Issue 7, 2014

An antibody-free microfluidic paper-based analytical device for the determination of tear fluid lactoferrin by fluorescence sensitization of Tb3+

Abstract

An inkjet-printed microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for the detection of lactoferrin has been developed. The analyte concentration dependent fluorescence emission, caused by the sensitization of pre-deposited terbium (Tb3+) upon complexation with lactoferrin on the paper device, is captured using a digital camera. The dynamic response range (0.5–3 mg mL−1) and the limit of detection (0.30 mg mL−1) of the μPAD are suitable for the analysis of normal human tears and the detection of eye disorders. Finally, lactoferrin concentrations in human tear samples were analyzed by the μPADs and the assay results corresponded within 6% error to those obtained by an immunoassay (ELISA). The μPADs provide a simple, rapid and accurate method for lactoferrin detection in tear fluid. Results are obtained within 15 min of a single application of 2.5 μL of sample. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a device for lactoferrin quantification relying neither on an immunoassay nor on high cost analytical instrumentation.

Graphical abstract: An antibody-free microfluidic paper-based analytical device for the determination of tear fluid lactoferrin by fluorescence sensitization of Tb3+

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Oct 2013
Accepted
28 Dec 2013
First published
03 Jan 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Analyst, 2014,139, 1637-1643

An antibody-free microfluidic paper-based analytical device for the determination of tear fluid lactoferrin by fluorescence sensitization of Tb3+

K. Yamada, S. Takaki, N. Komuro, K. Suzuki and D. Citterio, Analyst, 2014, 139, 1637 DOI: 10.1039/C3AN01926H

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