Issue 16, 2024

Microfluidic finger-actuated mixer for ultrasensitive electrochemical measurements of protein biomarkers for point-of-care testing

Abstract

Current diagnostic tests for high sensitivity detection of protein biomarkers involve long incubation times or require bulky/expensive instrumentation, hindering their use for point-of-care testing. Here, we report a microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor that employs a unique finger-actuated mixer for rapid, ultrasensitive measurements of protein biomarkers. Mixing was implemented during the incubation steps, which accelerated biomolecular transport and promoted immunocomplex formation, leading to enhanced analytical sensitivity and a shortened detection time. Electrochemical measurements were performed using a handheld diagnostic device consisting of a smartphone and miniature potentiostat. Proof of principle was demonstrated by using this platform for quantitative measurements of C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9), a serological biomarker for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, which could be detected in human plasma at concentrations as low as 4.7 pg mL−1 in <25 min. The ability to rapidly detect protein biomarkers with high sensitivity in a point-of-care format makes this device a promising tool for diagnostic testing, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Graphical abstract: Microfluidic finger-actuated mixer for ultrasensitive electrochemical measurements of protein biomarkers for point-of-care testing

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Mar 2024
Accepted
02 Quint 2024
First published
02 Quint 2024

Lab Chip, 2024,24, 3802-3809

Microfluidic finger-actuated mixer for ultrasensitive electrochemical measurements of protein biomarkers for point-of-care testing

B. Utzinger, D. D. Dixit and P. B. Lillehoj, Lab Chip, 2024, 24, 3802 DOI: 10.1039/D4LC00207E

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