An integrated valved microfluidic platform for rapid and simultaneous nucleic acid detection

Abstract

Applying CRISPR-based diagnostics to point-of-care pathogen detection remains challenging because of the multi-step and time-consuming sample preparation process. This study presents a low-cost, integrated valved microfluidic device that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), CRISPR signal amplification, and lateral flow readout for simultaneous nucleic acid detection. The core advantage of the platform lies in its ability to sequentially control the entire multi-step assay through simple valve operation, significantly minimizing user intervention. All key reagents, including the RPA mix, Cas12a/crRNA complex, and proteinase K lysis buffer, are pre-lyophilized, ensuring stability and ready-to-use functionality. The platform demonstrates a sensitivity of 20 copies/reaction for HPV16/18 plasmids and accurately genotypes HPV in lysates of cervical cancer cells within one hour, showing complete concordance with quantitative PCR results. This integrated device, achieving a user-friendly protocol and visual readout, provides a powerful tool for nucleic acid-based point-of-care testing and self-testing in resource-limited settings.