A 3D-Printed Do-It-Yourself ELISA Plate Reader as a Biosensor Tested on TNFα Assay.

Area of Science:

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

Background:

• Simple analytical devices are needed for laboratory diagnoses outside traditional hospital settings.
• Existing methods like ELISA can be complex and require specialized equipment.
• There is a demand for accessible, reproducible diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct an easily reproducible, do-it-yourself (DIY) ELISA plate reader biosensor.
• To utilize a smartphone camera as a detector for a colorimetric biosensor.
• To demonstrate the device's utility in assaying immune-chemical markers, using TNFα as a model.

Main Methods:

• Assembly of a biosensor using standard 96-well microplates, 3D-printed components, and a smartphone camera.
• Development of a colorimetric assay for TNFα detection.
• Calibration using the B channel of the RGB color model for quantitative analysis.

Main Results:

• The developed biosensor achieved a limit of detection of 19 pg/mL for TNFα.
• The assay demonstrated good correlation with the established ELISA method.
• No significant matrix effects or interference from common biological sample proteins were observed.

Conclusions:

• The DIY ELISA plate reader biosensor is a viable, low-cost alternative for detecting immune-chemical markers.
• 3D printing facilitates the easy reproduction of these analytical devices.
• The technology holds promise for decentralized laboratory diagnostics and point-of-care testing.