Issue 16, 2015

A microfluidic platform with digital readout and ultra-low detection limit for quantitative point-of-care diagnostics

Abstract

Quantitative assays are of great importance for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics because they can offer accurate information on the analytes. However, current POC devices often require an accessory instrument to give quantitative readouts for protein biomarkers, especially for those at very low concentration levels. Here, we report a microfluidic platform, the digital volumetric bar-chart chip (DV-chip), for quantitative POC diagnostics with ultra-low detection limits that are readable with the naked eye. Requiring no calibration, the DV-chip presents a digital ink bar chart (representing multiple bits composed of 0 and 1) for the target biomarker based on direct competition between O2 generated by the experimental and control samples. The bar chart clearly and accurately defines target concentration, allowing identification of disease status. For the standard PtNP solutions, the detection limit of the platform is approximately 0.1 pM and the dynamic range covers four orders of magnitude from 0.1 to 1000 pM. CEA samples with concentrations of 1 ng mL−1 and 1.5 ng mL−1 could be differentiated by the device. We also performed the ELISA assay for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in 20 plasma samples from heart failure patients and the obtained on-chip data were in agreement with the clinical results. In addition, BNP was detectable at concentrations of less than 5 pM, which is three orders of magnitude lower than the detection limit of the previously reported readerless digital methods. By the integration of gas competition, volumetric bar chart, and digital readout, the DV-chip possesses merits of portability, visible readout, and ultra-low detection limit, which should offer a powerful platform for quantitative POC diagnostics in clinical settings and personalized detection.

Graphical abstract: A microfluidic platform with digital readout and ultra-low detection limit for quantitative point-of-care diagnostics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 May 2015
Accepted
26 Jun 2015
First published
30 Jun 2015

Lab Chip, 2015,15, 3300-3306

Author version available

A microfluidic platform with digital readout and ultra-low detection limit for quantitative point-of-care diagnostics

Y. Li, J. Xuan, Y. Song, P. Wang and L. Qin, Lab Chip, 2015, 15, 3300 DOI: 10.1039/C5LC00529A

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