A handheld lateral flow strip for rapid DNA extraction from staphylococcus aureus cell spiked in various samples

Abstract

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction procedure is commonly based on well-developed and commercialized silica-based techniques. However, there are limits to utilize in resource-limited environments due to being time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. Although simple DNA extraction systems have been recently reported, there are still remaining challenges for conventional treatment to complex samples such as blood, food, and soil. Here, we demonstrated a handheld lateral flow strip for rapid DNA extraction from complex samples. We designed the lateral flow system based on investigation of basic property for DNA binding and proper arrangements of various materials. Engineering structure of the lateral flow strip made by the arrangement of convenient pad materials is playing a key role for DNA extraction device without expensive fabrication technique. Different binding affinity to DNA molecules of pad materials is inducing DNA transportation and concentration on the elution hole by lateral flow separation. Result of rapid DNA extraction by the handheld strip was shown similar efficiency to a commercialized silica column. In the concentration between 10 CFU to 106 CFU, and the volume of 5 μl to 100 μl, DNA extraction from Staphylococcus aureus cells in buffer was successfully performed by the handheld strip. We successfully showed that the rapid and effective DNA extraction in various type of complex samples (such as saliva, whole blood, urine, milk, meat, soil, and pond water) can be performed using the handheld strip within 3 min. Moreover, this fabricated strip could be an excellent platform for DNA storage and transportation, thus being potentially suitable for expanding the area of DNA analysis in resource-limited environments.