1
|
Julius LA, Torres Delgado SM, Mishra R, Kent N, Carthy E, Korvink JG, Mager D, Ducrée J, Kinahan DJ. Programmable fluidic networks on centrifugal microfluidic discs. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1288:342159. [PMID: 38220291 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.342159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomedical diagnostic and lab automation solutions built on the Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) platform has great potential due to their independence from specialised micro-pumps and their ease of integration, through direct pipetting, with manual or automated workflows. However, a challenge for all microfluidic chips is their cost of manufacture when each microfluidic disc must be customized for a specific application. In this paper, we present centrifugal discs with programmable fluidic networks. RESULTS Based on dissolvable film valves, we present two technologies. The first, based on recently introduced pulse-actuated dissolvable film valves, is a centrifugal disc which, depending on how it is loaded, is configured to perform either six sequential reagent releases through one reaction chamber or three sequential reagent releases through two reaction chambers. In the second approach, we use the previously introduced electronic Lab-on-a-Disc (eLoaD) wireless valve array, which can actuate up to 128 centrifugo-pneumatic dissolvable film valves in a pre-defined sequence. In this approach we present a disc which can deliver any one of 8 reagent washes to any one of four reaction chambers. We use identical discs to demonstrate the first four sequential washes through two reaction chambers and then two sequential washes through four reaction chambers. SIGNIFICANCE These programmable fluidic networks have the potential to allow a single disc architecture to be applied to multiple different assay types and so can offer a lower-cost and more integrated alternative to the standard combination of micro-titre plate and liquid handling robot. Indeed, it may even be possible to conduct multiple different assays concurrently. This can have the effect of reducing manufacturing costs and streamlining supply-chains and so results in a more accessible diagnostic platform.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes An Julius
- Fraunhofer Project Center at Dublin City University (FPC@DCU), Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Sarai M Torres Delgado
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Lepolshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Rohit Mishra
- Fraunhofer Project Center at Dublin City University (FPC@DCU), Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Nigel Kent
- School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Eadaoin Carthy
- School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Jan G Korvink
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Lepolshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Dario Mager
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Lepolshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - David J Kinahan
- School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; I-Form, The SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Julius L, Saeed MM, Kuijpers T, Sandu S, Henihan G, Dreo T, Schoen CD, Mishra R, Dunne NJ, Carthy E, Ducrée J, Kinahan DJ. Low-High-Low Rotationally Pulse-Actuated Serial Dissolvable Film Valves Applied to Solid Phase Extraction and LAMP Isothermal Amplification for Plant Pathogen Detection on a Lab-on-a-Disc. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:3262-3275. [PMID: 38284094 PMCID: PMC10809376 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The ability of the centrifugal Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) platform to closely mimic the "on bench" liquid handling steps (laboratory unit operations (LUOs)) such as metering, mixing, and aliquoting supports on-disc automation of bioassay without the need for extensive biological optimization. Thus, well-established bioassays, normally conducted manually using pipettes or using liquid handling robots, can be relatively easily automated in self-contained microfluidic chips suitable for use in point-of-care or point-of-use settings. The LoaD's ease of automation is largely dependent on valves that can control liquid movement on the rotating disc. The optimum valving strategy for a true low-cost and portable device is rotationally actuated valves, which are actuated by changes in the disc spin-speed. However, due to tolerances in disc manufacturing and variations in reagent properties, most of these valving technologies have inherent variation in their actuation spin-speed. Most valves are actuated through stepped increases in disc spin-speed until the motor reaches its maximum speed (rarely more than 6000 rpm). These manufacturing tolerances combined with this "analogue" mechanism of valve actuation limits the number of LUOs that can be placed on-disc. In this work, we present a novel valving mechanism called low-high-low serial dissolvable film (DF) valves. In these valves, a DF membrane is placed in a dead-end pneumatic chamber. Below an actuation spin-speed, the trapped air prevents liquid wetting and dissolving the membrane. Above this spin-speed, the liquid will enter and wet the DF and open the valve. However, as DFs take ∼40 s to dissolve, the membrane can be wetted, and the disc spin-speed reduced before the film opens. Thus, by placing valves in a series, we can govern on which "digital pulse" in spin-speeding a reagent is released; a reservoir with one serial valve will open on the first pulse, a reservoir with two serial valves on the second, and so on. This "digital" flow control mechanism allows the automation of complex assays with high reliability. In this work, we first describe the operation of the valves, outline the theoretical basis for their operation, and support this analysis with an experiment. Next, we demonstrate how these valves can be used to automate the solid-phase extraction of DNA on on-disc LAMP amplification for applications in plant pathogen detection. The disc was successfully used to extract and detect, from a sample lysed off-disc, DNA indicating the presence of thermally inactivated Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis (Cmm), a bacterial pathogen on tomato leaf samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes
AN Julius
- Fraunhofer
Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Muhammad Mubashar Saeed
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- SFI Centre
for Research Training in Machine Learning (ML-Laboratories), Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Tim Kuijpers
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sergei Sandu
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grace Henihan
- Fraunhofer
Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Tanja Dreo
- National
Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cor D Schoen
- Wageningen
University and Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rohit Mishra
- Fraunhofer
Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Nicholas J Dunne
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eadaoin Carthy
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - David J Kinahan
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hou Y, Mishra R, Zhao Y, Ducrée J, Harrison JD. An Automated Centrifugal Microfluidic Platform for Efficient Multistep Blood Sample Preparation and Clean-Up towards Small Ion-Molecule Analysis. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:2257. [PMID: 38138426 PMCID: PMC10745919 DOI: 10.3390/mi14122257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Sample preparation for mass spectroscopy typically involves several liquid and solid phase clean-ups, extractions, and other unit operations, which are labour-intensive and error-prone. We demonstrate a centrifugal microfluidic platform that automates the whole blood sample's preparation and clean-up by combining traditional liquid-phase and multiple solid-phase extractions for applications in mass spectroscopy (MS)-based small molecule detection. Liquid phase extraction was performed using methanol to precipitate proteins in plasma separated from a blood sample under centrifugal force. The preloaded solid phase composed of C18 beads then removed lipids with a combination of silica particles, which further cleaned up any remaining proteins. We further integrated the application of this sample prep disc with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS by using glancing angle deposition films, which further cleaned up the processed sample by segregating the electrolyte background from the sample salts. Additionally, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) MS was employed for detecting targeted free amino acids. Therefore, several representative ionic metabolites, including several amino acids and organic acids from blood samples, were analysed by both MALDI-MS and HILIC-MS to demonstrate the performance of this sample preparation disc. The fully automated blood sample preparation procedure only took 35 mins, with a throughput of three parallel units.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Hou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada; (Y.Z.); (J.D.H.)
| | - Rohit Mishra
- FPC@DCU—Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems, Dublin City University, D09 V209 Dublin, Ireland
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 V209 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Yufeng Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada; (Y.Z.); (J.D.H.)
- Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies, National Research Council Canada, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 V209 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Jed D. Harrison
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada; (Y.Z.); (J.D.H.)
- FPC@DCU—Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems, Dublin City University, D09 V209 Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Carthy É, Hughes B, Higgins E, Early P, Merne C, Walsh D, Parle-McDermott A, Kinahan DJ. Automated solid phase DNA extraction on a lab-on-a-disc with two-degrees of freedom instrumentation. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1280:341859. [PMID: 37858565 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lab-on-a-disc (LoaD) technology has emerged as a transformative approach for point-of-care diagnostics and high-throughput testing. The promise of integrating multiple laboratory functions onto a single integrated platform has significant implications for healthcare, especially in resource-limited settings. However, one of the primary challenges faced in the design and manufacture of LoaD devices is the integration of effective valving mechanisms. These valves are essential for fluid control and routing, but their intricacy often leads to complexities in design and increased vulnerability to failure. This emphasizes the need for improved designs and manufacturing processes without complex, integrated valving mechanisms. (96) RESULTS: We describe a fully automated biological workflow and reagent actuation on a LoaD device without an integrated valving system. The Two Degrees-of-Freedom (2DoF) custom centrifuge alters the centre of rotation, facilitating fluid flow direction changes on the microfluidic platform through a custom programmed interface. A novel 360-degree fluid manipulation approach via secondary planetary gear motion enabled sequential assay reagent actuation without embedded valve triggering, with the addition of infinite incubation times and efficient use of platform realty. The simplified LoaD platform uses clever design, with intermediate flow chambers to avoid cross contamination between reagent steps. Notably, the optimized LoaD platform demonstrated a two-fold DNA yield at higher HEK-293 cell concentrations compared to commercially available spin-column kits. This significantly simplified LoaD platform successfully automated a common, complex workflow without inhibiting DNA purification. (129) SIGNIFICANCE: This system exhibits the clever coupling of both 2DoF and centrifugal microfluidics to create an autonomous testing package capable of eradicating the need for complex valving systems to automate biological workflows on LoaDs. This automated system has outperformed commercially available DNA extraction kits for higher cell counts. The platform's elimination of valve requirements ensures unlimited sample incubation times and enhances reliability, making it a straightforward option for automated biological workflows, particularly in diagnostics. (73).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Éadaoin Carthy
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Brian Hughes
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eimear Higgins
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Phil Early
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cian Merne
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darren Walsh
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Parle-McDermott
- National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David J Kinahan
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Qian C, Wan C, Li S, Xiao Y, Yuan H, Gao S, Wu L, Zhou M, Feng X, Li Y, Chen P, Liu BF. On-Line Dual-Active Valves Based Centrifugal Microfluidic Chip for Fully Automated Point-of-Care Immunoassay. Anal Chem 2023; 95:12521-12531. [PMID: 37556853 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
There remains an unmet need for a fully integrated microfluidic platform that can automatically perform multistep and multireagent immunoassays. Here, we proposed a novel online dual-active valve-based centrifugal microfluidic chip, termed DAVM, for fully automatic point-of-care immunoassay. Practically, the puncture valve, one of the dual active valves, is capable of achieving precise, on-demand, sequential release of prestored reagents, while the other valve-reversible active valve enables controlled retention and drainage of the reaction solutions. Thereby, our technology mitigates the challenges of hydrophilic/hydrophobic modifications and unstable valve control performance commonly observed in passive valve controls. As a proof of concept, the indirect enzymatic immunoblotting technique was employed on DAVM for fully automated immunological analysis of eight targets, yielding outcomes within an hour. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative analysis of 28 clinical samples with autoimmune diseases. According to 224 clinical data, the sample testing concordance rate between DAVM and the traditional instrument was 82%, with a target compliance rate of 97%. Therefore, our DAVM system has powerful potential for fully automated immunoassays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chungen Qian
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Chao Wan
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shunji Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yujin Xiao
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Huijuan Yuan
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Siyu Gao
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Liqiang Wu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Mengfan Zhou
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xiaojun Feng
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Peng Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bi-Feng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mishra R, Julius LA, Condon J, Pavelskopfa P, Early PL, Dorrian M, Mrvova K, Henihan G, Mangwanya F, Dreo T, Ducrée J, Macdonald NP, Schoen C, Kinahan DJ. Plant pathogen detection on a lab-on-a-disc using solid-phase extraction and isothermal nucleic acid amplification enabled by digital pulse-actuated dissolvable film valves. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1258:341070. [PMID: 37087288 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
By virtue of its ruggedness, portability, rapid processing times, and ease-of-use, academic and commercial interest in centrifugal microfluidic systems has soared over the last decade. A key advantage of the LoaD platform is the ability to automate laboratory unit operations (LUOs) (mixing, metering, washing etc.) to support direct translation of 'on-bench' assays to 'on-chip'. Additionally, the LoaD requires just a low-cost spindle motor rather than specialized and expensive microfluidic pumps. Furthermore, when flow control (valves) is implemented through purely rotational changes in this same spindle motor (rather than using additional support instrumentation), the LoaD offers the potential to be a truly portable, low-cost and accessible platform. Current rotationally controlled valves are typically opened by sequentially increasing the disc spin-rate to a specific opening frequency. However, due lack of manufacturing fidelity these specific opening frequencies are better described as spin frequency 'bands'. With low-cost motors typically having a maximum spin-rate of 6000 rpm (100 Hz), using this 'analogue' approach places a limitation on the number of valves, which can be serially actuated thus limiting the number of LUOs that can be automated. In this work, a novel flow control scheme is presented where the sequence of valve actuation is determined by architecture of the disc while its timing is governed by freely programmable 'digital' pulses in its spin profile. This paradigm shift to 'digital' flow control enables automation of multi-step assays with high reliability, with full temporal control, and with the number of LUOs theoretically only limited by available space on the disc. We first describe the operational principle of these valves followed by a demonstration of the capability of these valves to automate complex assays by screening tomato leaf samples against plant pathogens. Reagents and lysed sample are loaded on-disc and then, in a fully autonomous fashion using only spindle-motor control, the complete assay is automated. Amplification and fluorescent acquisition take place on a custom spin-stand enabling the generation of real-time LAMP amplification curves using custom software. To prevent environmental contamination, the entire discs are sealed from atmosphere following loading with internal venting channels permitting easy movement of liquids about the disc. The disc was successfully used to detect the presence of thermally inactivated Clavibacter michiganensis. Michiganensis (CMM) bacterial pathogen on tomato leaf samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Mishra
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Lourdes An Julius
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jack Condon
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patricija Pavelskopfa
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Philip L Early
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matthew Dorrian
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Katarina Mrvova
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grace Henihan
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Faith Mangwanya
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tanya Dreo
- National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niall P Macdonald
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cor Schoen
- Wageningen University Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - David J Kinahan
- Fraunhofer Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Microfluidic-based blood immunoassays. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 228:115313. [PMID: 36868029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics enables the integration of whole protocols performed in a laboratory, including sample loading, reaction, extraction, and measurement steps on a single system, which offers significant advantages thanks to small-scale operation combined with precise fluid control. These include providing efficient transportation mechanisms and immobilization, reduced sample and reagent volumes, fast analysis and response times, lower power requirements, lower cost and disposability, improved portability and sensitivity, and greater integration and automation capability. Immunoassay is a specific bioanalytical method based on the interaction of antigens and antibodies, which is utilized to detect bacteria, viruses, proteins, and small molecules in several areas such as biopharmaceutical analysis, environmental analysis, food safety, and clinical diagnostics. Because of the advantages of both techniques, the combination of immunoassays and microfluidic technology is considered one of the most potential biosensor systems for blood samples. This review presents the current progress and important developments in microfluidic-based blood immunoassays. After providing several basic information about blood analysis, immunoassays, and microfluidics, the review points out in-depth information about microfluidic platforms, detection techniques, and commercial microfluidic blood immunoassay platforms. In conclusion, some thoughts and future perspectives are provided.
Collapse
|
8
|
Peshin S, Madou M, Kulinsky L. Integrating Bio-Sensing Array with Blood Plasma Separation on a Centrifugal Platform. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:1710. [PMID: 36772748 PMCID: PMC9920851 DOI: 10.3390/s23031710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Numerous immunoassays have been successfully integrated on disc-based centrifugal platforms (CDs) over the last 20 years. These CD devices can be used as portable point-of-care (POC) platforms with sample-to-answer capabilities where bodily fluids such as whole blood can be used as samples directly without pre-processing. In order to use whole blood as a sample on CDs, centrifugation is used to separate red blood cells from plasma on CDs. There are several techniques for using specific fluidic patterns in the centrifugal fluidic network, such as reciprocation, that enhances the sensitivity of the immunoassays, including those using microarray antigen membranes. Present work demonstrates, for the first time, simultaneous integration of blood plasma separation (BPS) and reciprocation on the CD platform. The integrated design allows plasma that is separated from the red blood cells in a sedimentation chamber to flow into the reciprocation chamber via a narrow connecting channel of 0.5 mm × 0.5 mm cross-section. Due to the small cross-section of the connecting channel, there is no inflow of the red blood cell into the reciprocation chamber during subsequent fluidic operations of the CD. While no inflow of the red blood cells into the reciprocation chamber was observed, the conditions of 20 g jerk acceleration were also simulated in ANSYS finite element analysis software, and it was found that the CD design that was used is capable of retaining red blood cells in the sedimentation chamber. Experimentally, the isolation of red blood cells in the sedimentation chamber was confirmed using the ImageJ image processor to detect the visible color-based separation of the plasma from the blood. A fluorescent analyte testing on the bio-sensing array of the presented novel integrated design and on the standard reciprocation design CD was conducted for 7 min of reciprocation in each case. The test analyte was Europium Streptavidin Polystyrene analyte (10-3 mg/mL) and the microarray consisted of Biotin bovine serum albumin (BSA) dots. The fluorescent signals for the standard and integrated designs were nearly identical (within the margin of error) for the first several minutes of reciprocation, but the fluorescent signal for the integrated design was significantly higher when the reciprocation time was increased to 7 min.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Snehan Peshin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Marc Madou
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- School of Engineering and Science, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
| | - Lawrence Kulinsky
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yuan H, Chen P, Wan C, Li Y, Liu BF. Merging microfluidics with luminescence immunoassays for urgent point-of-care diagnostics of COVID-19. Trends Analyt Chem 2022; 157:116814. [PMCID: PMC9637550 DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
10
|
Electrified lab on disc systems: A comprehensive review on electrokinetic applications. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 214:114381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
11
|
Regan B, Kinahan D, Daly P, O'Kennedy R, Collins D. Design and fabrication of a low-cost wireless camera imaging system for centrifugal microfluidics. HARDWAREX 2022; 11:e00259. [PMID: 35509901 PMCID: PMC9058586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Centrifugal microfluidic devices offer a robust method for low-volume fluid handling by combining low-cost instrumentation with highly integrated automation. Crucial to the efficacy of Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) device operation is the selection of robust valving technology, the design of on-disc fluidic structures, and accurate control of disc spin-speeds (centrifugal force) during operation. The design and refinement of fluidic and valving structures is often guided by inspecting disc operation using high-speed camera systems. This approach involves synchronising image acquisition with disc rotation to visualise liquid flow through a series of images often presented in a video format. Depending on the decisions taken, such systems can cost from €4,000 upwards. This paper outlines the development of a low-cost centrifugal test-stand with an integrated imaging system using a generic wireless camera to record videos directly to a smartphone device. This imaging system can be fabricated using only 3D printers and a low-cost CNC milling machine from widely available materials for approximately €350. High-fidelity imaging of the entire disc for flow visualisation and the recording of real-time colour intensity measurements are facilitated by this standalone device. A vibration analysis study has been performed to determine the rotational velocity range at which the system can be safely operated. Furthermore, the efficacy of the imaging system has been demonstrated by performing real-time colour intensity measurements of dyed water dilutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Regan
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - David Kinahan
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Philip Daly
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Richard O'Kennedy
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - David Collins
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ducrée J. Systematic review of centrifugal valving based on digital twin modeling towards highly integrated lab-on-a-disc systems. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2021; 7:104. [PMID: 34987859 PMCID: PMC8677742 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00317-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Current, application-driven trends towards larger-scale integration (LSI) of microfluidic systems for comprehensive assay automation and multiplexing pose significant technological and economical challenges to developers. By virtue of their intrinsic capability for powerful sample preparation, centrifugal systems have attracted significant interest in academia and business since the early 1990s. This review models common, rotationally controlled valving schemes at the heart of such "Lab-on-a-Disc" (LoaD) platforms to predict critical spin rates and reliability of flow control which mainly depend on geometries, location and liquid volumes to be processed, and their experimental tolerances. In absence of larger-scale manufacturing facilities during product development, the method presented here facilitates efficient simulation tools for virtual prototyping and characterization and algorithmic design optimization according to key performance metrics. This virtual in silico approach thus significantly accelerates, de-risks and lowers costs along the critical advancement from idea, layout, fluidic testing, bioanalytical validation, and scale-up to commercial mass manufacture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Uddin R, Kinahan D, Ducrée J, Boisen A. Lab-on-a-disk extraction of PBMC and metered plasma from whole blood: An advanced event-triggered valving strategy. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:064102. [PMID: 34804316 PMCID: PMC8580574 DOI: 10.1063/5.0066128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we present a centrifugal microfluidic concept employing event-triggered valving for automated extraction of metered plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This "lab-on-a-disk" system has been developed for retrieving different density layers from a liquid column by "overflowing" the layers sequentially using the pressure exerted by a density-gradient liquid. Defined volumes of plasma and PBMCs were efficiently forwarded into designated microfluidic chambers as a sample preparation step prior to further downstream processing. Furthermore, the extracted PBMCs were counted directly on-disk using an automated optical unit by object-based image analysis, thus eliminating the requirement for the post-processing of the extracted PBMCs. This study is a direct continuation of our previous work1 where we demonstrated combined on-disk detection of C-reactive protein and quantification of PBMCs following on-disk extraction of plasma and PBMCs from a single blood sample using a centrifugo-pneumatic valving mechanism. However, the former valving technique featured limited PBMC extraction efficiency. Here, integrating the novel concept along with event-triggered valving mechanism, we eliminated the occurrence of a specific microfluidic effect, which led us to increase PBMC extraction efficiency to 88%. This extraction method has the potential to be utilized for efficiently separating multiple density layers from a liquid sample in relevant biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rokon Uddin
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - David Kinahan
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Jens Ducrée
- FPC@DCU—Fraunhofer Project Center at Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Shi Y, Ye P, Yang K, Meng J, Guo J, Pan Z, Zhao W, Guo J. Application of centrifugal microfluidics in immunoassay, biochemical analysis and molecular diagnosis. Analyst 2021; 146:5800-5821. [PMID: 34570846 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00629k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Rapid diagnosis plays a vital role in daily life and is effective in reducing treatment costs and increasing curability, especially in remote areas with limited availability of resources. Among the various common methods of rapid diagnosis, centrifugal microfluidics has many unique advantages, such as less sample consumption, more precise valve control for sequential loading of samples, and accurately separated module design in a microfluidic network to minimize cross-contamination. Therefore, in recent years, centrifugal microfluidics has been extensively researched, and it has been found to play important roles in biology, chemistry, and medicine. Here, we review the latest developments in centrifugal microfluidic platforms in immunoassays, biochemical analyses, and molecular diagnosis, in recent years. In immunoassays, we focus on the application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); in biochemical analysis, we introduce the application of plasma and blood cell separation; and in molecular diagnosis, we highlight the application of nucleic acid amplification tests. Additionally, we discuss the characteristics of the methods under each platform as well as the enhancement of the corresponding performance parameters, such as the limit of detection, separation efficiency, etc. Finally, we discuss the limitations associated with the existing applications and potential breakthroughs that can be achieved in this field in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Shi
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Peng Ye
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Kuojun Yang
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Jie Meng
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Jiuchuan Guo
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Zhixiang Pan
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Wenhao Zhao
- School of Automation Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Jinhong Guo
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Design Optimization of Centrifugal Microfluidic “Lab-on-a-Disc” Systems towards Fluidic Larger-Scale Integration. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11135839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing the degree of functional multiplexing while assuring operational reliability and manufacturability at competitive costs are crucial ingredients for enabling comprehensive sample-to-answer automation, e.g., for use in common, decentralized “Point-of-Care” or “Point-of-Use” scenarios. This paper demonstrates a model-based “digital twin” approach, which efficiently supports the algorithmic design optimization of exemplary centrifugo-pneumatic (CP) dissolvable-film (DF) siphon valves toward larger-scale integration (LSI) of well-established “Lab-on-a-Disc” (LoaD) systems. Obviously, the spatial footprint of the valves and their upstream laboratory unit operations (LUOs) have to fit, at a given radial position prescribed by its occurrence in the assay protocol, into the locally accessible disc space. At the same time, the retention rate of a rotationally actuated CP-DF siphon valve and, most challengingly, its band width related to unavoidable tolerances of experimental input parameters need to slot into a defined interval of the practically allowed frequency envelope. To accomplish particular design goals, a set of parametrized metrics is defined, which are to be met within their practical boundaries while (numerically) minimizing the band width in the frequency domain. While each LSI scenario needs to be addressed individually on the basis of the digital twin, a suite of qualitative design rules and instructive showcases structures are presented.
Collapse
|
16
|
Ducrée J. Secure Air Traffic Control at the Hub of Multiplexing on the Centrifugo-Pneumatic Lab-on-a-Disc Platform. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:700. [PMID: 34203926 PMCID: PMC8232791 DOI: 10.3390/mi12060700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fluidic larger-scale integration (LSI) resides at the heart of comprehensive sample-to-answer automation and parallelization of assay panels for frequent and ubiquitous bioanalytical testing in decentralized point-of-use/point-of-care settings. This paper develops a novel "digital twin" strategy with an emphasis on rotational, centrifugo-pneumatic flow control. The underlying model systematically connects retention rates of rotationally actuated valves as a key element of LSI to experimental input parameters; for the first time, the concept of band widths in frequency space as the decisive quantity characterizing operational robustness is introduced, a set of quantitative performance metrics guiding algorithmic optimization of disc layouts is defined, and the engineering principles of advanced, logical flow control and timing are elucidated. Overall, the digital twin enables efficient design for automating multiplexed bioassay protocols on such "Lab-on-a-Disc" (LoaD) systems featuring high packing density, reliability, configurability, modularity, and manufacturability to eventually minimize cost, time, and risk of development and production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Henderson BD, Kinahan DJ, Rio J, Mishra R, King D, Torres-Delgado SM, Mager D, Korvink JG, Ducrée J. Siphon-Controlled Automation on a Lab-on-a-Disc Using Event-Triggered Dissolvable Film Valves. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11030073. [PMID: 33800811 PMCID: PMC8000095 DOI: 10.3390/bios11030073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Within microfluidic technologies, the centrifugal microfluidic “Lab-on-a-Disc” (LoaD) platform offers great potential for use at the PoC and in low-resource settings due to its robustness and the ability to port and miniaturize ‘wet bench’ laboratory protocols. We present the combination of ‘event-triggered dissolvable film valves’ with a centrifugo-pneumatic siphon structure to enable control and timing, through changes in disc spin-speed, of the release and incubations of eight samples/reagents/wash buffers. Based on these microfluidic techniques, we integrated and automated a chemiluminescent immunoassay for detection of the CVD risk factor marker C-reactive protein displaying a limit of detection (LOD) of 44.87 ng mL−1 and limit of quantitation (LoQ) of 135.87 ng mL−1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Henderson
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland; (B.D.H.); (J.R.)
| | - David J. Kinahan
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland;
- National Center for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
- I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
- The Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Jeanne Rio
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland; (B.D.H.); (J.R.)
| | - Rohit Mishra
- Fraunhofer Project Center, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland; (R.M.); (D.K.)
| | - Damien King
- Fraunhofer Project Center, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland; (R.M.); (D.K.)
| | - Sarai M. Torres-Delgado
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany; (S.M.T.-D.); (D.M.); (J.G.K.)
| | - Dario Mager
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany; (S.M.T.-D.); (D.M.); (J.G.K.)
| | - Jan G. Korvink
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany; (S.M.T.-D.); (D.M.); (J.G.K.)
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland; (B.D.H.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +353-1-700-5377
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shallan AI, Tavares Y, Navvab Kashani M, Breadmore MC, Priest C. An Open Microfluidic Chip for Continuous Sampling of Solute from a Turbulent Particle Suspension. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:2654-2657. [PMID: 33037834 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202012410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
High solids content complicates in situ analysis of chemical processing, biological suspensions, and environmental streams. In most cases, analytical methods require at least one pre-treatment step of a small volume of sample before a particle-free fluid can be analyzed. We have developed a continuous in situ sampler that can "sip" particle-free solution from a turbulent high solids content stream (a slurry). An open microfluidic chip with an extended slit opening shields the internal laminar flow from the turbulence outside. Unlike other open chips, our chip does not require close proximity to a solid surface and operates in turbulent environments for hours without maintenance. Two applications are demonstrated: monitoring FeIII in a stirred slurry of mixed ore particles at high solids loading (4 %wt) and paracetamol tablet dissolution profiles for two different formulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aliaa I Shallan
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, 11795, Egypt
| | - Yakini Tavares
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Moein Navvab Kashani
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.,Australian National Fabrication Facility-, South Australia Node, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Michael C Breadmore
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, School of Natural Sciences-Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Craig Priest
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.,Australian National Fabrication Facility-, South Australia Node, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Shallan AI, Tavares Y, Navvab Kashani M, Breadmore MC, Priest C. An Open Microfluidic Chip for Continuous Sampling of Solute from a Turbulent Particle Suspension. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202012410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aliaa I. Shallan
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
- Faculty of Pharmacy Helwan University Helwan, Cairo 11795 Egypt
| | - Yakini Tavares
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
| | - Moein Navvab Kashani
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
- Australian National Fabrication Facility— South Australia Node Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
| | - Michael C. Breadmore
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science School of Natural Sciences-Chemistry University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Craig Priest
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
- Australian National Fabrication Facility— South Australia Node Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ducrée J, Gravitt M, Walshe R, Bartling S, Etzrodt M, Harrington T. Open Platform Concept for Blockchain-Enabled Crowdsourcing of Technology Development and Supply Chains. FRONTIERS IN BLOCKCHAIN 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fbloc.2020.586525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|
21
|
Abstract
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.
Collapse
|
22
|
Kvas M, Teixeira AG, Chiang B, Frampton JP. Aqueous two-phase system antibody confinement enables cost-effective analysis of protein analytes by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with minimal optical crosstalk. Analyst 2020; 145:5458-5465. [PMID: 32578585 DOI: 10.1039/d0an00699h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
An aqueous two-phase system formed from polyethylene glycol and dextran was used to uniformly coat the bottom surfaces of the wells of standard 96-well assay plates with capture and detection antibodies to improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Using this approach, limits of detection and linear dynamic range values comparable to those obtained for conventional sandwich ELISA were obtained using considerably lower antibody quantities due to the much lower reagent volumes required when antibodies are applied in a dextran solution beneath a polyethylene glycol overlay. Confinement of the antibody reagents to the bottom surfaces of the wells within the dextran phase also dramatically decreased the optical crosstalk present between neighboring wells when using transparent microplates. Adaptation of the conventional single sandwich ELISA for aqueous two-phase system antibody confinement was demonstrated by analysis of standard curves for C-reactive protein, transforming growth factor beta 1, and the chemokine CXCL10.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maia Kvas
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
We present a powerful and compact batch-mode mixing and dilution technique for centrifugal microfluidic platforms. Siphon structures are designed to discretize continuous flows into a sequence of droplets of volumes as low as 100 nL. Using a passive, self-regulating 4-step mechanism, discrete volumes of two fluids are alternatingly issued into a common intermediate chamber. At its base, a capillary valve acts as a fluidic shift register; a single droplet is held in place while two or more droplets merge and pass through the capillary stop. These merged droplets are advectively mixed as they pass through the capillary valve and into the receiving chamber. Mixing is demonstrated for various combinations of liquids such as aqueous solutions as well as saline solutions and human plasma. The mixing quality is assessed on a quantitative scale by using a colorimetric method based on the mixing of potassium thiocyanate and iron(III) chloride, and in the case of human plasma using a spectroscopic method. For instance, volumes of 5 µL have been mixed in less than 20 s. Single-step dilutions up to 1:5 of plasma in a standard phosphate buffer solution are also demonstrated. This work describes the preliminary development of the mixing method which has since been integrated into a commercially available microfluidic cartridge.
Collapse
|
24
|
Rajendran ST, Scarano E, Bergkamp MH, Capria AM, Cheng CH, Sanger K, Ferrari G, Nielsen LH, Hwu ET, Zór K, Boisen A. Modular, Lightweight, Wireless Potentiostat-on-a-Disc for Electrochemical Detection in Centrifugal Microfluidics. Anal Chem 2019; 91:11620-11628. [PMID: 31335122 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Interfacing electrochemical sensors in a lab-on-a-disc (LoD) system with a potentiostat is often tedious and challenging. We here present the first multichannel, modular, lightweight, and wirelessly powered, custom-built potentiostat-on-a-disc (PoD) for centrifugal microfluidic applications. The developed potentiostat is in the form factor of a typical digital video disc (DVD) and weighs only 127 g. The design of the potentiostat facilitates easy and robust interfacing with the electrodes in the LoD system, while enabling real-time electrochemical detection during rotation. The device can perform different electroanalytical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and amperometry while being controlled by custom-made software. Measurements were conducted with and without rotation using both in-house fabricated and commercial electrodes. The performance of the PoD was in good agreement with the results obtained using a commercial potentiostat with a measured current resolution of 200 pA. As a proof of concept, we performed a real-time release study of an electrochemically active compound from microdevices used for drug delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Thoppe Rajendran
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Ermes Scarano
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology , University of Naples Federico II , 80138 Naples , Italy
| | - Max H Bergkamp
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark.,Department of Applied Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics , Eindhoven University of Technology , 5612 AE Eindhoven , The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro M Capria
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology , University of Naples Federico II , 80138 Naples , Italy
| | - Chung-Hsiang Cheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering , National Taiwan University , Taipei 10617 , Taiwan
| | - Kuldeep Sanger
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Giorgio Ferrari
- Department of Electronics Engineering , Polytechnic University of Milan , 20133 Milan , Italy
| | - Line H Nielsen
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark
| | - En-Te Hwu
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Kinga Zór
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Anja Boisen
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Aeinehvand MM, Weber L, Jiménez M, Palermo A, Bauer M, Loeffler FF, Ibrahim F, Breitling F, Korvink J, Madou M, Mager D, Martínez-Chapa SO. Elastic reversible valves on centrifugal microfluidic platforms. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:1090-1100. [PMID: 30785443 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00849c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Reversible valves on centrifugal microfluidic platforms facilitate the automation of bioanalytical assays, especially of those requiring a series of steps (such as incubation) in a single reaction chamber. In this study, we present fixed elastic reversible (FER) valves and tunable elastic reversible (TER) valves that are easy to fabricate, implement and control. In the FER valve the compression of an elastic barrier/patch against a microchamber's outlet prevents the release of liquid. The valve sealing pressure was determined by adjusting the engraving depth of the valve-seat at which the elastic patch was located, this allows to set the sealing pressure during disc fabrication. In the TER valve, the patch compression value and sealing pressure is controlled by the penetration depth of a plastic screw into the valve-seat. The ER valves prevent liquid flow until the centrifugal force overcomes their sealing pressure. Moreover, at a constant spin speed, turning the screw of a TER valve reduces its sealing pressure and opens the valve. Therefore, the TER valve allows for controlling of the liquid transfer volume at various spin speeds. The FER and TER valves' behavior is mathematically described and equations for the prediction of their operation under centrifugal forces are provided. As a point-of-care (POC) application of ER valves, we have developed a microfluidic disc with a series of TER valves and peptide microarrays for automated multiplexed detection of five different proteins from a single serum sample.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mahdi Aeinehvand
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Nanosensor and Devices, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, 64849, Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Torres Delgado SM, Korvink JG, Mager D. The eLoaD platform endows centrifugal microfluidics with on-disc power and communication. Biosens Bioelectron 2018; 117:464-473. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
27
|
Miyazaki CM, Kinahan DJ, Mishra R, Mangwanya F, Kilcawley N, Ferreira M, Ducrée J. Label-free, spatially multiplexed SPR detection of immunoassays on a highly integrated centrifugal Lab-on-a-Disc platform. Biosens Bioelectron 2018; 119:86-93. [PMID: 30103158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As a direct, label-free method, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) detection significantly reduces the needs for liquid handling and reagent storage compared to common enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), thus enabling comprehensive multiplexing of bioassays on microfluidic sample-to-answer systems. This paper describes a highly integrated centrifugal Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) platform for automating the full process chain extending between plasma extraction and subsequent aliquoting to five parallelized reaction channels for quantitative SPR detection by an inexpensive smartphone camera. The entire, multi-step / multi-reagent operation completes within less than 1 h. While the emphasis of this work is on the fluidic automation and parallelization by previously introduced, very robust event-triggered valving and buoyancy-driven centripetal pumping schemes, we successfully implement an immunoglobulin G (IgG) assay; by specific functionalization of the detection surfaces, the same disc layout can readily be customised for immunoassays panels from whole blood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celina M Miyazaki
- FPC@DCU - Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University, School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland; Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
| | - David J Kinahan
- FPC@DCU - Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University, School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
| | - Rohit Mishra
- FPC@DCU - Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University, School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
| | - Faith Mangwanya
- FPC@DCU - Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University, School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
| | - Niamh Kilcawley
- FPC@DCU - Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University, School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
| | | | - Jens Ducrée
- FPC@DCU - Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University, School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|