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Fabrication of Three-dimensional Paper-based Microfluidic Devices for Immunoassays
Published on: March 9, 2017
16.5K
Sliding-strip microfluidic device enables ELISA on paper.
Mohit S Verma1, Maria-Nefeli Tsaloglou2, Tyler Sisley1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|July 25, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a low-cost, 3D microfluidic paper device for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). It accurately detects C-reactive protein (CRP) in diluted blood, offering a potential pre-screening tool for inflammatory diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Background:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are crucial for disease diagnosis.
- Traditional ELISA methods can be complex and require specialized equipment.
- There is a need for accessible and affordable diagnostic tools, especially in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel 3D microfluidic paper-based analytical device for performing ELISA.
- To assess the device's capability in detecting C-reactive protein (CRP), a key inflammatory biomarker.
- To evaluate the device's performance and cost-effectiveness for potential use as a pre-screening tool.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a two-part 3D microfluidic paper device with a sliding strip for sensing and a surrounding structure for reagent storage and fluid distribution.
- Performing ELISA by adding sample and water, manipulating the sliding strip, and analyzing colorimetric results.
- Quantifying C-reactive protein (CRP) in diluted blood samples and calculating diagnostic accuracy using receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves.
Main Results:
- The device successfully detected CRP in 1000-fold diluted blood within a concentration range of 1-100 ng/mL.
- The device achieved high accuracy, with area under the ROC curve values of 89% and 83% for specific CRP cut-offs.
- The cost of a kit containing the device is estimated at ~$0.50 per unit for large-scale production, making it highly cost-effective.
Conclusions:
- The 3D microfluidic paper-based ELISA device is a viable, accurate, and cost-effective tool for detecting CRP.
- This technology holds significant potential as a pre-screening tool for inflammatory conditions in resource-limited settings.
- The device simplifies ELISA procedures, enabling visual or scanner-based analysis of results.
