Microarray performance enhancement using microfluidic mixing

ABSTRACT Microarray assays are a powerful cost effective clinical tool for discovery and diagnosis and have point of care diagnostic applications such as rapid and accurate detection of infections The application of microarray analysis to routine point of care warrants both speed and high quality of the data In conventional microarray assays analyte transport sharply limits assay performance as binding of static target analytes to surface attached probes depends solely on diffusion which is very slow and requires a long time to hours or is limited to a fraction of the target resulting in poor sensitivity except for the highest concentration analytes Current microfluidic mixing technologies present several disadvantages such as complex instrumentation damage to the delicate biological samples heterogeneity in sensitivity or time consuming protocols Hence novel methods to improve microarray assay performance namely sensitivity and time to result TTR are in high demand In this project we will demonstrate dramatic improvement to microarray sensitivity and TTR by implementing a novel microfluidic transport technology called Actuated Surface Attached Posts ASAP Unlike other microfluidic mixing methods ASAP mixing does not increase the required sample volume require externally pumped flow raise sample temperature or induce high shear stress that can damage analytes The ASAP film can be used in a wide variety of biofluids including whole blood and the ASAP film can be rendered chemically inert ASAPs integrate easily with diagnostic consumables and will therefore provide a cost effective enhancement to existing microarray methods with minor modification to existing instruments NARRATIVE Microarray assays are a powerful cost effective clinical tool for discovery and diagnosis Given their broad utility methods to improve microarray assay performance are in high demand In this project we will demonstrate dramatic improvement to microarray limit of detection and time to result by implementing a novel microfluidic mixing technology