Thermal Bed Design for Temperature-Controlled DNA Amplification Using Optoelectronic Sensors

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) is a widely used technique for nucleic acid amplification due to its high specificity, sensitivity, and rapid results. Advances in microfluidic lab-on-chip (LOC) technology have enabled the integration of LAMP into miniaturized devices, known as mu-LAMP, which require precise thermal control for optimal DNA amplification. This paper introduces a novel thermal bed design using PCB copper traces and FR-4 dielectric materials, providing a reliable, modular, and repairable heating platform. The system achieves accurate and stable temperature control, which is critical for mu-LAMP applications, with temperature deviations within +/- 1.0 degrees C. The thermal bed's performance is validated through finite element method (FEM) simulations, showing uniform temperature distribution and a rapid thermal response of 2.5 s to reach the target temperature. These results highlight the system's potential for applications such as disease diagnostics, biological safety, and forensic analysis, where precision and reliability are paramount.