Microchannel Array Chip Research Articles

A triple-layer microchannel array chip with micro through-holes for smartphone based point-of-care testing of biomarker

Colorimetric detection on a microchip frequently suffers the sensitivity problem due to the limited optical path length. Herein, a point-of-care testing (POCT) device based on the colorimetric detection on a microchip with an array of micro through holes for enlarged optical length and an optical imaging system was demonstrated. Each micro through hole has a depth of 2 mm and a volume roughly 0.6 μl, connecting to a microchannel for the efficient reaction. Up to 32 micro through holes were arranged compactly along a round region with a diameter of 13 mm to make them effectively captured by a smartphone camera in a short distance (6.5 cm). For reliable smartphone imaging, a handheld, battery powered optical imaging cassette was made by three-dimensional (3D) printing. A data processing program was also written to realize the detection area selection, RGB (red, green, blue) value reading and detection signal calculation. With the integrated device, a biomarker, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) p24 antigen in human serum was detected down to 20 pg/ml, much better than that with microchannels. The proposed microchip and the imaging system can be a promising POCT or on-site detection tool based on colorimetric detection.

Clinically feasible method for assessing leukocyte rheology in whole blood

This study reports a novel method for assessment of leukocyte rheological activation with a new designed microchannel array chip to mimic the human microvascular network for microchannel array flow analysis (MCFAN). Study subjects were 79 healthy volunteers and 42 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and 36 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Using the anticoagulants heparin and ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-2Na which inhibits platelets and leukocytes by chelating Ca2+, we were able to quantify leukocyte rheological activation by the subtraction of passage time of blood treated with both heparin and EDTA-2Na from that of blood treated with heparin only. We confirmed that passage times of whole blood with heparin + EDTA-2Na were always shorter than those of whole blood with only heparin in healthy subjects and patients with DM or ACS under suction pressures of − 30 cmH2O. There was a significant correlation between delta whole blood passage time {(heparin tube) − (EDTA-2Na + heparin)} and serum levels of myeloperoxidase and adhesive leukocyte number, respectively, even in blood from patients with DM or ACS, who suffered from inflammation. In conclusion we have developed a clinically feasible method for assessing leukocyte rheological activation in whole blood in ex vivo.

Smartphone assisted immunodetection of HIV p24 antigen using reusable, centrifugal microchannel array chip

An integrated immunodetection platform employing a simple, reusable, centrifugal microchannel array chip and a smartphone as detection unit was developed. The applicability of the platform to the detection of HIV p24 antigen was demonstrated. The microchip was made of polycarbonate and contained 4 × 8 zigzag microchannels. After the monoclonal antibody of HIV p24 was adsorbed onto the channel surfaces, HIV p24 was introduced into the microchannel to react with the antibody. A biotin linked polyclonal antibody was then brought in to react with HIV p24, and SP80 (containing streptavidin and horseradish peroxidase) was introduced to react with the biotin. Finally, a solution containing 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine and other reagents was passed through the above channels, horseradish peroxidase catalyzed the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (to 3,3′,5,5′- tetramethylbenzidine diamine) forming a dark color. The color intensity, indicating HIV p24 antigen quantity, was then photographed via a smartphone, and the color of each microchannel was processed via a computer to determine the HIV p24 antigen concentration. Under the optimized conditions, limits of detection (LODs) of 0.17 ng/ml and 0.11 ng/ml were obtained for p24 antigen in a buffer solution and human serum, respectively. Channel washing/rinsing was implemented via a centrifugal force. An economic portable centrifugal device that could accommodate up to 4 microchips was assembled, and multi-step solution loading and rinsing involved in this sandwich immunoassay were performed conveniently. The microchip could be reused after a simple regeneration process. The low-cost polycarbonate microchip and centrifugal device together with the simple but efficient operation make the method a promising tool for HIV screening in resource limited areas.

Preparation of monodisperse W/O emulsions using a stainless-steel microchannel emulsification chip

ABSTRACTIn this study, hydrophobically treated stainless-steel microchannel (MC) array chips were used for preparing monodisperse W/O emulsions. A water-saturated decane containing 5 wt% tetraglycerin monolaurate condensed ricinoleic acid ester was used as the continuous phase. A Milli-Q water containing 5 wt% polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 20,000) and 5 wt% NaCl was used as the dispersed phase. The stainless-steel MC array chips used for MC emulsification had a sufficiently high contact angle of the dispersed phase to their surface in the continuous phase. The resultant uniform-sized aqueous droplets with a coefficient of variation of <5% had average diameters of 100–300 µm, depending on the MC cross-sectional size. The maximum productivity of uniform-sized aqueous droplets reached higher than 1 mL h−1. The difference in the critical capillary number of the dispersed phase that flows in a 100-µm depth MC was 1.5 times greater than that in a 30-µm depth MC.

Short term evaluation of material blood compatibility using a microchannel array

New short-term evaluation of material blood compatibility was attempted using a microchannel array with human blood under a flow condition. The microchannel array chips were made of silicon, having 8,736 microchannels of 10 microm-wide, 30 microm-long, and 4.5 microm-deep on the average, as the models of capillary blood vessels. Titanium, chromium, albumin and collagen were coated onto the chips to examine the difference of material blood compatibility and the effect of protein adsorption on it. The time for the first 100 microl portion of whole blood to pass through the channels (blood pass-through time, BPT) was measured under a pressure difference of 20 cmH2O. Simultaneously, the flow behavior of blood cells was observed by an optical microscope. The BPT tends to correlate well with the level of platelet adhesion. The highest BPT as well as platelet adhesion was observed on collagen, followed by titanium, chromium, silicon, and albumin. These results indicate that the BPT can detect the different levels of platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on microchannel surface and that the protein adsorption onto chip surface can influence BPT. We concluded that this method could be applied to evaluate initial blood compatibility of materials within several minutes in vitro.

New Method for Evaluating Material Blood Compatibility Using Microchannel Array

Microchannel array chips modified by metal deposition or polymer coating were contacted with blood. Titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr) and gold (Au) films were deposited onto the microchannel array chips. Albumin (Alb) and MPC polymer (MPC) were coated onto other chips. Non-treated Si chips were used as a control. Whole blood was collected with 1000 units/ml heparin solution from young healthy volunteers. The passing time of a 100 µl portion of human whole blood through these channels was measured under a pressure difference of 20 cm H2O. Simultaneously, the flow behavior of blood cells in channel was observed by an optical microscope and recorded by a video recorder. Platelet adhesion was observed on Si, Ti, Cr, and especially on Au. The blood pass-through time (BPT) increased in order of Ti, Si, Cr and Au. On the Alb- and MPC-coated chips, platelets were seldom observed and the BPTs were short in comparison with the metal chips. From these consequences, platelet adhesion depended on the materials. The BPT correlated well to the number of adherent platelets on the materials. Therefore, the blood coagulation reaction originated in platelet activation could be detected using microchannel array. We concluded that this method could be applied to evaluate initial blood compatibility of materials within several minutes in vitro.