Rapid microbead-based DNA detection using dielectrophoresis and impedance measurement

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful tool for diagnostic procedures in bacterial and viral infections. The authors propose a new electrical technique for rapid detection of DNA amplified by PCR using dielectrophoresis (DEP) of microbeads. The method is based on dramatic alteration of DEP characteristics of microbeads caused by DNA labeling. DNA-labeled microbeads are trapped on a microelectrode under the action of positive DEP, whereas pristine ones are not. DEP-trapped microbeads are measured impedimetrically to realize rapid and quantitative detection of the amplified DNA. The validity of the proposed method was demonstrated by detection of PCR-amplified DNA of viruses.