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Dry Film Photoresist-based Electrochemical Microfluidic Biosensor Platform: Device Fabrication, On-chip Assay Preparation, and System Operation
Published on: September 19, 2017
Capillary-driven toner-based microfluidic devices for clinical diagnostics with colorimetric detection
Fabrício Ribeiro de Souza1, Guilherme Liberato Alves, Wendell Karlos Tomazelli Coltro
1Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Samambaia, P.O. Box 131, 74001-970, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Analytical Chemistry
|October 18, 2012
Summary
This study details the creation of low-cost, toner-based microfluidic devices for clinical diagnostics. These devices utilize capillary action and colorimetric detection for accurate and stable bioassays.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microfluidic devices offer advantages for point-of-care diagnostics.
- Traditional fabrication methods can be expensive and complex.
- Toner-based printing presents a potentially low-cost alternative for microfluidic fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate toner-based microfluidic devices for clinical diagnostics.
- To assess the performance of these devices using colorimetric assays.
- To determine the stability and reliability of the fabricated devices.
Main Methods:
- Microfluidic channels and test zones were designed using graphic software.
- Designs were laser printed onto polyester film and thermally laminated.
- Colorimetric assays for glucose, protein, and cholesterol were performed.
- Device performance was evaluated using a desktop scanner.
Main Results:
- Successful colorimetric detection of glucose, protein, and cholesterol.
- Achieved limits of detection (LD) of 0.3 mg/mL for glucose, 8 mg/mL for protein, and 0.2 mg/mL for cholesterol.
- Demonstrated low inter-device variability with relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 3% for glucose, 6% for protein, and 1% for cholesterol.
- Bioassays showed no loss of activity after five days of storage at various temperatures.
Conclusions:
- Toner-based microfluidic devices are a viable, low-cost platform for clinical diagnostics.
- The fabricated devices exhibit good sensitivity, precision, and stability.
- This fabrication method holds promise for accessible point-of-care testing.
