title: An inkjet printed, roll-coated digital microfluidic device for inexpensive, miniaturized diagnostic assays.
abstract: The diagnosis of infectious disease is typically carried out at the point-of-care (POC) using the lateral flow assay (LFA). While cost-effective and portable, LFAs often lack the clinical sensitivity and specificity required for accurate diagnoses. In response to this challenge, we introduce a new digital microfluidic (DMF) platform fabricated using a custom inkjet printing and roll-coating process that is scalable to mass production. The performance of the new devices is on par with that of traditional DMF devices fabricated in a cleanroom, with a materials cost for the new devices of only US $0.63 per device. To evaluate the usefulness of the new platform, we performed a 13-step rubella virus (RV) IgG immunoassay on the inkjet printed, roll-coated devices, which yielded a limit of detection of 0.02 IU mL-1, well below the diagnostic cut-off of 10 IU mL-1for RV infection and immunity. We propose that this represents a breakthrough for DMF, lowering the costs to a level such that the new platforms will be an attractive alternative to LFAs for the diagnosis of infectious disease at the POC.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada. aaron.wheeler@utoronto.ca.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Dixon
authors: Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada and Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
authors: Alphonsus H C
authors: AH
authors: Ng
authors: Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada and Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
authors: Ryan
authors: R
authors: Fobel
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada. aaron.wheeler@utoronto.ca.
authors: Mark B
authors: MB
authors: Miltenburg
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada. aaron.wheeler@utoronto.ca and Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada and Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
authors: Aaron R
authors: 0000-0001-5230-7475
authors: AR
authors: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004867:Equipment Design; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007281:Ink; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices / Q000191:economics*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011327:Printing; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G