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Separation of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin from fibrinogen using a MEMS size exclusion chromatography column

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Abstract

This article reports a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems)-based column separator designed for potential integration with portable medical point-of-care testing (POCT) devices. The MEMS column uses size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to pre-separate raw samples by size, and is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fabricated on a glass slide. The MEMS SEC column separates 300 ng/mL of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), a cancer biomarker, from a fibrinogen-rich solution (20 μg/mL) in 10 min, showing 2.12 resolution and 0.036 mm plate height through fluorescent detection. Results are further verified by β-hCG and anti-β-hCG antibody conjugate using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The collected β-hCG-rich eluent at 8 min shows 11 mDeg of angle shift. The fluorescent detection and SPR results demonstrate the complete discrimination of β-hCG from fibrinogen using the MEMS SEC column, and illustrate its viability for integrating a sample preparation stage in POCT devices to assist cancer screening and prognosis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Mr. Sang-Soo Je, Ms. Sandra Kavuma, Mr. Michael Dobson, and Dr. Peming Zhang for numerous and valuable discussions, and the staff in the Center for Solid-State Electronics Research (CSSER) at Arizona State University. The authors especially thank Ms. Rhonda Steele and Dr. Philip Bernick for support and valuable advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

    Yongmo Yang, Seokheun Choi & Junseok Chae

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  1. Yongmo Yang
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  2. Seokheun Choi
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  3. Junseok Chae
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Correspondence to Yongmo Yang.

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Yang, Y., Choi, S. & Chae, J. Separation of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin from fibrinogen using a MEMS size exclusion chromatography column. Microfluid Nanofluid 8, 477–484 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-009-0475-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-009-0475-9

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