Microfluidic sonicator for real-time disruption of eukaryotic cells and bacterial spores for DNA analysis.

Biologic agent screening is a three-step process: lysis of host cell membranes or walls to release their DNA, polymerase chain reaction to amplify the genetic material and screening for distinguishing genetic signatures. Macrofluidic devices commonly use sonication as a lysis method. Here, we present a piezoelectric microfluidic minisonicator and test its performance.