title: Miniature RT-PCR system for diagnosis of RNA-based viruses.
abstract: This paper presents an innovative portable chip-based RT-PCR system for amplification of specific nucleic acid and detection of RNA-based viruses. The miniature RT-PCR chip is fabricated using MEMS (Micro-electro-mechanical-system) techniques, and comprises a micro temperature control module and a PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)-based microfluidic control module. The heating and sensing elements of temperature control module are both made of platinum and are located within the reaction chambers in order to generate a rapid and uniform thermal cycling. The microfluidic control module is capable of automating testing process with minimum human intervention. In this paper, the proposed miniature RT-PCR system is used to amplify and detect two RNA-based viruses, namely dengue virus type-2 and enterovirus 71 (EV 71). The experimental data confirm the ability of the system to perform a two-step RT-PCR process. The developed miniature system provides a crucial tool for the diagnosis of RNA-based viruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of MEMS Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 701, The Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Gwo-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hsiao-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tsung-Min
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ching-Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature