Fully Integrated and High-Throughput Microfluidic System for Multiplexed Point-Of-Care Testing.
Shunji Li1, Ying Zhang1, Jingxuan Liu1
1The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 28, 2024
Summary
A novel microfluidic system offers rapid, accurate point-of-care diagnostics for epidemics. This portable device enables high-throughput multiplexed immunoassays, improving treatment in resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Background:
- Epidemic prevention and treatment in resource-limited areas face challenges due to inaccessible, expensive, and bulky diagnostic instruments.
- Current analytical techniques require large laboratories and complex equipment, hindering rapid diagnosis and intervention during outbreaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a fully integrated, high-throughput microfluidic system for ultra-multiple point-of-care immunoassays.
- To develop a portable device for automated, precise, and rapid diagnostic testing in resource-limited settings.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Dac system, a handheld portable device automating multi-step reactions like liquid handling, mixing, and discharging.
- Implementation of high-precision enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for simultaneous detection of multiple samples and targets on a single chip.
- Utilized microbubble-accelerated reactions and barcode-based result interpretation for enhanced efficiency and differentiation of similar cases.
Main Results:
- The Dac system performs high-throughput, multiplexed immunoassays for up to 17 samples or targets per chip.
- Achieved significant reduction in reagent consumption (98% less than conventional ELISA) and assay time (more than halved).
- Demonstrated high accuracy (92.38%) in clinical inflammation classification, with excellent quantitative correlation (R² = 0.9838), 100% specificity, and 98.93% sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The proposed Dac system provides a viable solution for accurate, rapid, and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited environments.
- The system's portability, automation, and high throughput enable timely and precise therapeutic interventions during epidemic outbreaks.
- Microfluidic technology offers a promising alternative to conventional bulky instruments for advanced immunoassays.
