DNA Probes for Implementation of Multiple Molecular Computations Using a Lateral Flow Strip Biosensor as the Sensing Platform

A series of advanced logic circuits have been successfully constructed to perform multiple arithmetic functions using a lateral flow strip biosensor as the sensing platform, including half adder, half subtractor, multiplexer, demultiplexer, and keypad lock. In each circuit computing, the computing elements are the DNA probes, which can implement the DNA assembly process to generate the output single-stranded nucleic acid. The strip biosensor is used as the sensing platform to distinguish the output of the logic gates. The distinctive advantage of our proposed biocomputing system is that the logic events can be transformed into the red bands on the test zones, which can be observed by the naked eye. The logic system with convenient operation, rapid response, and cost-effectiveness features will facilitate the portable analysis at ambient temperature without resorting to any instrumentation. The versatility and power of the logic computation demonstrated here indicate its great potential in intelligent point-of-care (POC) disease diagnosis and on-site environmental monitoring.