Recent advances utilizing convergence of knowledge (science and engineering) in the field of biological applications have brought about the development of tools for the downstream analysis of genetic and epigenetic variants of genes, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time (RT)-PCR, microarray and next-generation sequencing 1, 2, 3, 4. We validated the DTS procedure for the extraction of DNA from human body fluids, as well as confirmed that the quality and quantity of the extracted DNA were sufficient to allow robust detection of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in downstream analysis.

Specifically, the DTS procedure does not require a centrifuge and has improved time efficiency (30 min), affordability and sensitivity in downstream analysis. This procedure is useful for the extraction of DNA from a variety of sources, including 6 eukaryotic cells, 6 bacteria cells and 2 body fluids in a single step. Here, we first report a versatile Dimethyl adipimidate/ Thin film based Sample processing (DTS) procedure without the limitations of existing methods. However, existing methods still have major problems, including labor-intensive time-consuming methods and high costs, as well as requirements for a centrifuge and the complex fabrication of filters and membranes. Sample processing, especially that involving nucleic acid extraction, is a prerequisite step for the isolation of high quantities of relatively pure DNA for downstream analyses in many life science and biomedical engineering studies.

Enspire sample