Maximising Affordability of Real-Time Colorimetric LAMP Assays

Area of Science:

• Molecular diagnostics
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Molecular diagnostics are crucial for healthcare, agriculture, and environmental monitoring, but traditional methods are costly and complex.
• Limited accessibility of current molecular diagnostics in resource-limited settings and for on-site applications.
• Need for cost-effective, portable, and user-friendly diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative, low-cost, and portable colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) device.
• To evaluate resistive heating systems for energy-efficient and precise temperature control in LAMP reactions.
• To integrate a novel heating system with an RGB sensor for accurate colorimetric detection.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of various resistive heating systems for a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block.
• Development of a compact and energy-efficient heating module for isothermal amplification.
• Integration of an off-the-shelf red-green-blue (RGB) sensor for colorimetric signal detection.
• Real-time detection of *Leifsonia xyli* subsp. *xyli* using the developed system.

Main Results:

• Successful development of an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and compact portable LAMP device.
• Demonstrated precise temperature control for LAMP reactions using the novel heating system.
• Accurate detection and quantification of color changes indicative of *Leifsonia xyli* subsp. *xyli* presence.
• Real-time detection of the target pathogen, *Leifsonia xyli* subsp. *xyli*.

Conclusions:

• The developed portable colorimetric LAMP device offers a low-cost and user-friendly solution for molecular diagnostics.
• This innovation enhances accessibility for on-site pathogen detection in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.
• The system represents a significant advancement in portable molecular diagnostic technologies.