title: Ligation-based molecular tools for lab-on-a-chip devices.
abstract: Molecular diagnostics can offer early detection of disease, improved diagnostic accuracy, and qualified follow-up. Moreover, the use of microfluidic devices can in principle render these analyses quickly and user-friendly, placing them within the reach of the general practitioner and maybe even in households. However, the progress launching such devices has been limited so far. We propose that an important limiting factor has been the difficulty of establishing molecular assays suitable for microfabricated formats. The assays should be capable of monitoring a wide range of molecules, including genomic DNA, RNA and proteins with secondary modifications and interaction partners, and they must exhibit excellent sensitivity and specificity. We discuss these problems and describe a series of molecular tools that may present new opportunities for lab-on-a-chip devices at the point-of-care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, University of Uppsala, SE 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melin
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarvius
authors.forename: Chatarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Söderberg
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Landegren
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
chemical_list: D008025:Ligases