Simultaneous determination of renal function biomarkers in urine using a validated paper-based microfluidic...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomarker Detection
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Renal function is commonly assessed by measuring urine biomarkers like creatinine and uric acid.
• Accurate and accessible quantification methods are crucial for effective diagnosis and monitoring.
• Existing methods can be complex or expensive, limiting widespread use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a paper-based microfluidic analytical device (μPAD) for simultaneous quantification of creatinine (CRN) and uric acid (UA) in urine.
• To provide an inexpensive, simple, and user-friendly colorimetric method for renal function biomarker analysis.
• To optimize the detection method using chemometrics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microfluidic paper device with distinct testing and uptake zones.
• Colorimetric detection of creatinine via the Jaffé reaction.
• Colorimetric detection of uric acid via Fe³⁺ reduction and 1,10-phenanthroline complexation.
• Optimization of reaction conditions using chemometrics.

Main Results:

• The μPAD demonstrated good linear correlations between analyte concentrations and effective intensities.
• Satisfactory repeatability was achieved for both creatinine and uric acid measurements.
• The limits of detection were 15.7 mg/L for CRN and 16.5 mg/L for UA, with linear ranges of 50-600 mg/L and 50-500 mg/L, respectively.
• No statistically significant differences were observed compared to a chromatographic method.

Conclusions:

• The validated μPAD is a reliable and cost-effective tool for simultaneous quantification of urinary creatinine and uric acid.
• This technology offers a promising alternative for point-of-care or resource-limited settings for renal function assessment.
• The developed method is simple, easy to use, and provides accurate results comparable to established techniques.