A Portable Dual-Mode Microfluidic Device Integrating RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP for Rapid Nucleic Acid Detection in...

Area of Science:

• Molecular Diagnostics
• Biotechnology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Point-of-care testing (POCT) is crucial for rapid diagnostics in diverse settings.
• Existing molecular diagnostic platforms often lack portability and speed.
• There is a need for integrated, miniaturized systems for decentralized testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional portable platform integrating RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP.
• To enhance reaction efficiency and simplify operations using passive flow control.
• To enable rapid, sensitive, and accurate molecular diagnostics at the point of care.

Main Methods:

• Integration of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) in a microfluidic device.
• Utilization of Tesla-valve-based passive flow control for enhanced reaction efficiency.
• Implementation of a four-channel optical detection unit for multiplex fluorescence quantification.

Main Results:

• The portable platform achieved a detection limit of 2.0 copies/μL for RT-qPCR and 2.95 copies/μL for RT-LAMP.
• Significant miniaturization (approx. 90% size reduction) with maintained quantitative accuracy compared to conventional instruments.
• Reduced RT-LAMP assay time to 42 minutes, a substantial improvement over traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• The dual-mode portable platform offers a flexible and scalable solution for laboratory-grade molecular assays at the point of care.
• This technology supports early disease detection and epidemic surveillance through rapid molecular diagnostics.
• The developed system bridges the gap between centralized laboratory testing and decentralized POCT needs.