Highly-efficient microfluidic ultrasonic transducers assisted gDNA extraction system in whole blood for POCT applications

Abstract

In this study, we developed a gDNA extraction method using magnetic beads (MBs) and an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic wave maximizes the effective surface area of MBs and generates vigorous turbulence which were promoted the lysis of the WBCs and the gDNA capturing. In addition, it removes the impurities that may remain in the clusters of MBs due to the aggregation of MBs, thereby increasing the purity of extracted gDNA and increasing the efficiency of gDNA amplification. The vigorous dispersion of MBs by the ultrasonic wave can increase the temperature in the chamber by more than 50℃ in a short time to promote the gDNA elution reaction. From this method, gDNA was extracted successfully with 1 μl of whole blood from six different people, and the quantity of gDNA extracted from 1 μl of whole blood was in the range of 10 to 52 μg/ml. The total extraction time was less than 8 min, which was much faster than the conventional 1.5-tube based method (45 min). © 2020 Elsevier B.V.