Acousto-chip portable lab-on-a-foil platform for rapid plant DNA and RNA extraction, amplification, and detection

Overview

The Acousto-Chip platform is a portable lab-on-a-foil device designed to streamline plant DNA and RNA analysis by integrating three core capabilities into a single workflow: acoustofluidic cell lysis and nucleic acid purification, on-foil isothermal amplification, and machine learning-assisted colorimetric detection. By replacing conventional benchtop extraction kits and PCR thermocyclers with a compact, potentially cell-phone-powered system, the technology targets bottlenecks in agricultural genomics, including turnaround time, equipment cost, and the need for laboratory infrastructure. The platform is being refined to target select genetic inserts and single nucleotide polymorphisms relevant to crop improvement and pathogen detection.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Acoustofluidic lysis and purification: Acoustic sharp-edge structures generate high shear forces to rupture plant cell membranes and release nucleic acids, while acoustic forces manipulate fluids to separate debris and purify target DNA or RNA.
• Lab-on-a-foil amplification: Isothermal methods such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) are performed directly on inexpensive foil substrates, eliminating the need for traditional PCR thermal cycling.
• Colorimetric detection: pH-sensitive assays produce visible color changes that signal amplification without requiring fluorescent instrumentation.
• Machine learning interpretation: Computational models analyze colorimetric readouts to improve accuracy and reduce user-dependent variability.
• Portability: The acoustofluidic components are designed for compact form factors and may ultimately be powered by a mobile phone, supporting field deployment.

Technology readiness level

The underlying acoustofluidic capabilities, including mixing, pumping, particle separation, biofilm removal, and microparticle purification, have been demonstrated in the laboratory. Isothermal LAMP amplification on foil substrates with pH-based colorimetric readouts has also been validated, and machine learning has been applied to colorimetric assay interpretation. The integrated Acousto-Chip platform is currently in a refinement and benchmarking phase, with planned six-month evaluations comparing acoustofluidic extraction against conventional methods and foil-based LAMP against standard PCR. The system is at an early-to-mid stage of development, progressing toward field-ready validation for agricultural and crop science applications.