PCR on a chip
The new "lab-on-a-chip" helps to diagnose the disease faster
Tatiana Matveeva, "Scientific Russia"
The TriSilix chip, developed at Imperial College London, is a "microlaboratory" with which you can conduct a miniature version of PCR analysis on the spot, and in the future - without leaving home, according to a press release New lab–on-chip infection test could give cheaper, faster portable diagnostics. The development is described in detail in the journal Nature Communications (Nunez-Bajo et al., Disposable silicon-based all-in-one micro-qPCR for apid on-site detection of pathogens).
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) – a test for detecting viruses and bacteria in a sample of biological material. The analysis is usually carried out in a laboratory, which means that the test results are not immediately available. The new lab-on-a-chip can process and present results in minutes.
The chip is made of silicon, the same material used to make electronic chips. Silicon itself costs a little, but processing it into microcircuits requires a lot of money. To create a lab-on-a-chip, researchers have developed a series of methods for producing chips in a standard lab, reducing the cost and time required for production, potentially allowing them to be produced anywhere in the world.
Each minilab contains a sensor for DNA analysis, a temperature sensor and a heater for automating the testing process. A typical smartphone battery can provide up to 35 tests without recharging.
Dr. Firat Guder from the Department of bioengineering at Imperial College, the lead author of the work, said: "Instead of sending swabs to the lab or going to the clinic, the lab could come to you on a chip the size of a fingernail."
So far, researchers have used TriSilix to diagnose bacterial infection in animals, as well as a synthetic version of the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The developers add that in the future the system can be installed on portable devices that determine blood sugar levels. This would allow people to check themselves at home for SARS, flu, recurrent infections such as urinary tract infections and COVID-19.
In addition, a portable test can speed up the diagnosis of infections and reduce costs by eliminating the need to transport samples. Such tests can be carried out by citizens in the absence of highly qualified medical specialists – therefore, if they need to isolate themselves, they can conduct the test at home and immediately, without the risk of infecting others.
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