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Fike BJ, Curtin K, Li P. Nucleic Acid Target Sensing Using a Vibrating Sharp-Tip Capillary and Digital Droplet Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (ddLAMP). SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:4266. [PMID: 39001045 PMCID: PMC11243892 DOI: 10.3390/s24134266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acid tests are key tools for the detection and diagnosis of many diseases. In many cases, the amplification of the nucleic acids is required to reach a detectable level. To make nucleic acid amplification tests more accessible to a point-of-care (POC) setting, isothermal amplification can be performed with a simple heating source. Although these tests are being performed in bulk reactions, the quantification is not as accurate as it would be with digital amplification. Here, we introduce the use of the vibrating sharp-tip capillary for a simple and portable system for tunable on-demand droplet generation. Because of the large range of droplet sizes possible and the tunability of the vibrating sharp-tip capillary, a high dynamic range (~2 to 6000 copies/µL) digital droplet loop-mediated isothermal amplification (ddLAMP) system has been developed. It was also noted that by changing the type of capillary on the vibrating sharp-tip capillary, the same mechanism can be used for simple and portable DNA fragmentation. With the incorporation of these elements, the present work paves the way for achieving digital nucleic acid tests in a POC setting with limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany J Fike
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Kathrine Curtin
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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2
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Xing Y, Wang Y, Li X, Pang S. Digital microfluidics methods for nucleic acid detection: A mini review. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2024; 18:021501. [PMID: 38456173 PMCID: PMC10917463 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Many serious infectious diseases have occurred throughout human history. Rapid and accurate detection as well as the isolation of infected individuals, through nucleic acid testing, are effective means of containing the spread of these viruses. However, traditional nucleic acid testing methods rely on complex machines and specialized personnel, making it difficult to achieve large-scale, high-throughput, and rapid detection. In recent years, digital microfluidics has emerged as a promising technology that integrates various fields, including electrokinetics, acoustics, optics, magnetism, and mechanics. By leveraging the advantages of these different technologies, digital microfluidic chips offer several benefits, such as high detection throughput, integration of multiple functions, low reagent consumption, and portability. This rapid and efficient testing is crucial in the timely detection and isolation of infected individuals to prevent the virus spread. Another advantage is the low reagent consumption of digital microfluidic chips. Compared to traditional methods, these chips require smaller volumes of reagents, resulting in cost savings and reduced waste. Furthermore, digital microfluidic chips are portable and can be easily integrated into point-of-care testing devices. This enables testing to be conducted in remote or resource-limited areas, where access to complex laboratory equipment may be limited. Onsite testing reduces the time and cost associated with sample transportation. In conclusion, bioassay technologies based on digital microfluidic principles have the potential to significantly improve infectious disease detection and control. By enabling rapid, high-throughput, and portable testing, these technologies enhance our ability to contain the spread of infectious diseases and effectively manage public health outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youqiang Xing
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Clinical Laboratory, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiang Li
- Bio-manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Guangdong 518000, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shangran Pang
- Jinzhong Normal Junior College, 189 Guang'an Street, Yuci District, Jinzhong 030600, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Ditchendorf E, Ahmed I, Sepate J, Priye A. A Smartphone-Enabled Continuous Flow Digital Droplet LAMP Platform for High Throughput and Inexpensive Quantitative Detection of Nucleic Acid Targets. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:8310. [PMID: 37837140 PMCID: PMC10575248 DOI: 10.3390/s23198310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Molecular tests for infectious diseases and genetic anomalies, which account for significant global morbidity and mortality, are central to nucleic acid analysis. In this study, we present a digital droplet LAMP (ddLAMP) platform that offers a cost-effective and portable solution for such assays. Our approach integrates disposable 3D-printed droplet generator chips with a consumer smartphone equipped with a custom image analysis application for conducting ddLAMP assays, thereby eliminating the necessity for expensive and complicated photolithographic techniques, optical microscopes, or flow cytometers. Our 3D printing technique for microfluidic chips facilitates rapid chip fabrication in under 2 h, without the complications of photolithography or chip bonding. The platform's heating mechanism incorporates low-powered miniature heating blocks with dual resistive cartridges, ensuring rapid and accurate temperature modulation in a compact form. Instrumentation is further simplified by integrating miniaturized magnification and fluorescence optics with a smartphone camera. The fluorescence quantification benefits from our previously established RGB to CIE-xyY transformation, enhancing signal dynamic range. Performance assessment of our ddLAMP system revealed a limit of detection at 10 copies/μL, spanning a dynamic range up to 104 copies/μL. Notably, experimentally determined values of the fraction of positive droplets for varying DNA concentrations aligned with the anticipated exponential trend per Poisson statistics. Our holistic ddLAMP platform, inclusive of chip production, heating, and smartphone-based droplet evaluation, provides a refined method compatible with standard laboratory environments, alleviating the challenges of traditional photolithographic methods and intricate droplet microfluidics expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Ditchendorf
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA (I.A.)
| | - Isteaque Ahmed
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA (I.A.)
| | - Joseph Sepate
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA (I.A.)
| | - Aashish Priye
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA (I.A.)
- Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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4
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Yang K, Pan J, Deng G, Hua C, Zhu C, Liu Y, Zhu L. Mkit: A mobile nucleic acid assay based on a chitosan-modified minimalistic microfluidic chip (CM 3-chip) and smartphone. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1253:341030. [PMID: 36965987 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Mobile sensing enabled by MS2 technology, which integrates microfluidic and smartphone components, has seen many applications in recent years. In this direction, we developed an MS2 platform (an integrated kit) for nucleic acid assay, which included a chitosan-modified minimalistic microfluidic chip (CM3-chip), a smartphone-based fluorescence detector (SF-detector), an APP for imaging and analysis, reagents, and accessories. Once the lysed sample was loaded into the CM3-chip modified by 1% concentration and 200-260 kDa molecular weight of chitosan, the following assay can be completed in approximately 1 h. The Mkit can detect 3 × 10° copies μL-1 of plasmid DNA and its polymerase chain reaction (PCR) efficiency was 96.8%. The CM3-chip equipped for the Mkit can enrich nucleic acid from the pH = 5 of lysis buffer, instead of using conventional adsorption mediums such as the magnetic beads and silica gel membranes, which could result in unexpected impurity residuals and tedious cleaning operations. In addition, the performance of the Mkit equipped with the pristine chip was demonstrated to perform poorer than that coupled with the CM3-chip in which the enriched nucleic acid can be all used for "in-situ PCR". The universality, selectivity, and user-friendliness of the Mkit were also validated. We finally demonstrated the feasibility of the Mkit for testing artificially prepared infected samples. H5N6 and IAV-infected saliva samples provided the limits of detection of 5 × 102 copies mL-1 and 3.24 × 102 copies mL-1 per chamber, respectively. The streamlined assay and compact device should enable the great potential of the Mkit in research and potential diagnostic uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yang
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Jingyu Pan
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China; Hefei Zhongke Yikangda Biomedical Co., LTD, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Guoqing Deng
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Changyi Hua
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Cancan Zhu
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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5
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Xu D, Zhang W, Li H, Li N, Lin JM. Advances in droplet digital polymerase chain reaction on microfluidic chips. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:1258-1278. [PMID: 36752545 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00814a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The PCR technique has been known to the general public since the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19. This technique has progressed through three stages: from simple PCR to real-time fluorescence PCR to digital PCR. Among them, the microfluidic-based droplet digital PCR technique has attracted much attention and has been widely applied due to its advantages of high throughput, high sensitivity, low reagent consumption, low cross-contamination, and absolute quantification ability. In this review, we introduce various designs of microfluidic-based ddPCR developed within the last decade. The microfluidic-based droplet generation methods, thermal cycle strategies, and signal counting approaches are described, and the applications in the fields of single-cell analysis, disease diagnosis, and pathogen detection are introduced. Further, the challenges and prospects of microfluidic-based ddPCR are discussed. We hope that this review can contribute to the further development of the microfluidic-based ddPCR technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danfeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Metrology and Applications on Nutrition and Health for State Market Regulation, Division of Chemical Metrology and Analytical Science, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Weifei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Metrology and Applications on Nutrition and Health for State Market Regulation, Division of Chemical Metrology and Analytical Science, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Hongmei Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Metrology and Applications on Nutrition and Health for State Market Regulation, Division of Chemical Metrology and Analytical Science, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), China.
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), China.
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Aubry G, Lee HJ, Lu H. Advances in Microfluidics: Technical Innovations and Applications in Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Anal Chem 2023; 95:444-467. [PMID: 36625114 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Aubry
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hyun Jee Lee
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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Xing G, Ai J, Wang N, Pu Q. Recent progress of smartphone-assisted microfluidic sensors for point of care testing. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Ultrafast PCR Detection of COVID-19 by Using a Microfluidic Chip-Based System. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9100548. [PMID: 36290516 PMCID: PMC9598518 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9100548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the evolution of the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) have invariably been a golden standard in clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, the traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is not feasible for field application due to its drawbacks, such as time-consuming and laboratory-based dependence. To overcome these challenges, a microchip-based ultrafast PCR system called SWM-02 was proposed to make PCR assay in a rapid, portable, and low-cost strategy. This novel platform can perform 6-sample detection per run using multiple fluorescent channels and complete an ultrafast COVID-19 RT-PCR test within 40 min. Here, we evaluated the performance of the microdevice using the gradient-diluted COVID-19 reference samples and commercial PCR kit and determined its limit-of-detection (LoD) as 500 copies/mL, whose variation coefficients for the nucleocapsid (N) gene and open reading frame 1 ab region (ORF1ab) gene are 1.427% and 0.7872%, respectively. The system also revealed an excellent linear correlation between cycle threshold (Ct) values and dilution factors (R2 > 0.99). Additionally, we successfully detected the target RNAs and internal gene in the clinical samples by fast PCR, which shows strong consistency with conventional PCR protocol. Hence, with compact dimension, user-friendly design, and fast processing time, SWM-02 has the capability of offering timely and sensitive on-site molecular diagnosis for prevention and control of pathogen transmission.
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Curtin K, Fike BJ, Binkley B, Godary T, Li P. Recent Advances in Digital Biosensing Technology. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090673. [PMID: 36140058 PMCID: PMC9496261 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Digital biosensing assays demonstrate remarkable advantages over conventional biosensing systems because of their ability to achieve single-molecule detection and absolute quantification. Unlike traditional low-abundance biomarking screening, digital-based biosensing systems reduce sample volumes significantly to the fL-nL level, which vastly reduces overall reagent consumption, improves reaction time and throughput, and enables high sensitivity and single target detection. This review presents the current technology for compartmentalizing reactions and their applications in detecting proteins and nucleic acids. We also analyze existing challenges and future opportunities associated with digital biosensing and research opportunities for developing integrated digital biosensing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrine Curtin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Bethany J. Fike
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Brandi Binkley
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Toktam Godary
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Correspondence:
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Lv N, Zhang L, Yang Z, Wang H, Yang N, Li H. Label-free biological sample detection and non-contact separation system based on microfluidic chip. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:063104. [PMID: 35778042 DOI: 10.1063/5.0086109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The detection and separation of biological samples are of great significance for achieving accurate diagnoses and state assessments. Currently, the detection and separation of cells mostly adopt labeling methods, which will undoubtedly affect the original physiological state and functions of cells. Therefore, in this study, a label-free cell detection method based on microfluidic chips is proposed. By measuring the scattering of cells to identify cells and then using optical tweezers to separate the target cells, the whole process without any labeling and physical contact could realize automatic cell identification and separation. Different concentrations of 15 µm polystyrene microspheres and yeast mixed solution are used as samples for detection and separation. The detection accuracy is over 90%, and the separation accuracy is over 73%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Lv
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shannxi 710049, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shannxi 710049, China
| | - Zewen Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shannxi 710049, China
| | - Huijun Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shannxi 710049, China
| | - Nan Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shannxi 710049, China
| | - Hao Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shannxi 710049, China
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11
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Portable electrochemical micro-workstation platform for simultaneous detection of multiple Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. Mikrochim Acta 2022; 189:91. [PMID: 35129691 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-022-05199-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, as a most prevalent type of dementia, is quickly becoming one of the most expensive, lethal, and burdening diseases of this century. Though there are still no efficient therapies, early diagnosis and intervention are important directive significance to clinical works. Here, we develop a portable electrochemical micro-workstation platform consisting of an electrochemical micro-workstation and integrated electrochemical microarray for simultaneously detecting multiple AD biomarkers including Aβ40, Aβ42, T-tau, and P-tau181 in serum. The integrated electrochemical microarray is mainly used for droplet sample manipulation and signal generation. The micro-workstation can regulate signals and transfer the signals to a smartphone by Bluetooth embedded inside. This portable electrochemical micro-workstation platform exhibits excellent analysis performance. The LODs for Aβ40, Aβ42, T-tau, and P-tau181 are 0.125 pg/mL, 0.089 pg/mL, 0.142 pg/mL, and 0.176 pg/mL, respectively, which satisfies the needs of detecting AD biomarkers in serum. The combination of portable micro-workstation and integrated electrochemical microarray provides a promising strategy for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and personal healthcare.
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