School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2024 May 2;19(5):e0298857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298857. eCollection 2024.
High-cost DNA extraction procedures pose significant challenges for budget-constrained laboratories. To address this, we introduce OpenCell, an economical, open-source, 3-in-1 laboratory device that combines the functionalities of a bead homogenizer, a microcentrifuge, and a vortex mixer. OpenCell utilizes modular attachments that magnetically connect to a central rotating brushless motor. This motor couples to an epicyclic gearing mechanism, enabling efficient bead homogenization, vortex mixing, and centrifugation within one compact unit. OpenCell's design incorporates multiple redundant safety features, ensuring both the device's and operator's safety. Additional features such as RPM measurement, programmable timers, battery operation, and optional speed control make OpenCell a reliable and reproducible laboratory instrument. In our study, OpenCell successfully isolated DNA from Spinacia oleracea (spinach), with an average yield of 2.3 μg and an A260/A280 ratio of 1.77, demonstrating its effectiveness for downstream applications such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification. With its compact size (20 cm x 28 cm x 6.7 cm) and lightweight design (0.8 kg), comparable to the size and weight of a laptop, OpenCell is portable, making it an attractive component of a 'lab-in-a-backpack' for resource-constrained environments in low-and-middle-income countries and synthetic biology in remote field stations. Leveraging the accessibility of 3D printing and off-the-shelf components, OpenCell can be manufactured and assembled at a low unit cost of less than $50, providing an affordable alternative to expensive laboratory equipment costing over $4000. OpenCell aims to overcome the barriers to entry in synthetic biology research and contribute to the growing collection of frugal and open hardware.
高通量 DNA 提取程序对预算有限的实验室构成了重大挑战。为了解决这个问题，我们引入了 OpenCell，这是一种经济实惠、开源的三合一实验室设备，结合了珠磨均质器、微量离心机和涡旋混合器的功能。OpenCell 使用磁性连接到中央旋转无刷电机的模块化附件。该电机与行星齿轮机构耦合，可在一个紧凑的单元内实现高效的珠磨均质、涡旋混合和离心。OpenCell 的设计采用了多种冗余安全特性，确保设备和操作人员的安全。其他功能，如 RPM 测量、可编程定时器、电池操作和可选的速度控制，使 OpenCell 成为一种可靠且可重复的实验室仪器。在我们的研究中，OpenCell 成功地从 Spinacia oleracea（菠菜）中分离出 DNA，平均产量为 2.3μg，A260/A280 比值为 1.77，证明其适用于下游应用，如聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增。OpenCell 的尺寸紧凑（20cm×28cm×6.7cm），重量轻（0.8kg），与笔记本电脑的尺寸和重量相当，便于携带，因此是资源有限的中低收入国家和偏远野外站的合成生物学中“背包实验室”的理想组件。OpenCell 利用 3D 打印和现成组件的可及性，可以以低于 50 美元的单位成本进行制造和组装，为价格超过 4000 美元的昂贵实验室设备提供了一种经济实惠的替代方案。OpenCell 旨在克服合成生物学研究的进入壁垒，并为不断增长的节俭和开放硬件收藏做出贡献。
