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Smartphone-Enabled Detection Strategies for Portable PCR–Based Diagnostics

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Book cover Biosensors and Biodetection

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1571))

Abstract

Incredible progress continues to be made toward development of low-cost nucleic acid-based diagnostic solutions suitable for deployment in resource-limited settings. Detection components play a vitally important role in these systems, but have proven challenging to adapt for operation in a portable format. Here we describe efforts aimed at leveraging the capabilities of consumer-class smartphones as a convenient platform to enable detection of nucleic acid products associated with DNA amplification via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). First, we show how fluorescence-based detection can be incorporated into a portable convective thermocycling system controlled by a smartphone app. Raw images captured by the phone’s camera are processed to yield real-time amplification data comparable to benchtop instruments. Next, we leverage smartphone imaging to achieve label-free detection of PCR products by monitoring changes in electrochemical reactivity of embedded metal electrodes as the target DNA concentration increases during replication. These advancements make it possible to construct rugged inexpensive nucleic acid detection components that can be readily embedded in a variety of portable bioanalysis instruments.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3122, USA

    Aashish Priye & Victor M. Ugaz

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3122, USA

    Victor M. Ugaz

Authors
  1. Aashish Priye
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  2. Victor M. Ugaz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor M. Ugaz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Avraham Rasooly

  2. National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Ben Prickril

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Priye, A., Ugaz, V.M. (2017). Smartphone-Enabled Detection Strategies for Portable PCR–Based Diagnostics. In: Rasooly, A., Prickril, B. (eds) Biosensors and Biodetection. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1571. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6848-0_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6848-0_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6846-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6848-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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