Microfluidic immunosensor with integrated liquid core waveguides for sensitive Mie scattering detection of avian...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Physics
• Veterinary Diagnostics

Background:

• Avian influenza (AI) poses a significant threat to poultry health and global food security.
• Rapid and sensitive detection of AI viral antigens is crucial for effective disease control.
• Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming and require specialized laboratory equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a microfluidic device for rapid and sensitive detection of avian influenza (AI) viral antigens.
• To utilize integrated liquid core optical waveguides for measuring immunoagglutination-induced light scattering.
• To establish a robust platform for point-of-care disease diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Mie scattering simulations were performed to optimize waveguide geometry for enhanced scattering efficiency.
• A microfluidic device integrated with liquid core optical waveguides was fabricated.
• On-chip diffusional mixing of AI antigens and assay reagents was employed for real-time monitoring of light scattering.

Main Results:

• The developed device achieved a low detection limit of 1 pg mL(-1) for AI viral antigens.
• Detection was demonstrated in both clean buffer and a real biological matrix (chicken feces).
• The assay provided results in less than 2 minutes, indicating rapid detection capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The integrated optical waveguide microfluidic device enables rapid and highly sensitive detection of AI viral antigens.
• The technology shows promise for point-of-care diagnostics, adaptable for detecting various biological molecules.
• This approach offers a significant advancement for veterinary disease surveillance and management.