Issue 23, 2016

An inkjet printed, roll-coated digital microfluidic device for inexpensive, miniaturized diagnostic assays

Abstract

The diagnosis of infectious disease is typically carried out at the point-of-care (POC) using the lateral flow assay (LFA). While cost-effective and portable, LFAs often lack the clinical sensitivity and specificity required for accurate diagnoses. In response to this challenge, we introduce a new digital microfluidic (DMF) platform fabricated using a custom inkjet printing and roll-coating process that is scalable to mass production. The performance of the new devices is on par with that of traditional DMF devices fabricated in a cleanroom, with a materials cost for the new devices of only US $0.63 per device. To evaluate the usefulness of the new platform, we performed a 13-step rubella virus (RV) IgG immunoassay on the inkjet printed, roll-coated devices, which yielded a limit of detection of 0.02 IU mL−1, well below the diagnostic cut-off of 10 IU mL−1 for RV infection and immunity. We propose that this represents a breakthrough for DMF, lowering the costs to a level such that the new platforms will be an attractive alternative to LFAs for the diagnosis of infectious disease at the POC.

Graphical abstract: An inkjet printed, roll-coated digital microfluidic device for inexpensive, miniaturized diagnostic assays

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Aug. 2016
Accepted
21 Okt. 2016
First published
01 Nov. 2016

Lab Chip, 2016,16, 4560-4568

An inkjet printed, roll-coated digital microfluidic device for inexpensive, miniaturized diagnostic assays

C. Dixon, A. H. C. Ng, R. Fobel, M. B. Miltenburg and A. R. Wheeler, Lab Chip, 2016, 16, 4560 DOI: 10.1039/C6LC01064D

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