High-throughput screening of bladder cancer exosome biomarkers by barcodes integrated herringbone microfluidics

Bladder cancer (BC) ranks among the most prevalent urological malignancieswith high mortality, driving an urgent need for efficient, non-invasive diagnostic methods. In this work, we developed an integrated microfluidic platform that combines herringbone mixers with photonic crystal (PhC)-encoded, core-shell hydrogel microcarriers for efficient exosome enrichment and multiplexed biomarker detection. The core-shell hydrogel microcarriersoffer stable structural color barcoding immune to assay conditions and a substantiallyexpanded surface area for enhanced sensitivity. Concurrently, the herringbone structures generate controlled microturbulence, significantly improving fluid mixing and extending target-probe contact time. By employing this platform to profile a panel of six proteomic biomarkers derived from bladder cancer exosomes, we demonstrate efficient high-throughput analysisof urinary exosomal signatures. The platform thus shows excellent diagnostic performance, offering a promising approach for the early detection and monitoring of BC in clinical practice.