A simple microfluidic aggregation analyzer for the specific, sensitive and multiplexed quantification of proteins in...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Portable and low-cost protein biomarker detection is crucial for point-of-care applications.
• Current methods often require complex instrumentation or large sample volumes.
• There is a need for rapid, sensitive, and user-friendly diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a simple microfluidic device for rapid, electrically-based protein detection in serum.
• To develop a portable and low-cost platform for biomarker quantification.
• To enable multiplexed detection of multiple protein biomarkers simultaneously.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a microfluidic device for protein-induced aggregation of sub-micron particles.
• Employed a particle-by-particle measurement technique with a high count rate for quantification.
• Used unprocessed human serum and a disposable device, avoiding optical components.
• Demonstrated multiplexing by using differently sized latex beads for simultaneous detection of two proteins.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid and precise quantification of C-Reactive protein levels in the clinically relevant range.
• Required only a small serum volume (~50 nL) due to single particle detection and microfluidics.
• Successfully demonstrated simultaneous detection of two different proteins with minimal cross-interference.
• Validated the platform's capability for multiplexed biomarker detection in a serum environment.

Conclusions:

• The developed aggregation analyzer offers a simple, rapid, and precise method for protein biomarker detection.
• The portable and low-cost design makes it suitable for point-of-care applications.
• The platform's multiplexing capability allows for simultaneous analysis of multiple biomarkers, enhancing diagnostic potential.