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Human blood microfluidic test chip for imaging, label-free biosensor

Abstract

We designed and evaluated a microfluidic test chip for human blood filtration and imaging label-free detection of multiple biomarkers. The microfluidic chip has a total size of 75 mm × 25 mm × 2 mm. It is realized as an assembly of a plastic chip and a functionalized photonic crystal slab on a glass substrate. The plastic chip contains capillary channels, a filter membrane and a cavity open on one side. The photonic crystal chip is bonded with an adhesive foil to the open cavity. Human blood filtration is demonstrated. We determined that fluorescently labelled particles of diameter 3 µm or larger are filtered out by the system. Refractometric measurements are performed with the test chip in combination with a compact imaging read-out system to investigate the system response to refractive index changes. Flow dynamics in the sensor cavity are imaged for replacing water by isopropanol. Finally, the binding of 500 nm biotin dissolved in phosphate buffer saline to a photonic crystal surface locally functionalized with streptavidin is demonstrated.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge support by the European Research Council within the project Photosmart (307800) and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the project BioCard (0316145A). S. B. Gutekunst and C. Selhuber-Unkel acknowledge support from the DFG through the Emmy Noether program (Grant SE-1801/2-1).

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Correspondence to S. Jahns.

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Jahns, S., Gutekunst, S.B., Selhuber-Unkel, C. et al. Human blood microfluidic test chip for imaging, label-free biosensor. Microsyst Technol 22, 1513–1518 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-015-2746-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-015-2746-6

Keywords

  • Photonic Crystal
  • Light Emit Diode
  • Refractive Index Change
  • Sensor Field
  • Test Chip