the buffer solution caused by an applied bias is fundamental. In this report, the current changed value of different buffer solutions, e.g., KC1, TE, and TBE was systematically studied with real-time monitoring and quantitative analysis in the situation of the buffers moving through a fluidic channel with a 5 μm inner diameter, driven by biases of 50 or 100 mV. The results revealed that the relation- ship between the current changed value and the pause interval of the applied electric field is highly consistent with the Hill Equation, which is helpful for accurately detecting and manipulating single biomolecules in microfluidic sensors and biochips.