PCR-Free Innovative Strategies for SARS-CoV-2 Detection

The pandemic outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus brought a crucial issue in public health causing up to now more than 600 million infected people and 6.5 million deaths. Conventional diagnostic methods are based on quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR assay) and immuno-detection (ELISA assay). However, despite these techniques have the advantages of being standardized and consolidated, they keep some main limitations in terms of accuracy (immunoassays), time/cost consumption of analysis, the need for qualified personnel, and lab constrain (molecular assays). There is crucial the need to develop new diagnostic approaches for accurate, fast and portable viral detection and quantification. Among these, PCR-free biosensors represent the most appealing solution since they can allow molecular detection without the complexity of the PCR. This will enable the possibility to be integrated in portable and low-cost systems for massive and decentralized screening of SARS-CoV-2 in a point-of-care (PoC) format, pointing to achieve a performant identification and control of infection. In this review, the most recent approaches for the SARS-CoV-2 PCR-free detection are reported, describing both the instrumental and methodological features, and highlighting their suitability for a PoC application.

UV-Assisted Hyperbranched Poly(β-amino ester) Modification of a Silica Membrane for Two-Step Microfluidic DNA Extraction from Blood

Integrating nucleic acid extraction in amplification-based point-of-care diagnostics will be a significant feature for next-generation point-of-care virus detection devices. However, extracting DNA efficiently on a microfluidic chip poses many technological and commercialization challenges, including manual steps, multiple instruments, pretreatment processes, and the use of organic solvents (ethanol, IPA) that inhibit detection, which is not viable with routine testing such as viral load monitoring of transplant patients for post-operative care. This paper presents a microfluidic system capable of two-step DNA extraction from blood using a UV-assisted hyperbranched poly(β-amino ester) (HPAE)-modified silica membrane for cytomegalovirus (CMV) detection in a rapid and instrument-free manner without the presence of amplification inhibitors. HPAEs of varying branch ratios were synthesized, screened, and coated on a silica membrane and bonded between two layers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates. Our system could selectively extract DNA from blood with an efficiency of 94% and a lower limit viral load of 300 IU/mL in 20 min. The extracted DNA was used as the template for real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based detection of CMV and was found to produce a fluorescent signal intensity that was comparable with commercially extracted templates. This system can be integrated easily with a nucleic acid amplification system and used for routine rapid testing of viral load in patient blood samples.

Bridging the gap between development of point-of-care nucleic acid testing and patient care for sexually transmitted infections

The incidence rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the four major curable STIs - chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and, syphilis - continue to increase globally, causing medical cost burden and morbidity especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). There have seen significant advances in diagnostic testing, but commercial antigen-based point-of-care tests (POCTs) are often insufficiently sensitive and specific, while near-point-of-care (POC) instruments that can perform sensitive and specific nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are technically complex and expensive, especially for LMIC. Thus, there remains a critical need for NAAT-based STI POCTs that can improve diagnosis and curb the ongoing epidemic. Unfortunately, the development of such POCTs has been challenging due to the gap between researchers developing new technologies and healthcare providers using these technologies. This review aims to bridge this gap. We first present a short introduction of the four major STIs, followed by a discussion on the current landscape of commercial near-POC instruments for the detection of these STIs. We present relevant research toward addressing the gaps in developing NAAT-based STI POCT technologies and supplement this discussion with technologies for HIV and other infectious diseases, which may be adapted for STIs. Additionally, as case studies, we highlight the developmental trajectory of two different POCT technologies, including one approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Finally, we offer our perspectives on future development of NAAT-based STI POCT technologies.

Visible-light and near-infrared fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering point-of-care sensing and bio-imaging: a review

This review article deals with the concepts, principles and applications of visible-light and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in in vitro point-of-care testing (POCT) and in vivo bio-imaging. It has discussed how to utilize the biological transparency windows to improve the penetration depth and signal-to-noise ratio, and how to use surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to amplify fluorescence and SERS signals. This article has highlighted some plasmonic fluorescence and SERS probes. It has also reviewed the design strategies of fluorescent and SERS sensors in the detection of metal ions, small molecules, proteins and nucleic acids. Particularly, it has provided perspectives on the integration of fluorescent and SERS sensors into microfluidic chips as lab-on-chips to realize point-of-care testing. It has also discussed the design of active microfluidic devices and non-paper- or paper-based lateral flow assays for in vitro diagnostics. In addition, this article has discussed the strategies to design in vivo NIR fluorescence and SERS bio-imaging platforms for monitoring physiological processes and disease progression in live cells and tissues. Moreover, it has highlighted the applications of POCT and bio-imaging in testing toxins, heavy metals, illicit drugs, cancers, traumatic brain injuries, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, HIV and sepsis.

Limited-resource preparable chitosan magnetic particles for extracting amplification-ready nucleic acid from complex biofluids

Extraction and concentration of pure nucleic acid from complex biofluids are the prerequisite for nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) applications in pathogen detection, biowarfare prevention, and genetic diseases. However, conventional spin-column mediated nucleic acid extraction is constricted by the requirement for costly power-intensive centralized lab infrastructure, making it unsuitable for limited-resource settings. Significant progress in lab-on-a-chip devices or cartridges (e.g., Cepheid GeneXpert®) that integrate nucleic acid extraction and amplification has been made, but these approaches either require additional equipment or are costly. Similarly, their complexities make them difficult to fabricate in low-resource settings by the end-user themselves. The application of magnetic particles such as silica-coated iron oxide beads for nucleic acid extraction is relatively instrument-free, rapid, user-friendly, and amenable to automation. But, they rely on hazardous chaotropic salt chemistry and ethanol desalting that could limit their efficacy for downstream NAATs. Recent advances in several types of novel material (e.g., polyamine) coated magnetic bead-based chaotropic salt-free extraction methods offer a possible solution to this problem. However, these materials also involve multistep synthesis impermissible in limited-resource settings. To offer a possible instrument-free magnetic particle-based nucleic acid extraction doable at limited-resource settings, we investigated the nucleic acid capture ability of two chitosan-coated magnetic particles that are preparable by minimally trained personnel using only a water bath and a magnetic stirrer within 6-8 h. We quantitatively probed the efficiency of the passive (without any electrical shaking or vortex-aided) DNA magnetocapture (i.e., binding to chitosan magnetic particles, physical separation from its sample of origin, and release from the particles) using UV₂₆₀. To explore their suitability towards clinically relevant sensitive downstream NAATs, 100-1000 copies (i.e., in the order of zeptomole) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) or human genomic DNA from aqueous solution, crude cell lysate, and fetal bovine serum were extracted by them and then successfully detected using quantitative real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) or real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Alongside, their suitability with gel-based LAMP, colorimetric LAMP, and in situ (on beads) LAMP was also probed. The required optimization of the amplification methods has been discussed. Overall, the turnaround time for the magnetocapture combined with NAAT was 1.5-2 h and is thus expected to aid in rapid clinical decision making. With the ease of preparation, reproducibility, and compatibility with downstream NAATs, we anticipate that these magnetic particles would facilitate the expansion and decentralization of nucleic acid-based diagnosis for limited-resource settings.

Sample Preparation for Lab-on-a-Chip Systems in Molecular Diagnosis: A Review

Rapid and low-cost molecular analysis is especially required for early and specific diagnostics, quick decision-making, and sparing patients from unnecessary tests and hospitals from extra costs. One way to achieve this objective is through automated molecular diagnostic devices. Thus, sample-to-answer microfluidic devices are emerging with the promise of delivering a complete molecular diagnosis system that includes nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection steps in a single device. The biggest issue in such equipment is the extraction process, which is normally laborious and time-consuming but extremely important for sensitive and specific detection. Therefore, this Review focuses on automated or semiautomated extraction methodologies used in lab-on-a-chip devices. More than 15 different extraction methods developed over the past 10 years have been analyzed in terms of their advantages and disadvantages to improve extraction procedures in future studies. Herein, we are able to explain the high applicability of the extraction methodologies due to the large variety of samples in which different techniques were employed, showing that their applications are not limited to medical diagnosis. Moreover, we are able to conclude that further research in the field would be beneficial because the methodologies presented can be affordable, portable, time efficient, and easily manipulated, all of which are strong qualities for point-of-care technologies.

Nucleic Acids Analytical Methods for Viral Infection Diagnosis: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

The analysis of viral nucleic acids (NA), DNA or RNA, is a crucial issue in the diagnosis of infections and the treatment and prevention of related human diseases. Conventional nucleic acid tests (NATs) require multistep approaches starting from the purification of the pathogen genetic material in biological samples to the end of its detection, basically performed by the consolidated polymerase chain reaction (PCR), by the use of specialized instruments and dedicated laboratories. However, since the current NATs are too constraining and time and cost consuming, the research is evolving towards more integrated, decentralized, user-friendly, and low-cost methods. These will allow the implementation of massive diagnoses addressing the growing demand of fast and accurate viral analysis facing such global alerts as the pandemic of coronavirus disease of the recent period. Silicon-based technology and microfluidics, in this sense, brought an important step up, leading to the introduction of the genetic point-of-care (PoC) systems. This review goes through the evolution of the analytical methods for the viral NA diagnosis of infection diseases, highlighting both advantages and drawbacks of the innovative emerging technologies versus the conventional approaches.

Integration of microfluidic sample preparation with PCR detection to investigate the effects of simultaneous DNA-Inhibitor separation and DNA solution exchange

In this paper, we applied a curved-channel microfluidic device to separate DNA from PCR-inhibitor-containing water and simultaneously wash them into clean water for detection using a portable PCR thermocycler. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has become an effective surveying approach for detecting rare organisms. However, low concentration eDNA molecules may be masked by PCR inhibitors during amplification and detection, increasing the risk of false negatives. Therefore, technologies for on-site DNA separation and washing are urgently needed. Our device consisted of a half-circle microchannel with a DNA-inhibitor sample inlet, a clean buffer inlet, and multiple outlets. By using the flow-induced inertial forces, 10 μm DNA-conjugated microparticles were focused at the inner-wall of the curved microchannel while separation from 1 μm inhibitor-conjugated microparticles and DNA washing were achieved simultaneously with the Dean flow. We achieved singleplex focusing, isolation and washing of 10 μm particles at an efficiency of 94.5 ± 2.0%. In duplex experiments with 1 μm and 10 μm particles, larger particles were washed with an efficiency of 92.1 ± 1.6% and a purity of 79 ± 2%. By surface-functionalizing the microparticles with affinity groups against Atlantic salmon DNA and humic acid (HA), and processing samples of various concentrations in our device, we achieved an effective purification and detection of DNA molecules using the portable PCR thermocycler. Our method significantly decreased PCR quantitation cycles from Cq > 38 to Cq = 30.35 ± 0.5, which confirmed enhancement of PCR amplification. The proposed device takes a promising step forward in sample preparation towards an integrated device that can be used for simultaneous purification and solution exchange of DNA in point-of-need environmental monitoring applications.

Rapid and simple single-chamber nucleic acid detection system prepared through nature-inspired surface engineering

Background: Nucleic acid (NA)-based diagnostics enable a rapid response to various diseases, but current techniques often require multiple labor-intensive steps, which is a major obstacle to successful translation to a clinical setting.

Methods: We report on a surface-engineered single-chamber device for NA extraction and in situ amplification without sample transfer. Our system has two reaction sites: a NA extraction chamber whose surface is patterned with micropillars and a reaction chamber filled with reagents for in situ polymerase-based NA amplification. These two sites are integrated in a single microfluidic device; we applied plastic injection molding for cost-effective, mass-production of the designed device. The micropillars were chemically activated via a nature-inspired silica coating to possess a specific affinity to NA.

Results: As a proof-of-concept, a colorimetric pH indicator was coupled to the on-chip analysis of NA for the rapid and convenient detection of pathogens. The NA enrichment efficiency was dependent on the lysate incubation time, as diffusion controls the NA contact with the engineered surface. We could detect down to 1×10³ CFU by the naked eye within one hour of the total assay time.

Conclusion: We anticipate that the surface engineering technique for NA enrichment could be easily integrated as a part of various types of microfluidic chips for rapid and convenient nucleic acid-based diagnostics.

Miniaturized electrochemical biosensor based on whole-cell for heavy metal ions detection in water

The heavy metals pollution represents one of the important issues in the environmental field since it is involved in many pathologies from cancer, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. We propose an innovative portable biosensor for the determination of traces of trivalent arsenic (As(III)) and bivalent mercury (Hg(II)) in water. The system implements a strategy combining two advanced sensing modules consisting in (a) a whole cell based on engineered Escherichia coli as selective sensing element towards the metals and (b) an electrochemical miniaturised silicon device with three microelectrodes and a portable reading system. The sensing mechanism relies on the selective recognition from the bacterium of given metals producing the 4-aminophenol redox active mediator detected through a cyclic voltammetry analysis. The miniaturized biosensor is able to operate a portable, robust, and high-sensitivity detection of As(III) with a sensitivity of 0.122 µA ppb^-1 , LoD of 1.5 ppb, and a LoQ of 5 ppb. The LoD value is one order of magnitude below of the value indicated to WHO to be dangerous (10 μg/L). The system was proved to be fully versatile being effective in the detection of Hg(II) as well. A first study on Hg(II) showed sensitivity value of 2.11 µA/ppb a LOD value of 0.1 ppb and LoQ value of 0.34 ppb. Also in this case, the detected LOD was 10 times lower than that indicated by WHO (1 ppb). These results pave the way for advanced sensing strategies suitable for the environmental monitoring and the public safety.

Technical and Methodological Aspects of Cell-Free Nucleic Acids Analyzes

Analyzes of cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) have shown huge potential in many biomedical applications, gradually entering several fields of research and everyday clinical care. Many biological properties of cfNAs can be informative to gain deeper insights into the function of the organism, such as their different types (DNA, RNAs) and subtypes (gDNA, mtDNA, bacterial DNA, miRNAs, etc.), forms (naked or vesicle bound NAs), fragmentation profiles, sequence composition, epigenetic modifications, and many others. On the other hand, the workflows of their analyzes comprise many important steps, from sample collection, storage and transportation, through extraction and laboratory analysis, up to bioinformatic analyzes and statistical evaluations, where each of these steps has the potential to affect the outcome and informational value of the performed analyzes. There are, however, no universal or standard protocols on how to exactly proceed when analyzing different cfNAs for different applications, at least according to our best knowledge. We decided therefore to prepare an overview of the available literature and products commercialized for cfNAs processing, in an attempt to summarize the benefits and limitations of the currently available approaches, devices, consumables, and protocols, together with various factors influencing the workflow, its processes, and outcomes.

Precision cell-free DNA extraction for liquid biopsy by integrated microfluidics

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been implicated as an important biomarker in cancer management. Thus, efficient techniques for cfDNA extraction are necessary for precision medicine. We developed a centrifugation-free cfDNA extraction microfluidic chip capable of extracting cfDNA from plasma samples through microfluidic circuits within 15 min under vacuum pressure using an immiscible solvent. The microfluidic chip had excellent performance that was comparable to the most widely used commercial product (QIAamp kit) in terms of extraction efficiency, purity, and quality of DNA samples. The microfluidic chip was validated for the continuous monitoring of HER-2 type breast cancer and was able to successfully detect a point mutation in phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PIK3CA) during severe liver metastasis. The chip effectively eliminates the repetitive centrifugation processes and dramatically shortened the sample preparation time. The proposed platform could facilitate the development of a sample-to-answer system for use in liquid biopsy of cancers.

A Novel Microfluidic Device Integrated with Chitosan-Modified Capillaries for Rapid ZIKV Detection

The outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) has posed a great challenge to public health in recent years. To address the urgent need of ZIKV RNA assays, we integrate the microfluidic chip embedded with chitosan-modified silicon dioxide capillaries, smartphone-based detection unit to be a C³-system for the rapid extraction and detection of ZIKV RNA. The C³-system is characterized by: (1) four chitosan-modified silicon dioxide capillaries integrated in the microfluidic chip for target ZIKV RNA enrichment and “in situ PCR” (polymerase chain reaction) amplification; (2) smartphone-based point of care (POC) device consisting of a pneumatic subsystem for controlling the nucleic acid extraction processes in the microfluidic chip, a heating subsystem for sample lysis and PCR amplification, and an optical subsystem for signal acquisition. The entire detection processes including sample lysis, ZIKV RNA enrichment, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is achieved in the microfluidic chip. Moreover, PCR buffers can be directly loaded into the chitosan-modified silicon dioxide capillaries for “in situ PCR”, in which the captured ZIKV RNA is directly used for downstream PCR without any loss. ZIKV RNA extracted by the C³-system can be successfully recovered at very low concentrations of 50 transducing units (TU)/mL from crude human saliva. This means that our method of detecting viremia in patients infected with ZIKV is reliable.

An integrated biosensor platform for extraction and detection of nucleic acids

The development of portable systems for analysis of nucleic acids (NAs) is crucial for the evolution of biosensing in the context of future healthcare technologies. The integration of NA extraction, purification, and detection modules, properly actuated by microfluidics technologies, is a key point for the development of portable diagnostic systems. In this paper, we describe an integrated biosensor platform based on a silicon-plastic hybrid lab-on-disk technology capable of managing NA extraction, purification, and detection processes in an integrated format. The sample preparation process is performed by solid-phase extraction technology using magnetic beads on a plastic disk, while detection is done through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on a miniaturized silicon device. The movement of sample and reagents is actuated by a centrifugal force induced by a disk actuator instrument. The assessment of the NA extraction and detection performance has been carried out by using hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA genome as a biological target. The quantification of the qRT-PCR chip in the hybrid disk showed an improvement in sensitivity with respect to the qRT-PCR commercial platforms, which means an optimization of time and cost. Limit of detection and limit of quantification values of about 8 cps/reaction and 26 cps/reaction, respectively, were found by using analytical samples (synthetic clone), while the results with real samples (serum with spiked HBV genome) indicate that the system performs as well as the standard methods.

Visual detection for nucleic acid-based techniques as potential on-site detection methods. A review

Nucleic acid-based techniques could achieve highly sensitive detection by amplifying template molecules to millions of folds. It has been one of the most valued analytical methods and is applied in many detection fields, such as diagnosis of infectious diseases, food safety assurance and so on. Nucleic acid-based techniques consist of three steps: nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and product detection. Among them, the detection step plays a vital role because it shows the results directly. As the trend of detection is simple, rapid and instrument-free, it is of necessity to carry out visual detection, where the result read-out could be visible and distinguished by the naked eye. In this critical review, advanced visual detection methods are summarized and discussed in detail, aiming to promote the potential application in on-site detection.

A bifurcated continuous field-flow fractionation (BCFFF) chip for high-yield and high-throughput nucleic acid extraction and purification

We report a bifurcated continuous field-flow fractionation (BCFFF) chip for high-yield and high-throughput (20 min) extraction of nucleic acids from physiological samples. The design uses a membrane ionic transistor to sustain low-ionic strength in a localized region at a junction, such that the resulting high field can selectively isolate high-charge density nucleic acids from the main flow channel and insert them into a standardized buffer in a side channel that bifurcates from the junction. The high local electric field and the bifurcated field-flow design facilitate concentration reduction of both divalent cation (Ca2+) and molecular PCR inhibitors by more than two orders of magnitude, even with high-throughput continuous loading. The unique design with a large (>20 mM mm-1) on-chip ionic-strength gradient allows miniaturization into a high-throughput field-flow fractionation chip that can be integrated with upstream lysing and downstream PCR/sensor modules for various nucleic acid detection/quantification applications. A concentration-independent 85% yield for extraction and an overall post-PCR yield exceeding 60% are demonstrated for a 111 bp dsDNA in 10 μL of human plasma, compared to no amplification with the raw sample. A net yield four times larger than a commercial extraction kit is demonstrated for miR-39 in human plasma.

Integrated microfluidic systems with sample preparation and nucleic acid amplification

Rapid, efficient and accurate nucleic acid molecule detection is important in the screening of diseases and pathogens, yet remains a limiting factor at point of care (POC) treatment. Microfluidic systems are characterized by fast, integrated, miniaturized features which provide an effective platform for qualitative and quantitative detection of nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acid detection process mainly includes sample preparation and target molecule amplification. Given the advancements in theoretical research and technological innovations to date, nucleic acid extraction and amplification integrated with microfluidic systems has advanced rapidly. The primary goal of this review is to outline current approaches used for nucleic acid detection in the context of microfluidic systems. The secondary goal is to identify new approaches that will help shape future trends at the intersection of nucleic acid detection and microfluidics, particularly with regard to increasing disease and pathogen detection for improved diagnosis and treatment.

An innovative silicon-chip for sensitive real time PCR improvement in pathogen detection

An innovative miniaturized silicon-chip was developed for highly sensitive detection of pathogen genomes of both viruses and bacteria through real time PCR (qRT-PCR). The device was properly designed to enhance the optical signal and perform accurate thermal control. Results show an improvement of PCR amplification by one order of magnitude in sensitivity compared to the standard RT-PCR method. In particular for hepatitis B virus a decrease of the mean value of Ct of about 2.9 ± 0.9 compared to the standard system was observed. Similarly, for the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii, a decrease of the mean values of Ct of 1.8 ± 0.5, 3.1 ± 0.5 and 3.9 ± 0.9, respectively, was observed.

A fast nucleic acid extraction system for point-of-care and integration of digital PCR

This work showcases a PTFE-based nucleic acid extraction system for point-of-care and integration of digital PCR.

An Advanced, Silicon-Based Substrate for Sensitive Nucleic Acids Detection

Surface substrate and chemical functionalization are crucial aspects for the fabrication of the sensitive biosensor based on microarray technology. In this paper, an advanced, silicon-based substrate (A-MA) allowing enhancement of optical signal for microarray application is described. The substrate consists in a multilayer of Si/Al/SiO₂ layers. The optical signal enhancement is reached by a combination of the mirror effect of Al film and the SiO₂ thickness around 830 nm, which is able to reach the maximum of interference for the emission wavelength of the Cy5 fluorescent label. Moreover, SiO₂ layer is suitable for the immobilization of single-strand DNA through standard silane chemistry, and probe densities of about 2000 F/µm² are reached. The microarray is investigated in the detection of HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) pathogen with analytical samples, resulting in a dynamic linear range of 0.05–0.5 nM, a sensitivity of about 18000 a.u. nM⁻¹, and a Limit of Detection in the range of 0.031–0.043 Nm as a function of the capture probe sequence.

PCR Technologies for Point of Care Testing: Progress and Perspectives

Since the Human Genome Project completed in 2000, the sequencing of the first genome, massive progress has been made by medical science in the early diagnosis and personalized therapies based on nucleic acids (NA) analysis. To allow the extensive use of these molecular methods in medical practice, scientific research is nowadays strongly focusing on the development of new miniaturized and easy-to-use technologies and devices allowing fast and low cost NA analysis in decentralized environments. It is now the era of so-called genetic "Point-of-Care" (PoC). These systems must integrate and automate all steps necessary for molecular analysis such as sample preparation (extraction and purification of NA) and detection based on PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology in order to perform, by unskilled personnel, in vitro genetic analysis near the patient (in hospital, in the physician office, clinic, or home), with rapid answers and low cost. In this review, the recent advances in genetic PoC technologies are discussed, including the extraction and PCR amplification chemistry suitable for PoC use and the new frontiers of research in this field.

Miniaturized Real-Time PCR on a Q3 System for Rapid KRAS Genotyping

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an aggressive human malignancy with a complex genomic landscape harboring KRAS mutations. In 40%–60% of patients with CRC, constantly active KRAS proteins affect the prognosis, surgical strategy, and clinical benefit from therapy with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents. For this reason, there is a greater demand for minimally-invasive diagnostic devices to characterize the genetic pattern and prevent the acquired mechanism to drug resistance. The rapid developments in cutting-edge diagnostic techniques are expected to play a growing role in medicine and represent an attractive promise to identify potential responders to personalized medicine. Here we propose a new method to simultaneously detect the main KRAS mutations on the portable real-time PCR Q3 platform. This platform is based on hybrid silicon-plastic technology implemented in a miniaturized chip able to achieve a sample-in answer-out rapid analysis, allowing a new approach to genetic counseling and testing.

An innovative chemical strategy for PCR-free genetic detection of pathogens by an integrated electrochemical biosensor

An innovative chemical strategy integrated in a miniaturized electrochemical device was developed for sensitive detection of a pathogen genome (HBV virus) without any amplification step.

A facile method for urinary phenylalanine measurement on paper-based lab-on-chip for PKU therapy monitoring

A miniaturized paper-based lab-on-chip (LoC) was developed for the facile measurement of urinary Phe (phenylalanine) level on PKU (Phenylketonuria) treated patient.