Advances in digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) and its emerging biomedical applications

作者：Cao, Lei; Cui, Xingye; Hu, Jie; Li, Zedong; Choi, Jane Ru; Yang, Qingzhen; Lin, Min; Ying HuiLi; Xu, Feng^*

来源：Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2017, 90: 459-474.

DOI：10.1016/j.bios.2016.09.082

• Deoxyribonucleic acid
• Absolute quantification
• Digital PCR
• Droplet
• Microwell
• Microfluidics
• Beads

Since the invention of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 1985, PCR has played a significant role in molecular diagnostics for genetic diseases, pathogens, oncogenes and forensic identification. In the past three decades, PCR has evolved from end-point PCR, through real-time PCR, to its current version, which is the absolute quantitive digital PCR (dPCR). In this review, we first discuss the principles of all key steps of dPCR, i.e., sample dispersion, amplification, and quantification, covering commercialized apparatuses and other devices still under lab development. We highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies based on these steps, and discuss the emerging biomedical applications of dPCR. Finally, we provide a glimpse of the existing challenges and future perspectives for dPCR.

• 出版日期2017-4-15
• 单位西安交通大学; 中国航天员科研训练中心