Surface modification for enhancing antibody binding on polymer-based microfluidic device for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Reducing hepatitis C diagnostic disparities with a fully automated deep learning-enabled microfluidic system for HCV antigen detection

Viral hepatitis remains a major global health issue, with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) causing approximately 1 million deaths annually, primarily due to liver cancer and cirrhosis. More than 1.5 million people contract HCV each year, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). While direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective, timely and accurate HCV diagnosis remains a challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. The current two-step HCV testing process is costly and time-intensive, often leading to patient loss before treatment. Point-of-care (POC) HCV antigen (Ag) testing offers a promising alternative, but no FDA-approved test meets the required sensitivity and specificity. To address this, we developed a fully automated, smartphone-based POC HCV Ag assay using platinum nanoparticles, deep learning image processing, and microfluidics. With an overall accuracy of 94.59%, this cost-effective, portable device has the potential to reduce HCV-related health disparities, particularly among AI/AN populations, improving accessibility and equity in care.

Revolutionizing biocatalysis: A review on innovative design and applications of enzyme-immobilized microfluidic devices

Integrating microfluidic devices and enzymatic processes in biocatalysis is a rapidly advancing field with promising applications. This review explores various facets, including applications, scalability, techno-commercial implications, and environmental consequences. Enzyme-embedded microfluidic devices offer advantages such as compact dimensions, rapid heat transfer, and minimal reagent consumption, especially in pharmaceutical optically pure compound synthesis. Addressing scalability challenges involves strategies for uniform flow distribution and consistent residence time. Incorporation with downstream processing and biocatalytic reactions makes the overall process environmentally friendly. The review navigates challenges related to reaction kinetics, cofactor recycling, and techno-commercial aspects, highlighting cost-effectiveness, safety enhancements, and reduced energy consumption. The potential for automation and commercial-grade infrastructure is discussed, considering initial investments and long-term savings. The incorporation of machine learning in enzyme-embedded microfluidic devices advocates a blend of experimental and in-silico methods for optimization. This comprehensive review examines the advancements and challenges associated with these devices, focusing on their integration with enzyme immobilization techniques, the optimization of process parameters, and the techno-commercial considerations crucial for their widespread implementation. Furthermore, this review offers novel insights into strategies for overcoming limitations such as design complexities, laminar flow challenges, enzyme loading optimization, catalyst fouling, and multi-enzyme immobilization, highlighting the potential for sustainable and efficient enzymatic processes in various industries.

Smartphone-driven centrifugal microfluidics for diagnostics in resource limited settings

The broad availability of smartphones has provided new opportunities to develop less expensive, portable, and integrated point-of-care (POC) platforms. Here, a platform that consists of three main components is introduced: a portable housing, a centrifugal microfluidic disc, and a mobile phone. The mobile phone supplies the electrical power and serves as an analysing system. The low-cost housing made from cardboard serves as a platform to conduct tests. The electrical energy stored in mobile phones was demonstrated to be adequate for spinning a centrifugal disc up to 3000 revolutions per minute (RPM), a rotation speed suitable for majority of centrifugal microfluidics-based assays. For controlling the rotational speed, a combination of magnetic and acoustic tachometry using embedded sensors of the mobile phone was used. Experimentally, the smartphone-based tachometry was proven to be comparable with a standard laser-based tachometer. As a proof of concept, two applications were demonstrated using the portable platform: a colorimetric sandwich immunoassay to detect interleukin-2 (IL-2) having a limit of detection (LOD) of 65.17 ng/mL and a fully automated measurement of hematocrit level integrating blood-plasma separation, imaging, and image analysis that takes less than 5 mins to complete. The low-cost platform weighing less than 150 g and operated by a mobile phone has the potential to meet the REASSURED criteria for advanced diagnostics in resource limited settings.

Controlled Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyesters Based on a Cellulose-Derived Triol Monomer: A Design of Experiment Approach

Regioselective enzymatic polycondensation of the bio-based cellulose derived polyol, Triol-citro, and dimethyl adipate using Candida antarctica Lipase B (CaLB) was investigated. A Design of Experiment approach with MODDE® Pro 13 was used to determine important factors in the branching behavior of this polymer, and reactant ratio, temperature, reaction time and enzyme wt % were the studied factors. Multifunctional polyesters with pendant hydroxy groups were synthesized and fully characterized using 2D NMR techniques to determine degree of branching. Branching was minimal, with a maximum of 16 % observed, and monomer ratio, temperature and reaction time were all determined to be significant factors. In this work, Mn of up to 13 kDa were achieved, while maintaining degree of branching below 15 %, resulting in a linear polyester with the potential to be further functionalized.

Functionalization of Polydimethylsiloxane with Diazirine-Based Linkers for Covalent Protein Immobilization

Biomolecule attachment to solid supports is critical for biomedical devices, such as biosensors and implants. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is commonly used for these applications due to its advantageous properties. To enhance the biomolecule immobilization on PDMS, a novel technique is demonstrated using newly synthesized diazirine molecules for the surface modification of PDMS. This nondestructive process involves a reaction between diazirine molecules and PDMS through C-H insertion with thermal or ultraviolet activation. The success of the PDMS modification is confirmed by various surface characterization techniques. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) are strongly attached to the modified PDMS surfaces, and the amount of protein is quantified using iodine-125 radiolabeling. The results demonstrate that PDMS is rapidly functionalized, and the stability of the immobilized proteins is significantly improved with multiple types of diazirine molecules and activation methods. Confocal microscopy provides three-dimensional images of the distribution of immobilized IgG on the surfaces and the penetration of diazirine-based linkers through the PDMS substrate during the coating process. Overall, this study presents a promising new approach for functionalizing PDMS surfaces to enhance biomolecule immobilization, and its potential applications can extend to multimaterial modifications for various diagnostic and medical applications such as microfluidic devices and immunoassays with relevant bioactive proteins.

Surface modifications of COP-based microfluidic devices for improved immobilisation of hydrogel proteins: long-term 3D culture with contractile cell types and ischaemia model

The tissue microenvironment plays a crucial role in tissue homeostasis and disease progression. However, the in vitro simulation has been limited by the lack of adequate biomimetic models in the last decades. Thanks to the advent of microfluidic technology for cell culture applications, these complex microenvironments can be recreated by combining hydrogels, cells and microfluidic devices. Nevertheless, this advance has several limitations. When cultured in three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels inside microfluidic devices, contractile cells may exert forces that eventually collapse the 3D structure. Disrupting the compartmentalisation creates an obstacle to long-term or highly cell-concentrated assays, which are extremely relevant for multiple applications such as fibrosis or ischaemia. Therefore, we tested surface treatments on cyclic-olefin polymer-based microfluidic devices (COP-MD) to promote the immobilisation of collagen as a 3D matrix protein. Thus, we compared three surface treatments in COP devices for culturing human cardiac fibroblasts (HCF) embedded in collagen hydrogels. We determined the immobilisation efficiency of collagen hydrogel by quantifying the hydrogel transversal area within the devices at the studied time points. Altogether, our results indicated that surface modification with polyacrylic acid photografting (PAA-PG) of COP-MD is the most effective treatment to avoid the quick collapse of collagen hydrogels. As a proof-of-concept experiment, and taking advantage of the low-gas permeability properties of COP-MD, we studied the application of PAA-PG pre-treatment to generate a self-induced ischaemia model. Different necrotic core sizes were developed depending on initial HCF density seeding with no noticeable gel collapse. We conclude that PAA-PG allows long-term culture, gradient generation and necrotic core formation of contractile cell types such as myofibroblasts. This novel approach will pave the way for new relevant in vitro co-culture models where fibroblasts play a key role such as wound healing, tumour microenvironment and ischaemia within microfluidic devices.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using thin-layered microfluidics with perfect capture of the target protein

We developed a process for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on a glass microchip via the use of a thin-layered microfluidic channel. This channel possesses a high aspect ratio (width/depth ∼200) and has an antibody layer immobilized directly on the channel surface. A depth of several microns and an excessive width and length (mm scale) of the channel provide a large-volume capacity (10² nL) and maximum capture efficiency of the analyte for a high level of detection sensitivity (10² pg mL^-1). The developed reusable immunosensor has demonstrated high-performance characteristics by requiring less than 50 μL of sample and providing analysis in less than 25 min. This new method could impact the development of point-of-care devices for biomedical applications.

Recent Progress in Electrochemical Nano-Biosensors for Detection of Pesticides and Mycotoxins in Foods

Pesticide and mycotoxin residues in food are concerning as they are harmful to human health. Traditional methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for such detection lack sensitivity and operation convenience. Efficient, accurate detection approaches are needed. With the recent development of nanotechnology, electrochemical biosensors based on nanomaterials have shown solid ability to detect trace pesticides and mycotoxins quickly and accurately. In this review, English articles about electrochemical biosensors in the past 11 years (2011-2022) were collected from PubMed database, and various nanomaterials are discussed, including noble metal nanomaterials, magnetic metal nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks, carbon nanotubes, as well as graphene and its derivatives. Three main roles of such nanomaterials in the detection process are summarized, including biomolecule immobilization, signal generation, and signal amplification. The detection targets involve two types of pesticides (organophosphorus and carbamate) and six types of mycotoxins (aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisin, ochratoxin A, and patulin). Although significant achievements have been made in the evolution of electrochemical nano-biosensors, many challenges remain to be overcome.

Immobilization of Active Antibodies at Polymer Melt Surfaces during Injection Molding

We demonstrate the transfer and immobilization of active antibodies from a low surface- energy mold surface to thermoplastic replica surfaces using injection molding, and we investigate the process at molecular scale. The transfer process is highly efficient, as verified by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the mold and replica surfaces. AFM analysis reveals partial nanometer-scale embedding of the protein into the polymer matrix as a possible mechanism of permanent immobilization. Replicas with rabbit anti-mouse IgG immobilized as capture antibody at the hot polymer melt surface during injection molding show similar affinity for their antigen (mouse IgG) in sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as capture antibodies deposited by passive adsorption onto a bare thermoplastic replica. The transferred antibodies retain their functionality after incubation in serum-containing cell medium for >1 week. A mold coating time of 10 min prior to injection molding is sufficient for producing highly sensitive ELISA assays, thus enabling the short processing cycle times required for mass production of single-use biodevices relying on active immobilized antibodies.

Bio-functionalization of microfluidic platforms made of thermoplastic materials: A review

As a result of their favorable physical and chemical characteristics, thermoplastics have garnered significant interest in the area of microfluidics. The moldable nature of these inexpensive polymers enables easy fabrication, while their durability and chemical stability allow for resistance to high shear stress conditions and functionalization, respectively. This review provides a comprehensive examination several commonly used thermoplastic polymers in the microfluidics space including poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), cyclic olefin polymer (COP) and copolymer (COC), polycarbonates (PC), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyester. We describe various biofunctionalization strategies applied within thermoplastic microfluidic platforms and their resultant applications. Lastly, emerging technologies with a focus on applying recently developed microfluidic and biofunctionalization strategies into thermoplastic systems are discussed.

Nanomaterial-assisted determination of osteosarcoma by antibody-osteopontin-aptamer sandwich ELISA

Immobilization and detection of small molecules is one of the challenging tasks in any given sensing system as the dissociation equilibrium constant is higher. Generating a right immobilization system with small molecules is mandatory for developing the drug-discovery process and disease identification. Immobilizing smaller probes on the ELISA plate is challenging because of its less adsorption on the polystyrene (PS) substrate. This research work developed an iron nanomaterial-based linker to attach osteopontin-specific aptamer on PS substrate. Iron oxide nanoparticle was attached on PS plate through amine modification and then antibody was attached by COOH reaction. On the osteopontin-modified plate, osteosarcoma biomarker of osteopontin was identified by its specific antibody and aptamer sandwich with the detection limit of 1 nM. Further, biofouling experiments with other molecules, such as lysozyme, and complementary aptamer failed to show the ELISA adsorption signal, indicating the iron oxide nanoparticle-modified PS plate specifically recognizes osteopontin. This research work effectively identifies the lesser abundance of osteopontin and helps to diagnose the osteosarcoma-related problems.

Numerical Modeling for Sensitive and Rapid Molecular Detection by Membrane-Based Immunosensors

Rapid, simple, and sensitive point-of-care testing (POCT) has attracted attention in recent years due to its excellent potential for early disease diagnosis and health monitoring. The flow-through biosensor design is a candidate for POCT that utilizes the small-sized pores of a porous membrane as a recognition space where it emits a signal comparable to that of a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay within 35 min of detection time. In this paper, we present a numerical model for this immunosensing technology to systematically design an improved recognition system. The model considers mass transfer into the pore (convection and diffusion), the kinetics between the immobilized receptor and the target molecule, and the flow conditions, successfully leading to a bottleneck step (capture of secondary antibody) in sandwich-type detection. Our simulation results also show that this problem can be solved by adopting both appropriate receptors and analytical conditions. Eventually, the requirements to achieve the sensitivity required for POCT were fulfilled, which will allow for further development of immunosensing devices for disease detection.

Microfluidic immunoassay for detection of serological antibodies: A potential tool for rapid evaluation of immunity against SARS-CoV-2

In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 became a pandemic affecting more than 200 countries and territories. Millions of lives are still affected because of mandatory quarantines, which hamstring economies and induce panic. Immunology plays a major role in the modern field of medicine, especially against virulent infectious diseases. In this field, neutralizing antibodies are heavily studied because they reflect the level of infection and individuals' immune status, which are essential when considering resumption of work, flight travel, and border entry control. More importantly, it also allows evaluating the antiviral vaccine efficacy as vaccines are still known for being the ultimate intervention method to inhibit the rapid spread of virulent infectious diseases. In this Review, we first introduce the host immune response after the infection of SARS-CoV-2 and discuss the latest results using conventional immunoassays. Next, as an enabling platform for detection with sufficient sensitivity while saving analysis time and sample size, the progress of microfluidic-based immunoassays is discussed and compared based on surface modification, microfluidic kinetics, signal output, signal amplification, sample matrix, and the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Based on the overall comparison, this Review concludes by proposing the future integration of visual quantitative signals on microfluidic devices as a more suitable approach for general use and large-scale surveillance.

Biosensing on the Centrifugal Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Disc Platform

Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) biosensors are increasingly a promising solution for many biosensing applications. In the search for a perfect match between point-of-care (PoC) microfluidic devices and biosensors, the LoaD platform has the potential to be reliable, sensitive, low-cost, and easy-to-use. The present global pandemic draws attention to the importance of rapid sample-to-answer PoC devices for minimising manual intervention and sample manipulation, thus increasing the safety of the health professional while minimising the chances of sample contamination. A biosensor is defined by its ability to measure an analyte by converting a biological binding event to tangible analytical data. With evolving manufacturing processes for both LoaDs and biosensors, it is becoming more feasible to embed biosensors within the platform and/or to pair the microfluidic cartridges with low-cost detection systems. This review considers the basics of the centrifugal microfluidics and describes recent developments in common biosensing methods and novel technologies for fluidic control and automation. Finally, an overview of current devices on the market is provided. This review will guide scientists who want to initiate research in LoaD PoC devices as well as providing valuable reference material to researchers active in the field.

Antibody Conjugate Assembly on Ultrasound-Confined Microcarrier Particles

Bioconjugates are important next-generation drugs and imaging agents. Assembly of these increasingly complex constructs requires precise control over processing conditions, which is a challenge for conventional manual synthesis. This inadequacy has motivated the pursuit of new approaches for efficient, controlled modification of high-molecular-weight biologics such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. We report a novel, hands-free, semiautomated platform for synthetic manipulation of biomolecules using acoustically responsive microparticles as three-dimensional reaction substrates. The microfluidic reactor incorporates a longitudinal acoustic trap that controls the chemical reactions within a localized acoustic field. Forces generated by this field immobilize the microscale substrates against the continuous flow of participating chemical reagents. Thus, the motion of substrates and reactants is decoupled, enabling exquisite control over multistep reaction conditions and providing high-yield, high-purity products with minimal user input. We demonstrate these capabilities by conjugating clinically relevant antibodies with a small molecule. The on-bead synthesis comprises capture of the antibody, coupling of a fluorescent tag, product purification, and product release. Successful capture and modification of a fluorescently labeled antibody are confirmed via fold increases of 49 and 11 in the green (antibody)- and red (small-molecule dye)-channel median intensities determined using flow cytometry. Antibody conjugates assembled on acoustically responsive, ultrasound-confined microparticles exhibit similar quality and quantity to those prepared manually by a skilled technician.

Distance-based paper/PMMA integrated ELISA-chip for quantitative detection of immunoglobulin G

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is one of the most commonly implemented clinical diagnostic tools for the detection and quantification of protein biomarkers. However, conventional ELISA tests require sophisticated infrastructure, expensive reagents, long assay time, and expertise for operation, which are not often easily accessible in resource-limited settings. Microfluidic ELISA-chip based point-of-care (POC) testing allows miniaturization and integration of complex functions that facilitate their usage in limited-resource settings. The current work demonstrates a simple, portable, low cost and equipment-free paper/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) integrated microfluidic ELISA-chip as a POC device with a visual distance-based readout for quantitative detection of clinical biomarkers. The integrated paper/PMMA ELISA-chip utilizes the movement of immunoassay complexes with magnetic beads by a permanent magnet in a PMMA part of the compartment. The target concentration is translated into a visual distance signal readout for quantitative detection of biomarkers in a μPAD. Because it does not require sophisticated instruments and has the added advantages of low cost, easy operation, and disposability with quantitative visual readout, the paper/PMMA ELISA-chip holds great promise for portable detection of target bioanalytes as a POC diagnostic tool in resource-limited setups.

Nonisocyanate Poly(Hydroxyl Urethane)-Based Green Polymer Hybrid Coating Systems: Tailoring of Biomacromolecular Compound Architecture Using APTMS-ZnO/TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanoparticles

Hybrid bionanocomposite coating systems (HBCSs) are green polymer materials consisting of an interface between a coating matrix and nanoparticles. The coating matrix was prepared by using a nonisocyanate poly(hydroxyl urethane) (NIPHU) prepolymer crosslinked via 1,3-diaminopropane and epoxidized Jatropha curcas oil. TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanoparticles (TARC) were prepared from microcrystalline cellulose, and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS)-coated ZnO nanoparticles (APTMS-ZnO) and their suspensions were synthesized separately. The suspensions at different weight ratios were incorporated into the coating matrix to prepare a series of HBCSs. FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, XRD, SEM, and TEM were used to confirm the chemical structures, morphology, and elements of the coating matrix, nanomaterials, and HBCSs. The thermomechanical properties of the HBCSs were investigated by TGA-DTG and pencil hardness analyses. The UV and IR absorption spectra of the HBCSs were obtained using UV-vis spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. The HBCSs exhibited good thermal stability at about 200 °C. The degradation temperature at 5% mass loss of all samples was over around 280 °C. The HBCSs exhibited excellent UV block and IR active properties with a stoichiometric ratio of the NIPHU prepolymer and EJCO of 1:1 (wt/wt) containing 5 wt % TARC and 15 wt % APTMS-ZnO nanoparticles. It was observed that the sample with 5 wt % TARC and 15 wt % APTMS-ZnO (HBCS-2) exhibited a uniform crosslinking and reinforcement network with a T onset of 282 °C. This sample has successfully achieved good coating hardness and excellent UV and IR absorption.

Polymethacrylate Sphere-Based Assay for Ultrasensitive miRNA Detection

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as increasingly important target analytes, their biorecognition remains challenging due to their small size, high sequence homology, and low abundance in clinical samples. Nanospheres and microspheres have also gained increasing attention in biosensor applications due to their high specific surface area and the wide variety of compositions available. In this study, chemically designed and synthesized microspheres with active functional groups were used to promote effective miRNA immobilization resulting in better biorecognition. Upon conjugation with fluorescence-labeled complimentary probes, acylate-based spheres have indirectly detected MiR159, offering significantly enhanced analytical sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy while yielding a considerably low limit of detection (LOD) of 40 picomolar. Furthermore, MiR159 presence, which is known to be inversely correlated to breast cancer incidence and progression, was successfully detected in a competitive assay, which is promising for upgrading the current assay to clinical use.

A microfluidic antibody bioarray for fast detection of human interleukins in low sample volumes

The antibody bioarray is a promising tool for the detection of proteins, which can be used as disease biomarkers. Therefore, we have developed a sandwich immunoassay-type bioarray using a microfluidic method to detect human interleukins that have diagnostic values. In the method development, we studied the effect of different factors that affect capture antibody immobilization, antibody–antigen interactions, and detection methods on the bioarray surface. The fluorescence signal obtained from different detection strategies was compared based on the signal fold-increase. This comparison showed that the use of covalent immobilization of capture antibodies, as opposed to their physical adsorption on the bioarray surface, increases the signal by 1.5 fold. Moreover, the use of protein G to achieve a better oriented immobilized capture antibody has resulted in a more than 3-fold signal enhancement.

A multichannel microchip containing 16 chambers packed with antibody-functionalized beads for immunofluorescence assay

A multichannel chip containing 16 microchambers was developed for fast and sensitive immunoassays. In each chamber, antibody-functionalized nonmagnetic beads were applied as the solid phase to capture target antigens. Four types of IgGs (human, rabbit, chicken, and mouse) could be detected simultaneously by our combining this microchip with a sandwich immunoassay technique. A three-layer chip structure was investigated for integration of multiple processes, including washing, immune reaction, and detection, in one microchip. Moreover, the proposed chip design could improve batch-to-batch repeatability and avoid interferences between different channels without the preparation of complex microvalves. The total operation time of this system was less than 30 min, with a desirable detection limit of 0.2 pg/mL. The results indicate that the microfluidic platform is promising for the immunoassay of multiple clinical biomarkers. Graphical abstract.

Thermally imprinted microcone structure-assisted lateral-flow immunoassay platforms for detecting disease marker proteins

Lateral-flow immunoassay devices, incorporating thermally-imprinted microcone array structures, have been developed for detecting disease marker proteins.

Covalent immobilisation of antibodies in Teflon-FEP microfluidic devices for the sensitive quantification of clinically relevant protein biomarkers

This study reports for the first time the sensitive colorimetric and fluorescence detection of clinically relevant protein biomarkers by sandwich immunoassays using the covalent immobilisation of antibodies onto the fluoropolymer surface inside Teflon®-FEP microfluidic devices. Teflon®-FEP has outstanding optical transparency ideal for high-sensitivity colorimetric and fluorescence bioassays, however this thermoplastic is regarded as chemically inert and very hydrophobic. Covalent immobilisation can offer benefits over passive adsorption to plastic surfaces by allowing better control over antibody density, orientation and analyte binding capacity, and so we tested a range of different and novel covalent immobilisation strategies. We first functionalised the inner surface of a 10-bore, 200 μm internal diameter FEP microcapillary film with high-molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) without changing the outstanding optical transparency of the device delivered by the matched refractive index of FEP and water. Glutaraldehyde immobilisation was compared with the use of photoactivated linkers and NHS-ester crosslinkers for covalently immobilising capture antibodies onto PVOH. Three clinically relevant sandwich ELISAs were tested against the cytokine IL-1β, the myocardial infarct marker cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and the chronic heart failure marker brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Overall, glutaraldehyde immobilisation was effective for BNP assays, but yielded unacceptable background for IL-1β and cTnI assays caused by direct binding of the biotinylated detection antibody to the modified PVOH surface. We found NHS-ester groups reacted with APTES-treated PVOH coated fluoropolymers. This facilitated a novel method for capture antibody immobilisation onto fluoropolymer devices using a bifunctional NHS-maleimide crosslinker. The density of covalently immobilised capture antibodies achieved using PVOH/APTES/NHS/maleimide approached levels seen with passive adsorption, and sensitive and quantitative assay performance was achieved using this method. Overall, the PVOH coating provided an excellent surface for controlled covalent antibody immobilisation onto Teflon®-FEP for performing high-sensitivity immunoassays.

Microdevice-based solid-phase polymerase chain reaction for rapid detection of pathogenic microorganisms

We demonstrate the integration of DNA amplification and detection functionalities developed on a lab-on-a-chip microdevice utilizing solid-phase polymerase chain reaction (SP-PCR) for point-of-need (PON) DNA analyses. First, the polycarbonate microdevice was fabricated by thermal bonding  to contain microchambers as reservoirs for performing SP-PCR. Next, the microchambers were subsequently modified with polyethyleneimine and glutaraldehyde for immobilizing amine-modified forward primers. During SP-PCR, the immobilized forward primers and freely diffusing fluorescence-labeled reverse primers cooperated to generate target amplicons, which remained covalently attached to the microchambers for the fluorescence detection. The SP-PCR microdevice was used for the direct identifications of two widely detected foodborne pathogens, namely Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, and an alga causing harmful algal blooms annually in South Korea, Cochlodinium polykrikoides. The SP-PCR microdevice would be versatilely applied in PON testing as a universal platform for the fast identification of foodborne pathogens and environmentally threatening biogenic targets.

A rapid-response ultrasensitive biosensor for influenza virus detection using antibody modified boron-doped diamond

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 2 billion people each year are infected worldwide with flu-like pathogens including influenza. This is a contagious disease caused by viruses belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Employee absenteeism caused by flu infection costs hundreds of millions of dollars every year. To successfully treat influenza virus infections, detection of the virus during the initial development phase of the infection is critical, when tens to hundreds of virus-associated molecules are present in the patient's pharynx. In this study, we describe a novel universal diamond biosensor, which enables the specific detection of the virus at ultralow concentrations, even before any clinical symptoms arise. A diamond electrode is surface-functionalized with polyclonal anti-M1 antibodies, which then serve to identify the universal biomarker for the influenza virus, M1 protein. The absorption of the M1 protein onto anti-M1 sites of the electrode change its electrochemical impedance spectra. We achieved a limit of detection of 1 fg/ml in saliva buffer for the M1 biomarker, which corresponds to 5-10 viruses per sample in 5 minutes. Furthermore, the universality of the assay was confirmed by analyzing different strains of influenza A virus.

Development of a Multifunctional Nanobiointerface Based on Self-Assembled Fusion-Protein rSbpA/ZZ for Blood Cell Enrichment and Phenotyping

We present a multifunctional nanobiointerface for blood cell capture and phenotyping applications that features both excellent antifouling properties and high antibody activity. Multifunctionality is accomplished by modifying polymeric materials using self-assembled S-layer fusion-protein rSbpA/ZZ to immobilize high density antibodies at the two protein A binding sites of the rSbpA/ZZ nanolattice structure. Controlled orientation and alignment of the antibodies reduced antibody consumption 100-fold and increased cell capture efficiency 4-fold over standard methodologies. Cell analysis in complex samples was made possible by the remarkable antifouling properties of the rSbpA domain, while at the same time reducing unspecific binding and forgoing tedious blocking procedures. An automated microfluidic in situ cell analysis platform for isolation and phenotyping of primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells was developed as practical application. Results obtained using our automated microfluidic cell analysis platform showed that the multifunctional nanobiointerface can discriminate among T helper and cytotoxic T cells, and thymocytes. Additionally, on-chip cell capture under flow conditions using a high affinity CD 3 selective nanobiointerface preferentially isolated cells with strong surface marker expression. This means that our dynamic microfluidic cell purification method allows the enrichment of 773 CD 8 positive cytotoxic T cells out of a total blood cell population of 7728 PBMCs, which is an increase in cell enrichment of 8-fold with a purity of 85%.

Recent advances in microfluidic sample preparation and separation techniques for molecular biomarker analysis: A critical review

Microfluidics is a vibrant and expanding field that has the potential for solving many analytical challenges. Microfluidics show promise to provide rapid, inexpensive, efficient, and portable diagnostic solutions that can be used in resource-limited settings. Researchers have recently reported various microfluidic platforms for biomarker analysis applications. Sample preparation processes like purification, preconcentration and labeling have been characterized on-chip. Additionally, improvements in microfluidic separation techniques have been reported for molecular biomarkers. This review critically evaluates microfluidic sample preparation platforms and separation methods for biomarker analysis reported in the last two years. Key advances in device operation and ability to process different sample matrices in a variety of device materials are highlighted. Finally, current needs and potential future directions for microfluidic device development to realize its full diagnostic potential are discussed.

Polyethylene imine/graphene oxide layer-by-layer surface functionalization for significantly improved limit of detection and binding kinetics of immunoassays on acrylate surfaces

Antibody immobilization on polymeric substrates is a key manufacturing step for microfluidic devices that implement sample-to-answer automation of immunoassays. In this work, a simple and versatile method to bio-functionalize poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), a common material of such "Lab-on-a-Chip" systems, is proposed; using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique, we assemble nanostructured thin films of poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and graphene oxide (GO). The wettability of PMMA surfaces was significantly augmented by the surface treatment with (PEI/GO)₅ film, with an 81% reduction of the contact angle, while the surface roughness increased by 600%, thus clearly enhancing wettability and antibody binding capacity. When applied to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), the limit of detection of PMMA surface was notably improved from 340pgmL^-1 on commercial grade polystyrene (PS) and 230pgmL^-1 on plain PMMA surfaces to 130pgmL^-1 on (PEI/GO)₅ treated PMMA. Furthermore, the accelerated antibody adsorption kinetics on the LbL films of GO allowed to substantially shorten incubation times, e.g. for anti-rat IgG adsorption from 2h down to 15min on conventional and treated surfaces, respectively.

Evaluation of disposable microfluidic chip design for automated and fast Immunoassays

We report here, the design and development of a disposable immunoassay chip for protein biomarker detection within ∼1 h. The unique design allows for real-time dynamic calibration of immunoassay for multiple biomarker detections on the chip. The limit of detection achieved for this test chip is 10 pg/ml for IL6, and 50 pg/ml for GFAP with a detection time of 1 h. The prototype instrument used for flowing the reagents through the chip can be easily assembled from off-the-shelf components with the final chemiluminescent detection carried out in a commercial plate reader. Optimization of different aspects of chip design, fabrication, and assay development is discussed in detail.

A paper/polymer hybrid microfluidic microplate for rapid quantitative detection of multiple disease biomarkers

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is one of the most widely used laboratory disease diagnosis methods. However, performing ELISA in low-resource settings is limited by long incubation time, large volumes of precious reagents, and well-equipped laboratories. Herein, we developed a simple, miniaturized paper/PMMA (poly(methyl methacrylate)) hybrid microfluidic microplate for low-cost, high throughput, and point-of-care (POC) infectious disease diagnosis. The novel use of porous paper in flow-through microwells facilitates rapid antibody/antigen immobilization and efficient washing, avoiding complicated surface modifications. The top reagent delivery channels can simply transfer reagents to multiple microwells thus avoiding repeated manual pipetting and costly robots. Results of colorimetric ELISA can be observed within an hour by the naked eye. Quantitative analysis was achieved by calculating the brightness of images scanned by an office scanner. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) were quantitatively analyzed with good reliability in human serum samples. Without using any specialized equipment, the limits of detection of 1.6 ng/mL for IgG and 1.3 ng/mL for HBsAg were achieved, which were comparable to commercial ELISA kits using specialized equipment. We envisage that this simple POC hybrid microplate can have broad applications in various bioassays, especially in resource-limited settings.

A paper/polymer hybrid microfluidic microplate for rapid quantitative detection of multiple disease biomarkers

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is one of the most widely used laboratory disease diagnosis methods. However, performing ELISA in low-resource settings is limited by long incubation time, large volumes of precious reagents, and well-equipped laboratories. Herein, we developed a simple, miniaturized paper/PMMA (poly(methyl methacrylate)) hybrid microfluidic microplate for low-cost, high throughput, and point-of-care (POC) infectious disease diagnosis. The novel use of porous paper in flow-through microwells facilitates rapid antibody/antigen immobilization and efficient washing, avoiding complicated surface modifications. The top reagent delivery channels can simply transfer reagents to multiple microwells thus avoiding repeated manual pipetting and costly robots. Results of colorimetric ELISA can be observed within an hour by the naked eye. Quantitative analysis was achieved by calculating the brightness of images scanned by an office scanner. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) were quantitatively analyzed with good reliability in human serum samples. Without using any specialized equipment, the limits of detection of 1.6 ng/mL for IgG and 1.3 ng/mL for HBsAg were achieved, which were comparable to commercial ELISA kits using specialized equipment. We envisage that this simple POC hybrid microplate can have broad applications in various bioassays, especially in resource-limited settings.

Dual improvement of DNA-directed antibody immobilization utilizing magnetic fishing and a polyamine coated surface

The magnetic improvement of DNA-directed antibody immobilization in terms of a highly efficient sensing platform for anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen immobilization has been reported.

Biomarker detection for disease diagnosis using cost-effective microfluidic platforms

Early and timely detection of disease biomarkers can prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and drastically decrease the death rate of people suffering from different diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases. Because conventional diagnostic methods have limited application in low-resource settings due to the use of bulky and expensive instrumentation, simple and low-cost point-of-care diagnostic devices for timely and early biomarker diagnosis is the need of the hour, especially in rural areas and developing nations. The microfluidics technology possesses remarkable features for simple, low-cost, and rapid disease diagnosis. There have been significant advances in the development of microfluidic platforms for biomarker detection of diseases. This article reviews recent advances in biomarker detection using cost-effective microfluidic devices for disease diagnosis, with the emphasis on infectious disease and cancer diagnosis in low-resource settings. This review first introduces different microfluidic platforms (e.g. polymer and paper-based microfluidics) used for disease diagnosis, with a brief description of their common fabrication techniques. Then, it highlights various detection strategies for disease biomarker detection using microfluidic platforms, including colorimetric, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, electrochemiluminescence (ECL), and electrochemical detection. Finally, it discusses the current limitations of microfluidic devices for disease biomarker detection and future prospects.

Micro- and nanodevices integrated with biomolecular probes

Understanding how biomolecules, proteins and cells interact with their surroundings and other biological entities has become the fundamental design criterion for most biomedical micro- and nanodevices. Advances in biology, medicine, and nanofabrication technologies complement each other and allow us to engineer new tools based on biomolecules utilized as probes. Engineered micro/nanosystems and biomolecules in nature have remarkably robust compatibility in terms of function, size, and physical properties. This article presents the state of the art in micro- and nanoscale devices designed and fabricated with biomolecular probes as their vital constituents. General design and fabrication concepts are presented and three major platform technologies are highlighted: microcantilevers, micro/nanopillars, and microfluidics. Overview of each technology, typical fabrication details, and application areas are presented by emphasizing significant achievements, current challenges, and future opportunities.

Multiplexed microfluidic blotting of proteins and nucleic acids by parallel, serpentine microchannels

A high-throughput, high-efficiency and straightforward microfluidic blotting method for analyzing proteins and nucleic acids.

Preparation of double emulsions using hybrid polymer/silica particles: new pickering emulsifiers with adjustable surface wettability

A facile route for the preparation of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsions is described for three model oils, namely, n-dodecane, isopropyl myristate, and isononyl isononanoate, using fumed silica particles coated with poly(ethylene imine) (PEI). The surface wettability of such hybrid PEI/silica particles can be systematically adjusted by (i) increasing the adsorbed amount of PEI and (ii) addition of 1-undecanal to the oil phase prior to homogenization. In the absence of this long-chain aldehyde, PEI/silica hybrid particles (PEI/silica mass ratio = 0.50) produce o/w Pickering emulsions in all cases. In the presence of 1-undecanal, this reagent reacts with the primary and secondary amine groups on the PEI chains via Schiff base chemistry, which can render the PEI/silica hybrid particles sufficiently hydrophobic to stabilize w/o Pickering emulsions at 20 °C. Gas chromatography, (1)H NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy provide compelling experimental evidence for this in situ surface reaction, while a significant increase in the water contact angle indicates markedly greater hydrophobic character for the PEI/silica hybrid particles. However, when PEI/silica hybrid particles are prepared using a relatively low adsorbed amount of PEI (PEI/silica mass ratio = 0.075) only o/w Pickering emulsions are obtained, since the extent of surface modification achieved using this Schiff base chemistry is insufficient. Fluorescence microscopy and laser diffraction studies confirm that highly stable w/o/w double emulsions can be achieved for all three model oils. This is achieved by first homogenizing the relatively hydrophobic PEI/silica hybrid particles (PEI/silica mass ratio = 0.50) with an oil containing 3% 1-undecanal to form an initial w/o emulsion, followed by further homogenization using an aqueous dispersion of relatively hydrophilic PEI/silica particles (PEI/silica mass ratio = 0.075). Dye release from the internal aqueous cores into the aqueous continuous phase was monitored by visible absorption spectroscopy. These studies indicate immediate loss of 12-18% dye during the high speed homogenization that is required for double emulsion formation, but no further dye release is observed at 20 °C for at least 15 days thereafter.