title: Development of an automated on-chip bead-based ELISA platform.
abstract: We present a lab-on-a-chip and associated instrument for heterogeneous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based detection of proteins from liquid samples. The system performs all necessary ELISA steps (starting from antigen incubation) in a quarter of the time required for corresponding plate-based protocols. We have previously described the instrument, which automates fluidic control via remote valve switching and detects fluorescence from reacted substrate, for use in a molecular diagnostics application. The ELISA chip reported here utilizes a high surface area bead bed to enhance capture efficiency and increase the dynamic range of the assay as compared to a standard plate-based ELISA. Its functionality is demonstrated using human IL-10 as a model antigen, but theoretically any sandwich ELISA could be ported onto this "open source platform." We show that our automated on-chip assays have greater sensitivities than the corresponding standard manual plate-based ELISAs, and that single samples can be assayed in a fraction of the time.
authors.affiliation: Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Fraunhofer USA, Brookline, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.affiliation: Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Fraunhofer USA, Brookline, MA, USA ; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharon
authors.affiliation: Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Fraunhofer USA, Brookline, MA, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sauer-Budge