An automated and portable microfluidic chemiluminescence immunoassay for quantitative detection of biomarkers

Abstract

Microfluidic platforms capable of automated, rapid, sensitive, and quantitative detection of biomarkers from patient samples could make a major impact on clinical or point-of-care (POC) diagnosis. In this work, we realize an automated diagnostic platform composed of two main components: (1) a disposable, self-contained, and integrated microfluidic chip and (2) a portable instrument that carries out completely automated operations. To demonstrate its potential for real-world application, we use injection molding for mass fabrication of the main components of disposable microfluidic chips. The assembled three-layered chip with on-chip mechanical valves for fluid control consists of (1) a top silicone fluidic layer with embedded zigzag microchannels, reagent reservoirs and a negative pressure port, (2) a middle tinfoil layer with patterned antibody/antigen stripes, and (3) a bottom silicone substrate layer with waste reservoirs. The versatility of the microfluidics-based system is demonstrated by implementation of a chemiluminescence immunoassay for quantitative detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) and testosterone in real clinical samples. This lab-on-a-chip platform with features of quantitation, portability and automation provides a promising strategy for POC diagnosis.

Microfluidics for Biomedical Analysis

“…The sandwiched chip consists of a top fluidic layer embedded with zigzag channels, a middle tinfoil layer prepatterned with protein stripes, and a bottom substrate layer with two waste chambers. The fluid actuation within the chip was simultaneously controlled by a set of mechanical valves and the portable instrument ( Figure a) . With this automated system, we quantitatively detected CRP, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), insulin, and osteocalcin in real clinical samples with high sensitivity and excellent reproducibility (Figure b) .…”

“…Right: The portable instrument includes a CCD camera, lens, a reflector, a circuit board, a peristaltic pump, a valve actuator, and a negative pressure connector. Adapted with permission . Copyright 2017, The Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

New advances in microfluidic flow cytometry

“…There are many other optical‐based detection techniques used in microfluidic devices including chemiluminescence , TL detection , surface plasma resonance detection , and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection . Although these techniques are sensitive, they are not suitable to be used in the microfluidic flow cytometry due to their detection mechanism.…”

Futuristic biosensors for cardiac health care: an artificial intelligence approach

“…4 . For quantitative detection of CRP, a microfluidic-based system is established by the implementation of a chemiluminescence immunoassay (Hu et al 2017 ). This microfluidic-based LOC platform with features of portability, quantitation, and automation establishes a significant strategy for POC diagnosis.…”