Novel Biochip Platform for Nucleic Acid Analysis

Salvatore Pernagallo,Enrico Alessi,Giorgio Ventimiglia,Hugh Ilyine,Claudia Cavalluzzo,Juan J Diaz-Mochon,Mark Bradley

doi:10.3390/s120608100

Salvatore Pernagallo, Enrico Alessi + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/s120608100

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Abstract

This manuscript describes the use of a novel biochip platform for the rapid analysis/identification of nucleic acids, including DNA and microRNAs, with very high specificity. This approach combines a unique dynamic chemistry approach for nucleic acid testing and analysis developed by DestiNA Genomics with the STMicroelectronics In-Check platform, which comprises two microfluidic optimized and independent PCR reaction chambers, and a sequential microarray area for nucleic acid capture and identification by fluorescence. With its compact bench-top “footprint” requiring only a single technician to operate, the biochip system promises to transform and expand routine clinical diagnostic testing and screening for genetic diseases, cancers, drug toxicology and heart disease, as well as employment in the emerging companion diagnostics market.

Highlights

The development of rapid diagnostic device platforms is one of the major scientific aims in the world of life-science research, drug discovery, medical diagnostics and biotechnology [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
The two objects of this study were related to miRNA122 and mengo virus RNA (MGV). miRNA122 is a 22 nucleotide long single strand RNA found in high concentrations in human plasma of patients who have overdosed on paracetamol, becoming a prospective biomarker of liver damage [28]
The MGV transcript is over 3,000 Kb long and the target region selected was chosen based on recommendation of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN/TC 275/WG6/TAG4-viruses in foods)

Summary

Introduction

The development of rapid diagnostic device platforms is one of the major scientific aims in the world of life-science research, drug discovery, medical diagnostics and biotechnology [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Emerging nucleic acid test (NAT) technologies have allowed the development of applications for genotyping [single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and indel identification], epigenetic studies, array comparative genome hybridisation (aCGH), pre-natal screening, and microRNAs (miRNAs) profiling to name just a few, providing substantial future growth opportunities for LoC devices [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. LoC approaches could overcome the technical limitations of nucleic acid mass screening by providing rapid, cheap and multiplexed assays [13,15]. This platform combines all the functions needed to identify given oligonucleotide sequences in a sample and includes microfluidic handling, a miniaturized PCR reactorand a nucleic acid microarray detection module (Figure 1)

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