Our small and fast real-time PCR device was selected for the cover of the journal I&EC research
We have developed a complete, stand-alone, and ready-to-use quantitative PCR instrument that can be fabricated from inexpensive and easily available components and that can achieve fast thermal cycling thanks to a hybrid control strategy. The device simple to operated and it can be manufactured with inexpensive, off-the-shelf components at a low price.
We have designed and built a thermal cycler with improved heat transfer and control strategy that uses a novel aluminum sample holder. The reduction of the thermal mass of the sample holder and the direct contact with the sample allow for a significant reduction of the transition times, while the hybrid feedforward/feedback controller can rely on inexpensive components (actuators, sensors, processor) and still achieve minimal over/undershooting and good temperature stability. The design of the device has been improved by performing transient heat conduction analysis on the highly heat-conductive sample holder and on the solid metal body of the device which rapidly dissipates the excess heat produced during the thermal cycling. In the current setup, the sample holder hosts nine 1 μL samples covered with mineral oil, which can be simultaneously read in real time by the detection module designed in-house and installed on the device. An increase in speed of the PCR amplification was achieved with a reduction of the transition time of 63.8% when compared against a commercial real-time PCR machine.
