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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Fabrication of Electrochemical-DNA Biosensors for the Reagentless Detection of Nucleic Acids, Proteins and Small Molecules
Published on: June 1, 2011
An integrated paper-based sample-to-answer biosensor for nucleic acid testing at the point of care
Jane Ru Choi1, Jie Hu2, Ruihua Tang2
1The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China. fengxu@mail.xjtu.edu.cn and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. bpingguan@um.edu.my.
This study introduces an integrated paper-based biosensor for rapid nucleic acid detection at the point-of-care. The device combines extraction, amplification, and visual detection, significantly reducing assay time for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biosensor Technology
- Nucleic Acid Detection
Background:
- Point-of-care testing (POCT) using lateral flow assays (LFAs) is advancing for nucleic acid detection.
- Current methods require laborious off-chip nucleic acid extraction and amplification (e.g., PCR) from complex biological samples.
- Integrating these steps into a paper-based format with LFA for simple readout has not been demonstrated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an integrated paper-based biosensor for nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and visual detection.
- To create a portable, battery-powered heating device for nucleic acid amplification in point-of-care settings.
- To enable rapid, simple colorimetric readout for target nucleic acids.
Main Methods:
- Developed an integrated paper-based biosensor combining nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and LFA-based detection.
- Utilized a custom-designed handheld battery-powered heating device for amplification.
- Employed smartphone-based visual detection or quantification for colorimetric readout.
Main Results:
- Successfully detected *Escherichia coli* in various matrices (water, milk, blood, spinach) with a detection limit of 10-1000 CFU mL(-1).
- Detected *Streptococcus pneumoniae* in clinical blood samples.
- Reduced the overall sample-to-answer time from over 5 hours to approximately 1 hour.
Conclusions:
- The integrated biosensor offers a rapid and simplified approach for nucleic acid detection at the point-of-care.
- Demonstrated potential for medical diagnostics, food safety analysis, and environmental monitoring.
- Highlights the feasibility of combining multiple biological processing steps on a paper platform for diverse applications.
