Microfluidic chip coupled with modified paramagnetic particles for sarcosine isolation in urine

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Oncology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (CaP) is a significant health concern in Europe.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for CaP is crucial for early detection and management.
• Sarcosine (N-methylglycine) has emerged as a potential nonprotein amino acid marker for CaP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a cost-effective, user-friendly, and rapid microfluidic system for sarcosine isolation.
• To utilize modified paramagnetic microparticles for enhanced sarcosine capture.
• To enable subsequent analysis of sarcosine using ion exchange liquid chromatography (LC).

Main Methods:

• Modification of Dowex microparticles with iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles to create paramagnetic microparticles.
• Development of a microfluidic device for sarcosine isolation and determination.
• Integration of modified microparticles within the microfluidic system for sarcosine binding.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed paramagnetic microparticles capable of binding sarcosine.
• Established a functional microfluidic device for sarcosine determination.
• Achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 µM for sarcosine, which is clinically relevant for CaP patients.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic system offers a promising approach for sarcosine detection.
• The system's low cost, simplicity, and rapidity make it suitable for potential clinical applications.
• This technology could aid in the development of new diagnostic tools for prostate cancer.