title: In-gel technology for PCR genotyping and pathogen detection.
abstract: This work describes the use of polyacrylamide gel and PCR reagents photopolymerized in a mold to create an array of semisolid posts that serve as reaction vessels for parallel PCR amplification of an externally added template. DNA amplification occurred in a cylindrical, self-standing 9 × 9 array of gel posts each less than 1 μL in volume. Photopolymerization of the gel with an intercalating dye added prior to polymerization permitted acquisition of real-time PCR data and melting curve analysis data without the need for any type of post-PCR staining procedures. PCR was equally efficient and reproducible when template DNA was polymerized within the gel or when exogenous template was added atop precast gel posts. PCR amplification occurred with template from purified DNA or from raw urine of patients with BK viruria. Multiple primer sets can be utilized per gel post array with no detectable cross contamination. As few as 34 BK virus templates were consistently detected by PCR in an individual gel post. Amplification of HPA1 and FGFR2 genes in human genomic DNA (gDNA) required as little as 2-5 ng of gDNA template/gel post. The device prototype includes a Peltier element for PCR thermal cycling and a CCD camera to capture fluorescence for product detection. Our technology is amenable to integration in point of care microdevices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atrazhev
authors.forename: Dammika P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Manage
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stickel
authors.forename: H John
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Crabtree
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pilarski
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Acker
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000235:genetics; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000652:urine; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D039661:Integrin beta3; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D044367:Phase Transition; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet; D004279:DNA, Viral; C061248:ITGB3 protein, human; D039661:Integrin beta3; C016680:polyacrylamide gels; C496353:FGFR2 protein, human; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2