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Charged-coupled device (CCD) detectors for Lab-on-a Chip (LOC) optical analysis.
Avraham Rasooly1, Yordan Kostov, Hugh A Bruck
1Division of Biology, Office of Science and Engineering, FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Silver Spring, MD, USA. rasoolya@mail.nih.gov
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|January 19, 2013
Summary
A low-cost, portable charged-coupled device (CCD) detector enhances Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) biodetection for point-of-care diagnostics. This system offers versatile optical detection, improving healthcare accessibility globally.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Optical Detection
Background:
- Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices are crucial for biodetection, but enhancing portability and reducing costs for point-of-care diagnostics remains a challenge.
- Optical detection methods are widely employed in LOC devices for biodetection, offering sensitivity and versatility.
- Improving healthcare delivery for underserved populations globally necessitates accessible and affordable diagnostic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a simple, low-cost charged-coupled device (CCD)-based detector for integration with LOC devices and microtiter plates.
- To demonstrate the detector's capability for various optical detection modalities, including fluorescence, chemiluminescence, densitometry, and colorimetric assays.
- To develop a portable, battery-operated system for enhanced point-of-care biodetection.
Main Methods:
- A portable, battery-operated CCD detection system comprising a cooled CCD camera, LOC or microtiter plate, light source (LED/EL), and portable computer was designed.
- The system was configured for fluorescence detection, measuring excitation at 490 nm and emission at 523 nm for FITC-labeled botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT-A) detection.
- The LOC device was fabricated using laminated object manufacturing (LOM) technology for BoNT-A detection with a fluorogenic substrate.
Main Results:
- The CCD detector achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 nM (25 ng/ml) for BoNT-A.
- The portable system is compact, powered by a 12 V source, and designed for modularity with interchangeable components.
- The system demonstrated adaptability for various optical detection modalities, including fluorescence, densitometry, and colorimetric assays.
Conclusions:
- The developed portable CCD-based detector offers a simple, low-cost solution for enhancing LOC biodetection.
- This system has significant potential for point-of-care diagnostics, improving healthcare accessibility and quality.
- The modular design allows for broad applicability across diverse optical assay formats.
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