A palm-size μNMR relaxometer using a digital microfluidic device and a semiconductor transceiver for chemical/biological diagnosis

Analyst. 2015 Aug 7;140(15):5129-37. doi: 10.1039/c5an00500k.

Abstract

Herein, we describe a micro-nuclear magnetic resonance (μNMR) relaxometer miniaturized to palm-size and electronically automated for multi-step and multi-sample chemical/biological diagnosis. The co-integration of microfluidic and microelectronic technologies enables an association between the droplet managements and μNMR assays inside a portable sub-Tesla magnet (1.2 kg, 0.46 Tesla). Targets in unprocessed biological samples, captured by specific probe-decorated magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), can be sequentially quantified by their spin-spin relaxation time (T2) via multiplexed μNMR screening. Distinct droplet samples are operated by a digital microfluidic device that electronically manages the electrowetting-on-dielectric effects over an electrode array. Each electrode (3.5 × 3.5 mm(2)) is scanned with capacitive sensing to locate the distinct droplet samples in real time. A cross-domain-optimized butterfly-coil-input semiconductor transceiver transduces between magnetic and electrical signals to/from a sub-10 μL droplet sample for high-sensitivity μNMR screening. A temperature logger senses the ambient temperature (0 to 40 °C) and a backend processor calibrates the working frequency for the transmitter to precisely excite the protons. In our experiments, the μNMR relaxometer quantifies avidin using biotinylated Iron NPs (Φ: 30 nm, [Fe]: 0.5 mM) with a sensitivity of 0.2 μM. Auto-handling and identification of two targets (avidin and water) are demonstrated and completed within 2.2 min. This μNMR relaxometer holds promise for combinatorial chemical/biological diagnostic protocols using closed-loop electronic automation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Avidin / analysis*
  • Biotinylation
  • Electrowetting
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / instrumentation*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Semiconductors*

Substances

  • Avidin
  • Iron