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A multiple path photonic lab on a chip for parallel protein concentration measurements
Isaac Rodríguez-Ruiz1, Mayte Conejero-Muriel, Tobias N Ackermann
1Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain. isaac.rodriguez@imb-cnm.csic.es.
Lab on a Chip
|December 25, 2014
Summary
We developed a novel photonic lab on a chip (MPHIL) for precise protein concentration measurement using minimal sample. This system streamlines analysis by requiring only one injection and avoiding standard calibration curves, offering significant advantages over existing methods.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate protein concentration measurement is crucial in biological research and diagnostics.
- Current methods often require large sample volumes and multiple calibration steps.
- Micro-spectrophotometers face limitations in sensitivity and sample volume requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based Multiple Path Photonic Lab on a Chip (MPHIL) system.
- To enable accurate protein concentration measurement with minimal sample volume.
- To overcome limitations of conventional spectrophotometric techniques.
Main Methods:
- Developing a PDMS-based photonic chip enabling multiple optical path lengths.
- Performing simultaneous parallel optical measurements with varying path lengths.
- Utilizing a single injection step for analyte concentration determination.
Main Results:
- MPHIL allows dynamic path length selection for optimal absorbance linearity.
- Significantly reduced sample volume requirements for reliable results.
- Minimized measurement time and reduced risk of contamination and signal drift through single injection.
Conclusions:
- MPHIL offers a more efficient and sensitive approach for protein concentration measurement compared to commercial micro-spectrophotometers.
- The system was successfully validated using various commercial and custom-purified proteins.
- MPHIL is proposed for broad UV-VIS spectrophotometric applications and integration into advanced lab-on-a-chip systems.
