This study investigates, through numerical modeling, the kinetics of DNA hybridization in electronically active microarrays within a limited pH range. In particular, the reaction kinetics governing hybridizations corresponding to exact and partial matches as well as mismatches are investigated. The numerical model framework developed in this study consists of a number of physics phenomenon (conservation and mass transport of species) and chemical equilibrium reactions (hydrolysis of water, heterogeneous DNA hybridization, and protonation of histidine) that govern the hybridization of single-stranded DNA molecules (ssDNA) in active microarrays within an environment of continuous generation of H+ ions and their subsequent consumption by histidine buffer. The study demonstrates, through a numerical model and comparison with published experimental results, that reduction in hybridization efficiencies due to mismatches could be significant to both electronically active as well as passive platforms.
