Abstract
Additive manufacturing, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), has been increasingly employed to produce microfluidic platforms due to ease of use, wide distribution of affordable 3D printers and relatively inexpensive materials for printing. In this work, we discuss fabrication and testing of an FDM-printed fully automated colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed to detect malaria. The detection platform consists of a disposable 3D-printed fluidic cartridge (with elastomeric silicone domes on top of reagent-storage reservoirs) and a nondisposable frame with servomotors and electronic controls such as an Arduino board and a rechargeable battery. The system is controlled by a novel interface where a music file (so-called “song”) is sent to the Arduino board, where the onboard program converts the set of frequencies into action of individual servomotors to rotate their arms a certain amount, thus depressing specific elastomeric domes atop reagent reservoirs and displacing the specific reagents into the detection wells, where bioassay steps are executed. Another of the distinguished characteristics of the demonstrated system is its ability to aspirate the fluid from the detection wells into the waste reservoir. Therefore, the demonstrated automated platform has the ability to execute even the most complex multi-step assays where dilution and multiple washes are required. Optimization of 3D-printer settings and ways to control leakages typical of FDM-printed fluidic systems are also discussed.
Highlights
In developing countries, infectious diseases pose a heavy burden to the population, including loss of life and economic hardship [1,2]
The problems infectious diseases pose to developing countries are exacerbated by lack of affordable diagnostic platforms that can offer a rapid detection for malaria and other deadly infections [2,3]
Due to imperfect fusing of the adjacent layers, microfluidic devices printed via fused deposition modeling can frequently be subject to leakage [46]
Summary
Infectious diseases pose a heavy burden to the population, including loss of life and economic hardship [1,2]. To improve the quality of malaria management, while not mistreating other infections, the WHO recommends positive diagnosis of malaria prior to initiating malaria treatment [5] This is especially important due to a very low specificity (0–9%) of clinical finding-based diagnosis for children in Africa, and a high malaria over-diagnosis of 30% shown during an evaluation of the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) clinical algorithm [6]. Lab-on-chip (LOC) platforms containing fluidic networks of microchannels are often utilized for POC testing. These LOC platforms are highly portable, while integrating all necessary reagents to substitute a set of bulky and expensive laboratory equipment [21]. A 2013 market review of LOC applications showed blood glucose analysis, electrolytes analysis, HIV diagnostics and determination of cardiac markers as some of the main applications of LOC systems by leading companies such as Abbott, Alere, Arkray, Bayer, LifeScan, Menarini
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