title: An integrated microfluidic system for rapid diagnosis of dengue virus infection.
abstract: This study reports an integrated microfluidic system which utilizes virus-bound magnetic bead complexes for rapid serological analysis of antibodies associated with an infection by the dengue virus. This new microfluidic system integrates one-way micropumps, a four-membrane-type micromixer, two-way micropumps and an on-chip microcoil array in order to simultaneously perform the rapid detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). An IgM/IgG titer in serum is used to confirm the presence of dengue virus infection. By utilizing microfluidic technologies and virus-bound magnetic beads, IgG and IgM in the serum samples are captured. This is followed by purification and isolation of these beads utilizing a magnetic field generated from the on-chip array of microcoils. Any interfering substances in the biological fluids are washed away automatically by the flow generated by the integrated pneumatic pumps. The fluorescence-labelled secondary antibodies are bound to the surface of the IgG/IgM complex attached onto the magnetic beads. Finally, the entire magnetic complex sandwich is transported automatically into a sample detection chamber. The optical signals are then measured and analyzed by a real-time optical detection module. The entire process is performed automatically on a single chip within 30min, which is only 1/8th of the time required for a traditional method. More importantly, the detection limit has been improved to 21pg, which is about 38 times better when compared to traditional methods. This integrated system may provide a powerful platform for the rapid diagnosis of dengue virus infection and other types of infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang-Yi
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.forename: Huan-Yao
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Gwo-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D003715:Dengue / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation; D018511:Systems Integration