Novel Microfluidic Analytical Sensing Platform for the Simultaneous Detection of Three Algal Toxins in Water.

Globally, the need for "on-site" algal-toxin monitoring has become increasingly urgent due to the amplified demand for fresh-water and for safe, "toxin-free" shellfish and fish stocks. Herein, we describe the first reported, Lab-On-A-Disc (LOAD) based-platform developed to detect microcystin levels in situ, with initial detectability of saxitoxin and domoic acid also reported. Using recombinant antibody technology, the LOAD platform combines immunofluorescence with centrifugally driven microfluidic liquid handling to achieve a next-generation disposable device capable of multianalyte sampling.

Label-free impedance detection of cancer cells from whole blood on an integrated centrifugal microfluidic platform.

An electrochemical Lab-on-a-Disc (eLoaD) platform for the automated quantification of ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3) from whole blood is reported. This centrifugal microfluidic system combines complex sample handling, i.e.

A portable centrifugal analyser for liver function screening.

Mortality rates of up to 50% have been reported after liver failure due to drug-induced hepatotoxicity and certain viral infections (Gao et al., 2008). These adverse conditions frequently affect HIV and tuberculosis patients on regular medication in resource-poor settings.

Fluidic automation of nitrate and nitrite bioassays in whole blood by dissolvable-film based centrifugo-pneumatic actuation.

This paper demonstrates the full centrifugal microfluidic integration and automation of all liquid handling steps of a 7-step fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA) for quantifying nitrate and nitrite levels in whole blood within about 15 min. The assay protocol encompasses the extraction of metered plasma, the controlled release of sample and reagents (enzymes, co-factors and fluorescent labels), and incubation and detection steps. Flow control is implemented by a rotationally actuated dissolvable film (DF) valving scheme.

At-line bioprocess monitoring by immunoassay with rotationally controlled serial siphoning and integrated supercritical angle fluorescence optics.

In this paper we report a centrifugal microfluidic "lab-on-a-disc" system for at-line monitoring of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) in a typical bioprocess environment. The novelty of this device is the combination of a heterogeneous sandwich immunoassay on a serial siphon-enabled microfluidic disc with automated sequential reagent delivery and surface-confined supercritical angle fluorescence (SAF)-based detection. The device, which is compact, easy-to-use and inexpensive, enables rapid detection of hIgG from a bioprocess sample.

Centrifugal microfluidics for cell analysis.

Over the past two decades, centrifugal microfluidic systems have successfully demonstrated their capability for robust, high-performance liquid handling to enable modular, multi-purpose lab-on-a-chip platforms for a wide range of life-science applications. Beyond the handling of homogeneous liquids, the unique, rotationally controlled centrifugal actuation has proven to be specifically advantageous for performing cell and particle handling and assays. In this review we discuss technologies to implement two important steps for cell handling, namely separation and capturing/counting.

Centrifugo-pneumatic valving utilizing dissolvable films.

In this article we introduce a novel technology that utilizes specialized water dissolvable thin films for valving in centrifugal microfluidic systems. In previous work (William Meathrel and Cathy Moritz, IVD Technologies, 2007), dissolvable films (DFs) have been assembled in laminar flow devices to form efficient sacrificial valves where DFs simply open by direct contact with liquid. Here, we build on the original DF valving scheme to leverage sophisticated, merely rotationally actuated vapour barriers and flow control for enabling comprehensive assay integration with low-complexity instrumentation on "lab-on-a-disc" platforms.