Analytical Sciences

One-sampling and Rapid Analysis of Cancer Biomarker on a Power-free and Low-cost Microfluidic Chip

Nailong GAO,*,** Jianguo CHANG,** Peng DAI,*** Ziming ZHU,*** and Hui YOU***

*Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
**Institute of Intelligent Machines, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, P. R. China
***School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, P. R. China

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an important disease biomarker, relating to cancers such as hepatocarcinomas and gastric cancer. However, traditional methods are time-consuming, relied on bulky instruments and trained professionals, cannot satisfy the demand for low cost and point-of-care testing (POCT). In this study, a power-free POCT device was developed for the rapid and low-cost detection of AFP via one-sampling. Based on the principle of sandwich immunofluorescence, the chip is capable of automatically accomplishing on-chip mixing, labeling and capturing procedures, which only require that operator add 40 μL sample into the chip one time. The proposed device is capable of sensitively detecting human AFP in FBS with a dynamic range of 10 – 1000 ng/mL and LOD (1.88 ng/mL) within a short time of 3 min. Predictably, our method holds a great potential to be applied in the POC diagnostics of proteins, especially for some regions that are resource-limited.

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