title: Sub-7-second genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphism by high-resolution melting curve analysis on a thermal digital microfluidic device.
abstract: We developed a thermal digital microfluidic (T-DMF) device enabling ultrafast DNA melting curve analysis (MCA). Within 7 seconds, the T-DMF device succeeded in differentiating a melting point difference down to 1.6 °C with a variation of 0.3 °C in a tiny droplet sample (1.2 μL), which was 300 times faster and with 20 times less sample spending than the standard MCA (35 minutes, 25 μL) run in a commercial qPCR machine. Such a performance makes it possible for a rapid discrimination of single-nucleotide mutation relevant to prompt clinical decision-making. Also, aided by electronic intelligent control, the T-DMF device facilitates sample handling and pipelining in an automatic serial manner. An optimized oval-shaped thermal electrode is introduced to achieve high thermal uniformity. A device-sealing technique averts sample contamination and permits uninterrupted chemical/biological reactions. Simple fabrication using a single chromium layer fulfills both the thermal and typical transport electrode requirements. Capable of thermally modulating DNA samples with ultrafast MCA, this T-DMF device has the potential for a wide variety of life science analyses, especially for disease diagnosis and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, University of Macau, Macao, China. pimak@umac.mo.
authors.forename: Tianlan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yanwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Pui-In
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Rui P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004566:Electrodes; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013997:Time Factors; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D004247:DNA