PhageBox

PhageBox integrates temperature control and electromagnetic manipulation into digital microfluidic biochips to automate DNA manipulation and viral testing workflows.

Key Features:

• Digital microfluidic extension: Expands droplet-based biochips with additional functional modules for biochemical processing.
• Temperature control module: Provides precise thermal regulation with a validated precision of ±0.2°C for biochemical reactions.
• Electromagnet system: Generates a magnetic force of 15 milliTesla to enable magnetic bead immobilization for sample handling and separation.
• Magnetic bead support: Enables immobilization and manipulation of magnetic beads for sample capture and separation workflows.
• Embedded bio-protocol programming: Implements an embedded software model for customizing and automating laboratory protocols.

Scientific Applications:

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): Provides a standardized framework to perform and control PCR processes on microfluidic biochips.
• T7 bacteriophage restriction enzyme digestion: Enables precise restriction enzyme digestion workflows for T7 bacteriophage samples.
• Concentration of ϕX174 RF genomic DNA: Supports concentration and downstream analysis of ϕX174 RF genomic DNA.
• Magnetic bead–based sample handling: Facilitates magnetic bead immobilization for sample handling and separation in molecular protocols.
• Bacteriophage research and virology protocols: Supports experimental protocols used in bacteriophage research and related viral testing applications.

Methodology:

Embedded software implements a model for bio-protocol programming to automate and customize laboratory protocols.