in situ Transformation of Information Into DNA Storage With Microfluidic Very Large-Scale Integration Platform

DNA data storage offers a highly compact and efficient alternative to traditional data storage methods. However, DNA writing remains time-consuming and relies on specialized infrastructure. Here, a novel, high-throughput, in situ DNA writing strategy is introduced using microfluidic very-large-scale integration (VLSI) chips inspired by dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) architecture. This method enables rapid encoding of binary data into DNA via overlap-extension PCR (OE-PCR) and programmable microfluidic partitioning. Using a widely accessible integrated microfluidic circuit, 2304 bits of data within 4 h encoded, demonstrating scalable, parallelized DNA writing on a benchtop instrument. Next-generation sequencing confirmed high-fidelity encoding with excellent signal-to-noise ratios. Furthermore, DNA data can be quickly decoded using a microfluidic VLSI qPCR platform, reducing the write-to-read latency to under 8 h. This proof-of-concept highlights the potential of programmable microfluidic VLSI platforms for efficient, rapid, and portable DNA writing and decoding, paving the way for scalable, high-throughput, decentralized DNA data storage and gene synthesis.