Combining Electro-Osmotic Flow and FTA^® Paper for DNA Analysis on Microfluidic Devices

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Biotechnology
• Forensic Science

Background:

• FTA® paper is a common medium for preserving biological samples.
• Nucleic acid elution is typically required before DNA amplification.
• Microfluidic devices offer potential for integrated biological sample processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated microfluidic system for DNA purification and amplification using FTA® paper.
• To eliminate the need for nucleic acid elution prior to polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• To assess the efficiency and reliability of the integrated system for various sample types.

Main Methods:

• Biological samples (buccal cells, whole blood, semen) were applied to FTA® paper discs.
• FTA® paper discs were placed in a microfluidic device with wax-encapsulated PCR reagents.
• Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer was used for sample cleanup via electro-osmotic flow.
• DNA amplification was performed using a Peltier thermal cycling system.

Main Results:

• Successful DNA amplification was achieved directly from FTA® paper discs without prior elution.
• The integrated microfluidic system demonstrated efficient processing of buccal cells, whole blood, and semen.
• Wax encapsulation effectively controlled reagent release during thermal cycling.
• The system minimized the risk of contamination during sample processing.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic system effectively integrates DNA purification and PCR amplification from FTA® paper.
• This approach simplifies sample handling, reduces processing time, and minimizes contamination risk.
• The system is suitable for analyzing archived samples and offers advantages for point-of-care or field applications.