A Reusable Capillary Flow-Driven Microfluidic System for Abscisic Acid Detection Using a Competitive Immunoassay

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics are vital for rapid agrifood analysis, especially in viticulture for early stress detection.
• Microfluidic devices offer low reagent use and portability, but material hydrophobicity (e.g., PDMS) poses challenges.
• Self-driven microfluidic systems using capillary forces eliminate the need for external pumps, simplifying portable diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reusable, portable, capillary-driven microfluidic platform for rapid, low-cost abscisic acid (ABA) detection.
• To address the limitations of traditional microfluidic materials by using a PDMS-PEG copolymer.
• To enable early detection of drought stress and ripening onset in viticulture.

Main Methods:

• Development of a microfluidic platform using a polydimethylsiloxane-polyethylene glycol (PDMS-PEG) copolymer.
• Implementation of passive fluid transport via capillary-driven sequential flow.
• Integration of a simplified, field-ready sample processing method for grape analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful development of a portable, capillary-driven microfluidic device.
• Demonstrated rapid and low-cost detection of abscisic acid (ABA).
• Enabled precise biological and chemical screenings with passive fluid transport.

Conclusions:

• The PDMS-PEG microfluidic platform offers a reusable and portable solution for ABA detection in viticulture.
• The device facilitates early identification of plant stress and ripening, crucial for crop yield.
• This technology advances field-ready diagnostics for sustainable agriculture.