Color-encoded multicompartmental hydrogel microspheres for multiplexed bioassays

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microfluidics
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Multiplexed bioassays require robust and reliable detection platforms.
• Existing methods face challenges in stable color encoding and component separation within assay particles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop color-encoded multicompartmental hydrogel microspheres for advanced multiplexed bioassays.
• To achieve stable pigment incorporation and functional component distribution for enhanced assay performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a drop-based microfluidic approach to create triple emulsion drops with sacrificial oil layers.
• Formed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) multi-compartmental core-shell microspheres via photopolymerization.
• Incorporated pigments in the core and fluorescent labels in the shell, followed by one-pot conjugation with affinity peptides.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated stable, color-encoded hydrogel microspheres with retained pigments and non-leaking properties.
• Achieved consistent distribution of functional components in shell compartments without core contamination.
• Demonstrated highly sensitive and selective detection of influenza virus H1N1 and H5N1 antigens with low detection limits (0.18 nM and 0.66 nM, respectively).

Conclusions:

• The developed color-encoded multicompartmental hydrogel microspheres offer a promising platform for sensitive and selective multiplexed bioassays.
• This technology has significant potential for clinical diagnostics, particularly for viral antigen detection.
• The approach paves the way for broader applications in various multiplexed assay formats.