DIYNAFLUOR: The $60 device bringing DNA science anywhere

A low-cost, 3D-printed DNA testing device developed at The University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) is making powerful science more accessible for researchers and students around the world.

Designed by AIBN Industry Research Fellow Dr Will Anderson, the DIYNAFLUOR (Do-It-Yourself Nucleic Acid Fluorometer), is a $60 fluorometer that can measure the amount of DNA in biological sample – at a fraction of the thousands of dollars typically required for commercial instruments.

Dr Anderson, a long-time enthusiast of 3D-printing developed the device while working as an adjunct research fellow within the AIBN, after realising how expensive commercial fluorometers were for his own experiments.

“I’ve always loved 3D printing and have used it extensively for rapid prototyping in my own research focused on diagnostic device design,” he said.

“While working on DNA-based diagnostics, I challenged myself to make one as cheaply as possible.

“It took about a month of trial and error to get the design right and ensure it was both easy to print and met the sensitivity and accuracy requirements expected by molecular biologists.

“Once I knew it worked, and worked well, I realised how helpful it would be for others.”

Since then, DIYNAFLUOR has evolved into a fully open-source project, with all design files and build instructions freely available online for download. It can be printed using a standard desktop 3D printer and assembled in under a day from off-the-shelf electronic components without the need for soldering.

“I wanted to make something that anyone could access - whether you’re a researcher in a resource-limited lab or a student just starting out,” Dr Anderson said.

“That’s why I designed it to be simple. You don’t need any specialised tools - just access to a basic 3D printer, a screwdriver, an Allen key, and two hands.

“You can print it, build it, and have it up and running in under a day.”

Dr Anderson credits his success to the support of other researchers within the AIBN, including Dr Fiach Antaw from the Trau Group, who developed the open-source software that powers DIYNAFLUOR.

Despite its simplicity, DIYNAFLUOR matches the core capability of commercial fluorometers - a crucial quality control step for applications like low-cost nanopore DNA sequencing, which is used for analysing environmental DNA for biodiversity studies and detecting new variants in viral outbreaks.

Since releasing the design as open source, Dr Anderson has received feedback from researchers around the world who are already building and testing the device in their own environments.

“One of the researchers who lead the program to establish nanopore sequencing as a remote monitoring tool during the 2016 Ebola outbreak - got in touch to say he’s built a couple to assess for their portable “lab in a suitcase” program,” Dr Anderson said.

“You don’t always want to risk thousands of dollars’ worth of gear in rugged environments. With DIYNAFLUOR, you don’t have to and will still get the data you need.

“That kind of response is incredibly encouraging as it shows there’s a real need for simple, affordable tools like this.”

The device’s low cost and ease of use have also made it a hit in the classroom, with Year 10 students from Kingaroy State High School recently building and using their own DIYNAFLUORs as part of an AIBN outreach program.

“They weren’t just doing chemistry, they were building a working scientific tool - tightening screws, connecting wires, and running real experiments,” Dr Anderson said.

“It was a full STEM experience, with engineering, electronics, biology, and data analysis all in one, and it shows how hands-on science like this can spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists.”

Dr Anderson hopes the device will continue to support STEM program in schools, remote labs, and community research projects around the world.

“This project is about making science more accessible,” he said. “It’s about showing that we can design and share tools that have real impact and get them into the hands of the people who need them most.”

“DIYNAFLUOR is an affordable DNA analysis tool, that you can make!”

Find the DIYNAFLOUR design ready to download via GitHUB here: GitHub - traulab/DIYNAFLUOR: Code, 3D Print Files, BOM and Build Instructions for the DIYNAFLUOR DNA Fluorometer.

The design’s preprint is available here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.16.626200v1