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Programmable Microfluidic Synthesis of Over One Thousand Uniquely Identifiable Spectral Codes
H Q Nguyen1, B C Baxter1, K Brower2
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158-2517, USA.
Advanced Optical Materials
|September 23, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed Microspheres with Ratiometric Barcode Lanthanide Encoding (MRBLEs), enabling over 1,000 unique spectral codes. This breakthrough significantly advances multiplexed assays for high-throughput biological applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Encoded microparticles are vital for high-throughput sample tracking and biological multiplexing.
- Spectral encoding offers flexibility but has been limited by the number of resolvable codes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced spectral encoding scheme for microparticles.
- To significantly increase the number of unique codes available for multiplexed assays.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 5-dimensional spectral encoding scheme with lanthanide nanophosphors.
- Developed an automated system to produce isotropic spherical microparticles.
- Created a quantitative framework to evaluate code distinguishability.
Main Results:
- Generated MRBLEs (Microspheres with Ratiometric Barcode Lanthanide Encoding) with up to 1,100 unique codes.
- Achieved >98% accurate code assignment for MRBLE sets ranging from 106 to 1,101 codes.
- Demonstrated >99.99% confidence in code assignment.
Conclusions:
- The developed MRBLEs represent the largest spectral code libraries to date.
- This technology significantly expands the possibilities for multiplexed assays.
- MRBLEs are poised to enable novel applications in biological research and diagnostics.
