On-chip real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification for RNA detection and amplification

• Published in: Analytical methods Vol. 3; no. 9; pp. 2127 - 2133
• Main Authors: Tsaloglou, Maria-Nefeli, Bahi, Mahadji M., Waugh, Edward M., Morgan, Hywel, Mowlem, Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Karenia brevis
• ISSN: 1759-9660; 1759-9679
• DOI: 10.1039/c1ay05164d

Development of integrated systems for nucleic acid analyses is mainly driven by the requirement for fast and simple clinical and environmental diagnostics. The need for affordable and effective point-of-care diagnosis has inspired an entire field of biotechnology in micro and nano-fluidics. We are developing a microfluidic system that has individual sub-systems for performing cell concentration and lysis, RNA extraction/purification and real-time RNA detection. The system is being developed to analyse the rbcL gene of phytoplankton Karenia brevis, a species responsible for harmful algal blooms. This integrated system will perform sub-cellular analysis of RNA using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification and would be used in large scale biochemical analysis and experimentation. The device could potentially be used for the detection of any species with a known target nucleic acid sequence for in situ environmental monitoring, forensics or clinical diagnostics.