Construction of Very Low-Cost Loop Polymerase Chain Reaction System Based on Proportional-Integral-Derivative...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is crucial for nucleic acid detection and point-of-care testing (POCT).
• Conventional qPCR instruments are often bulky, expensive, and inconvenient for widespread use.
• There is a need for accessible and user-friendly PCR technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, easy-to-use PCR system with enhanced temperature control.
• To evaluate the performance and stability of the developed PCR system for gene detection.
• To demonstrate the potential of the system for point-of-care applications.

Main Methods:

• A novel PCR system was designed with integrated hardware and software subsystems.
• An improved proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm was implemented for precise temperature regulation.
• System performance was validated using amplification curve analysis, melting curve analysis, and agarose gel electrophoresis, comparing results against a commercial PCR instrument.

Main Results:

• The developed PCR system demonstrated stable temperature regulation during the constant temperature stage.
• Experimental results confirmed the system's applicability and stability in gene detection assays.
• Performance metrics, including amplification and melting curves, were comparable to a commercial PCR instrument.

Conclusions:

• The developed low-cost PCR system offers a viable alternative to conventional instruments.
• The system's improved temperature control and stability highlight its potential for accessible nucleic acid detection and POCT.
• This technology holds significant promise for advancing molecular diagnostics in resource-limited settings.