title: Lab-on-a-Drone: Toward Pinpoint Deployment of Smartphone-Enabled Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics for Mobile Health Care.
abstract: We introduce a portable biochemical analysis platform for rapid field deployment of nucleic acid-based diagnostics using consumer-class quadcopter drones. This approach exploits the ability to isothermally perform the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a single heater, enabling the system to be operated using standard 5 V USB sources that power mobile devices (via battery, solar, or hand crank action). Time-resolved fluorescence detection and quantification is achieved using a smartphone camera and integrated image analysis app. Standard sample preparation is enabled by leveraging the drone's motors as centrifuges via 3D printed snap-on attachments. These advancements make it possible to build a complete DNA/RNA analysis system at a cost of ∼$50 ($US). Our instrument is rugged and versatile, enabling pinpoint deployment of sophisticated diagnostics to distributed field sites. This capability is demonstrated by successful in-flight replication of Staphylococcus aureus and λ-phage DNA targets in under 20 min. The ability to perform rapid in-flight assays with smartphone connectivity eliminates delays between sample collection and analysis so that test results can be delivered in minutes, suggesting new possibilities for drone-based systems to function in broader and more sophisticated roles beyond cargo transport and imaging.
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Aashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Priye
authors.affiliation: AI Biosciences, Inc. , College Station, Texas 77845-5816, United States.
authors.forename: Season
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Yuanpeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carpio
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Jamison
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coen
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pangelinan
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: AI Biosciences, Inc. , College Station, Texas 77845-5816, United States.
authors.forename: Kamfai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States.
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ugaz
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000068997:Smartphone / Q000295:instrumentation; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D004247:DNA