Issue 18, 2022

Ultra-rapid real-time microfluidic RT-PCR instrument for nucleic acid analysis

Abstract

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is paramount in nucleic acid amplification testing, and for many assays, the use of PCR or qPCR is considered the ‘gold standard’. While instrumentation for executing PCR has advanced over the last two decades, a growing interest in point-of-need testing has highlighted the deficit that exists for ‘rapid PCR’ systems. Here, we describe a field-forward prototype instrument capable of ultra-fast thermal cycling for real-time PCR amplification of DNA and RNA. The custom-designed, injection-molded microfluidic chips interface with a novel mechatronic system to complete 40 cycles of real-time PCR in under 10 minutes, an 84% reduction in time compared to a standard 50 minute assay. Such rapid amplification is enabled by two thermoelectric Peltiers capable of efficiently heating and cooling the sample at 12 and 10 °C s−1, respectively. Judicious selection and strategic placement of the thermal cyclers and fluorescence detector relative to the microchip enable synchronized thermal cycling and fluorescence monitoring, further reducing time-to-result. Robust amplification and detection of DNA and RNA targets empowers laboratories to achieve rapid, actionable information in endless applications.

Graphical abstract: Ultra-rapid real-time microfluidic RT-PCR instrument for nucleic acid analysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 Mey 2022
Accepted
03 Aga 2022
First published
09 Aga 2022

Lab Chip, 2022,22, 3424-3435

Ultra-rapid real-time microfluidic RT-PCR instrument for nucleic acid analysis

R. L. Nouwairi, L. L. Cunha, R. Turiello, O. Scott, J. Hickey, S. Thomson, S. Knowles, J. D. Chapman and J. P. Landers, Lab Chip, 2022, 22, 3424 DOI: 10.1039/D2LC00495J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements