Sample preconcentration through airjet-induced liquid phase enrichment.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Sample preparation is critical for nucleic acid assay sensitivity and reliability.
• Analyte loss and dilution during preparation limit assay performance, especially with small sample volumes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an airjet-based sample enrichment method to overcome analyte loss in sample preparation.
• To improve the sensitivity and reliability of downstream nucleic acid assays.

Main Methods:

• An airjet system was designed to reverse the coffee-ring effect, concentrating analytes via evaporation.
• The method was tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with lambda-DNA, HeLa-S3 RNA, and SARS-CoV-2 samples.
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added to reduce salt co-enrichment, and the method was adapted for various fluid volumes.

Main Results:

• Airjet enrichment achieved a 600-fold analyte concentration, reducing the average quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) Cq by 9.27 cycles.
• The method demonstrated superior analyte recovery and concentration within a 1 μL volume compared to conventional methods.
• Integration into enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed potential for broader biosensor applications.

Conclusions:

• Airjet enrichment is an effective method for concentrating analytes, significantly improving nucleic acid assay performance.
• The technique offers a simple integration into existing laboratory protocols with minimal modifications.
• This approach enhances biosensor performance and broadens applicability across various assays.