Multicolor-Assay-on-a-Chip Processed by Robotic Operation (MACpro) with Improved Diagnostic Accuracy for...

Area of Science:

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

Background:

• Decentralized laboratories require autonomous and reliable disease diagnosis for accessible healthcare.
• Microfluidic technologies offer precision but lack automation and versatility for field deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robotic multicolor assay-on-a-chip (MACpro) platform for automated disease diagnosis.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional microfluidic devices in decentralized settings.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a robot-microfluidic interface with an eye-in-hand module for programmable chip manipulation.
• Utilizing microbead-based antibody immobilization and Cu2+-catalyzed plasmonic etching of gold nanorods for multicolor sensing.
• Demonstration using interferon-gamma immunoassay for rapid analyte quantification.

Main Results:

• MACpro platform achieves sample-to-answer immunoassay results within 30 minutes.
• Demonstrated a 10-fold broader dynamic range and a 10-fold lower detection limit compared to standard ELISA.
• Interferon-gamma detection limit of 0.66 pg/mL achieved.

Conclusions:

• MACpro provides an automated solution for disease diagnosis, extending applications beyond laboratories.
• The platform enhances diagnostic capacity in diverse settings, improving public safety.
• MACpro represents a significant advancement in accessible and autonomous healthcare diagnostics.