Stand-alone self-powered integrated microfluidic blood analysis system (SIMBAS)

Lab Chip. 2011 Mar 7;11(5):845-50. doi: 10.1039/c0lc00403k. Epub 2010 Dec 8.

Abstract

We present a self-powered integrated microfluidic blood analysis system (SIMBAS) that does not require any external connections, tethers, or tubing to deliver and analyze a raw whole-blood sample. SIMBAS only requires the user to place a 5 μL droplet of whole-blood at the inlet port of the device, whereupon the stand-alone SIMBAS performs on-chip removal of red and white cells, without external valving or pumping mechanisms, followed by analyte detection in platelet-containing plasma. Five complete biotin-streptavidin sample-to-answer assays are performed in 10 min; the limit of detection is 1.5 pM. Red and white blood cells are removed by trapping them in an integral trench structure. Simulations and experimental data show 99.9% to 100% blood cell retention in the passive structure. Powered by pre-evacuation of its PDMS substrate, SIMBAS' guiding design principle is the integration of the minimal number of components without sacrificing effectiveness in performing rapid complete bioassays, a critical step towards point-of-care molecular diagnostics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Cells / cytology
  • Cell Separation
  • Hematologic Tests / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Kinetics
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Plasma / cytology
  • Point-of-Care Systems
  • Systems Integration*