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Based on our advanced microfluidic platform, Creative Biolabs offers the design and development services of microfluidic chips in order to realize the high-efficient and low-cost manufacturing of microfluidic chips for the detection of nucleic acids. It provides a simple and high throughput analysis method for rapid nucleic acids detection to meet the specific needs of customers.

Why Detect Nucleic Acids on Microfluidic Chips?

Direct detection of nucleic acids on microfluidic chips offers a convenient method for gene detection and analysis without a series of complicated reactions. These approaches are similar to the specific recognition of antibody to antigen. Based on the complementarity of the nucleotide sequence, nucleic acids can be directly detected and measured on microfluidic chips. The system can also be used for the simultaneous detection of multiplex nucleic acids based on a sandwich-like DNA hybridization reaction with a pair of probes for target DNA. The precise control and process of small volumes of samples with high efficiency and speed can be achieved with microfluidics technology. It also holds great promise to develop simple, ultrasensitive, highly selective, and cost-effective biosensors.

What Service we offer about Microfluidic-based digital PCR?

Recently, some researchers have employed several multiplexed barcoded paper-based assay (BPA) on chips for the analysis of nucleic acids. Target DNAs can recognition with capture DNAs and detection DNAs via base complementation, in which the capture DNA is immobilized on paper-based detection microfluidic chip, and the detection DNA is modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The target DNA in the sample solution hybridizes with the detection DNA on the surface of AuNPs; they are formed as target-detection DNA-AuNP complexes further to hybridize with the capture DNAs. Due to the color change in the detection zone, the concentration of the target DNA can be quantitatively read.

Fig. 1 Nucleic acid detection by microfluidic.^1,4

Another example of a novel microfluidic biosensor for fluorescent DNA detection is by using single-layered MoS₂ nanosheets as nanoprobes. This system takes advantage of different adsorption capacities of MoS₂ nanosheets toward single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) to detect target DNA. The multi-channel is designed for rapid and sensitive high throughput DNA detection within several minutes. Besides, the PDMS-based microfluidic device with zigzag-shaped microchannels is designed for uniform mixing of various samples. Strong fluorescence intensity can be observed in microfluidic channels upon the addition of target ssDNA to the microfluidic chip. Compared to the fluorescence intensity before the addition of ssDNA, it enables the rapid, visual, and quantitative detection of target DNA on the microfluidic chip.

Fig. 2 Microfluidic cell encapsulation and microfluidic PCR.^2,4

These examples confirm that the use of microfluidics can significantly reduce the nucleic acids sample volume and detect nucleic acids visibly within a few minutes through the microfluidic assay. All these detections on chips are simple, rapid, low-cost, robust, and even possible compatible with mobile devices; the whole detection process and the readout of the results can be completed within several minutes. Because of the high rapidity, simplicity, efficiency and selectivity, these microfluidic chips developed are suitable to be applied in the rapid and on-site detection of nucleic acids.

Creative Biolabs focuses on the development of highly sensitive and direct detection of nucleic acids in the context of microfluidic chips in the condition of enough concentration of nucleic acid in samples. Our advanced microfluidic technology platform can be used to realize the design of microfluidic chips with high precision and efficiency at a very low cost. If you are interested in our customized services about microfluidic chips, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Published Data

Presented are findings showcased within articles pertaining to microfluidic nucleic acids detection:

1. Detection of Periodontal Pathogens Based on an Integrated Continuous Flow PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis Microfluidic Chip

Fig. 3 (A) Schematic showing the CF-PCR-MCE chip; (B) The electropherogram of periodontal pathogens after they were amplified in the system.^3,4

Bo Yang et al. designed and fabricated a microfluidic chip combining continuous-flow PCR (CF-PCR) and electrophoresis, which can realize DNA amplification and on-site detection of PCR products in a short time.^3,4 The chip consists of two PDMS blocks, the upper part is a cross-shaped channel, and the lower part is a serpentine channel loop structure. The chip is placed on a temperature control unit. The article verified the system by detecting typical periodontal pathogens. The results showed that the system successfully amplified and detected P.g, T.d, and T.f, and had a significant advantage in speed. This integrated structural design provides a valuable reference for the realization of an integrated bedside diagnostic platform.

References

1. Mumtaz, Rashid, et al. " Prospects of Microfluidic Technology in Nucleic Acid Detection Approaches." Biosensors 13.6 (2023): 584.
2. Pellegrino, Sciambi, et al. " High-throughput single-cell DNA sequencing of acute myeloid leukemia tumors with droplet microfluidics." Genome Research 28 (2018): 1345-1352.
3. Yang, Bo, et al. "Detection of Periodontal Pathogens Based on an Integrated Continuous Flow PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis Microfluidic Chip." Separations 10.4 (2023): 271.
4. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.

For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.