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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 24, 2025

Author Spotlight: Diatom Testing for Forensic Drowning Examination

Author Spotlight: Diatom Testing for Forensic Drowning Examination

Published on: November 10, 2023

Bubble-free diatoms polymerase chain reaction.

Yonghee Shin¹, Taejin Kwak², Keumrai Whang³

¹Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea; Institute of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea; Renal Division and Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.

Biosensors & Bioelectronics

|July 4, 2023

Summary

Bubble-free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is achieved using diatom silica structures, preventing air bubbles for reliable DNA amplification. This innovation enables sensitive detection of viral DNA, like SARS-CoV-2, in microfluidic devices.

Keywords:

Bioinspiration Bubble-free Diatom Molecular diagnostics Polymerase chain reaction

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Last Updated: Jul 24, 2025

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Published on: September 25, 2018

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Molecular Biology
Microfluidics

Background:

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in microfluidic systems offers enhanced speed, sensitivity, and high-throughput DNA amplification.
Air bubble formation and growth in microfluidic PCR systems critically impede DNA amplification efficiency and reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a bubble-free PCR method utilizing the unique porous structure of diatoms.
To demonstrate the efficacy of diatom-based PCR for sensitive DNA amplification and detection.

Main Methods:

Exploiting the hierarchically porous silica structure of diatoms for spontaneous PCR solution loading.
Utilizing the surface hydrophilicity and nanopore structure of diatoms to prevent air bubble trapping.
Leveraging pressure gradients during thermal cycling to actively remove residual air bubbles.
Integrating diatom assemblies into a microfluidic device for DNA detection.

Main Results:

Femtoliter volumes of PCR solution were loaded into diatoms without air bubble entrapment.
Bubble-free DNA amplification was successfully demonstrated using the diatom PCR method.
SARS-CoV-2 DNA fragments were detected with a sensitivity as low as 10 copies/μl.

Conclusions:

Diatom-based microfluidic systems provide a robust solution for bubble-free PCR, overcoming a major limitation in microfluidic DNA amplification.
This approach enhances the sensitivity and reliability of molecular diagnostics.
Naturally abundant diatoms can be repurposed as innovative biomaterials for advanced molecular diagnostic applications.