Development and validation of a portable device for lab-free versatile nucleic acid extraction

Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has revolutionized diagnostics by providing precise, rapid, and scalable detection methods for diverse biological samples. These recent advancements satisfy the increasing demand for on-site diagnostics, yet sample preparation remains a significant bottleneck for achieving highly sensitive diagnostic assays. There is an unmet need for compatible, efficient, and lab-free sample preparation for point-of-care NAT. To address this, we developed a portable, lab-free, and battery-powered device for extracting nucleic acids. We explored using low centrifugal forces with existing commercial chemistry, demonstrating excellent performance. We designed and tested a battery-powered device to enable lab-free extractions, and verified reagents stored out to 6 months, suggesting exceptional deployment capabilities. We evaluated our device, comparing our results against those from a benchtop centrifuge across three types of samples: HIV RNA in buffer, HIV RNA in plasma, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in saliva. The portable device demonstrated excellent agreement with the benchtop centrifuge, indicating high reliability. By providing an effective on-site sample preparation solution, the widespread adoption of low centrifugal extractions will improve the sensitivity and reliability of NAT and will positively impact other point-of-care technologies such as next generation sequencing (NGS), biomarker detection, and environmental monitoring. This method utilizes a low-power, portable centrifuge to significantly improve the deployment of nucleic acid extractions. As a result, this method offers comparable extraction performance to benchtop devices while offering superior portability and ease of use. Minimizing centrifugal force allows for reliable nucleic acid extraction from a low-power device. Our approach is simple and uses low-cost electronics, presenting high potential for clinical preparation of RNA in field settings. Sample preparation continues to be a major bottleneck for sensitive diagnostic assays.We developed a portable, lab-free, and battery-powered device for extracting nucleic acids.We demonstrated that a commercial extraction kit could be processed at low centrifugal forces, enabling point-of-care development.We designed a battery-powered, semi-automated centrifuge that rivaled a benchtop centrifuge in performance and efficiency.Reagents remained stable for 6 months and extractions were robust without carrier RNA.Our device offers an effective on-site sample preparation solution that enhances NAT sensitivity and reliability while maintaining compatibility with commercial chemistry.Consequently, our portable centrifuge is well-positioned to impact other point-of-care applications like NGS, biomarker detection, and environmental monitoring. Sample preparation continues to be a major bottleneck for sensitive diagnostic assays. We developed a portable, lab-free, and battery-powered device for extracting nucleic acids. We demonstrated that a commercial extraction kit could be processed at low centrifugal forces, enabling point-of-care development. We designed a battery-powered, semi-automated centrifuge that rivaled a benchtop centrifuge in performance and efficiency. Reagents remained stable for 6 months and extractions were robust without carrier RNA. Our device offers an effective on-site sample preparation solution that enhances NAT sensitivity and reliability while maintaining compatibility with commercial chemistry. Consequently, our portable centrifuge is well-positioned to impact other point-of-care applications like NGS, biomarker detection, and environmental monitoring.核酸检测（Nucleic acid testing, NAT）通过为多样生物样本提供精准、快速且可规模化的检测方法，革新了诊断领域。近年来的技术进展满足了即时诊断日益增长的需求，但样本制备仍是实现高灵敏度诊断检测的关键瓶颈。当前，即时检测（point-of-care）场景下的核酸检测仍存在未被满足的需求：亟需兼容、高效且无需实验室环境的样本制备方案。为解决这一问题，我们开发了一款便携式、免实验室且由电池供电的核酸提取设备。我们探索了将低离心力与现有商用化学试剂结合的方案，展现出优异的检测性能。我们设计并测试了一款可实现免实验室提取的电池供电设备，并验证了试剂可稳定储存长达6个月，这表明该设备具备极佳的部署能力。我们对该设备进行了评估，将其检测结果与台式离心机（benchtop centrifuge）的结果进行对比，测试样本涵盖三类：缓冲液中的HIV RNA、血浆中的HIV RNA以及唾液中的SARS-CoV-2 RNA。结果显示，便携式设备与台式离心机的检测结果一致性极佳，表明其具备高可靠性。通过提供高效的现场样本制备方案，低离心力提取技术的广泛应用将提升核酸检测的灵敏度与可靠性，并对下一代测序（next generation sequencing, NGS）、生物标志物检测及环境监测等其他即时检测技术产生积极影响。本方案采用低功率便携式离心机，大幅提升了核酸提取技术的部署可行性。综上，本方案与台式设备的提取性能相当，同时具备更优异的便携性与易用性。低离心力的应用使得低功率设备即可实现可靠的核酸提取。我们的方法操作简便，仅使用低成本电子元件，在现场环境下的RNA临床制备中展现出极高的应用潜力。 样本制备仍是高灵敏度诊断检测的关键瓶颈。我们开发了一款便携式、免实验室且由电池供电的核酸提取设备。我们验证了商用提取试剂盒可在低离心力条件下完成处理，从而推动即时检测技术的发展。我们设计了一款电池供电的半自动离心机，其性能与效率可媲美台式离心机。试剂可稳定储存6个月，且无需载体RNA（carrier RNA）即可实现稳定可靠的提取。我们的设备提供了高效的现场样本制备方案，在提升核酸检测灵敏度与可靠性的同时，保持了与商用化学试剂的兼容性。因此，我们的便携式离心机有望对NGS、生物标志物检测及环境监测等其他即时检测应用产生深远影响。 样本制备仍是高灵敏度诊断检测的关键瓶颈。我们开发了一款便携式、免实验室且由电池供电的核酸提取设备。我们验证了商用提取试剂盒可在低离心力条件下完成处理，从而推动即时检测技术的发展。我们设计了一款电池供电的半自动离心机，其性能与效率可媲美台式离心机。试剂可稳定储存6个月，且无需载体RNA（carrier RNA）即可实现稳定可靠的提取。我们的设备提供了高效的现场样本制备方案，在提升核酸检测灵敏度与可靠性的同时，保持了与商用化学试剂的兼容性。因此，我们的便携式离心机有望对NGS、生物标志物检测及环境监测等其他即时检测应用产生深远影响。