本研究首次使用了3D列印技術開發了可攜式往復式PCR設備。該設備利用單一Peltier元件建立了PCR所需的三個溫度區域。整個控制系統採用Arduino UNO微控制器，樣品驅動系統則由3D列印物件和雷射切割的壓克力薄板組成，以實現樣品的線性往復運動，進而實現了設備的可攜性設計。

在系統優化後，反應槽從裂解區移動到鋁塊進行冷卻，然後再從黏合區移動回裂解區，以加速樣品溫度的升高。一個熱循環的時間從180秒減少到85秒。採用5毫米厚度的壓克力材料，並將壓克力尾端部配置在空氣中，從而創造出從25°C到40°C的更顯著的溫度差。利用這種往復式PCR設備，我們在50分鐘內完成了30個熱循環，成功放大了219 bp的薑黃DNA PCR產物。

我們開發的PCR設備成本低於300美元，與先前的研究相比，這種研究設備的成本相對較低，設備的總體積相對較小。這項研究有助於從事病毒和細菌感染性疾病的診斷，以及在田野和偏遠地區辨識假冒健康食品。

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This device represents the first demonstration of 3D-printed oscillatory thermocycling within a portable PCR device. This study uses a single Peltier element to create the three temperature regions required for PCR.

 

The overall control system uses an Arduino UNO microcontroller with the advantages of easy development, abundant resources, and easy access to device software design. The sample-driving system integrated with the 3D printed object and the laser-cut acrylic component to achieve the linear reciprocating motion of the sample is conducive to the realisation of the portable design of the device.
 

After system optimisation, the reaction tube moves from the denaturation zone to the aluminum block for cooling, and it moves to the groove of the denaturation zone from the annealing zone to accelerate the rise in the sample temperature. The time duration reduces from 180 seconds to 85 seconds to complete one thermal cycle. Combining the 5 mm instead of 3 mm thickness of the acrylic material and the configuration of the acrylic end exposed in the air creates a more significant temperature difference from 25 °C to 40 °C. Using this oscillatory PCR device, we successfully amplified a 219 bp PCR product of turmeric DNA after 30 thermal cycles within 50 minutes.

The developed PCR device will cost less than USD 300 in our work. Compared with previous works, the cost of this research device is relatively low, and the total volume of the device is relatively small. This work should be interesting to persons involved in diagnosing the infectious diseases of viruses and bacteria and identifying the fake healthy food in the low-cost bioreaction chambers in fields and remote areas.