Highly sensitive fluorescence detection system for microfluidic lab-on-a-chip

Abstract

We demonstrate a compact, low cost and practical fluorescence detection system for lab-on-a-chip applications. The system comprises a commercially available InGaN light emitting diode (501 nm) as light source, an organic or silicon photodiode detector, absorptive dye coated colour filters and linear and reflective polarisers. An injection moulded polystyrene microfluidic chip is used as the platform for fluorescence immunoassays for cardiac markers myoglobin and CK-MB. The optical limit of detection (LOD) is measured using a TransFluoSphere® suspension at 5.6 × 10⁴ beads µl⁻¹ which can be equated to ∼3 nM fluorescein equivalent concentration. The LOD for the human plasma immunoassays is measured as 1.5 ng ml⁻¹ for both myoglobin and CK-MB.