PDMS valves in DNA computers

DNA computing is an interdisciplinary field accessing the possibility for the use of biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA and proteins, as a computational or control tool. Traditionally, DNA computers were thought to compete with electronic computers to solve, for example, NP-complete problems. However recently, there has been a focus shift to biomedical applications. One form of DNA computing is performed in microfluidics. A network of microreactors decides the computational aspects and DNA is the tool for selection procedures. To control complex microflow systems like this, a series of pneumatic valves are used to control the flow direction, i.e. the information direction, and to contain DNA functionalised beads in the microreactors.