Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection
Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) were integrated into microfluidic chips and tested to enhance point-of-care testing (POCT), with the aim of improving sensitivity and expanding the range of CRP detection. The microfluidic approach improves upon traditional methods by precisely controlling fluid spe...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Biosensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/4/214 |
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| author | Amirmahdi Tavakolidakhrabadi Matt Stark Alexander Küenzi Sandro Carrara Cédric Bessire |
| author_facet | Amirmahdi Tavakolidakhrabadi Matt Stark Alexander Küenzi Sandro Carrara Cédric Bessire |
| author_sort | Amirmahdi Tavakolidakhrabadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) were integrated into microfluidic chips and tested to enhance point-of-care testing (POCT), with the aim of improving sensitivity and expanding the range of CRP detection. The microfluidic approach improves upon traditional methods by precisely controlling fluid speed, thus enhancing sensitivity and accuracy in CRP measurements. The microfluidic approach also enables a one-step detection system, eliminating the need for buffer solution steps and reducing the nitrocellulose (NC) pad area to just the detection test line. This approach minimizes the non-specific binding of conjugated antibodies to unwanted areas of the NC pad, eliminating the need to block those areas, which enhances the sensitivity of detection. The gold nanoparticle method detects CRP in the high-sensitivity range of 1–10 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>g/mL, which is suitable for chronic disease monitoring. To broaden the CRP detection range, including infection levels beyond 10 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>g/mL, fluorescent labels were introduced, extending the measuring range from 1 to 70 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>g/mL. Experimental results demonstrate that integrating microfluidic technology significantly enhances operational efficiency by precisely controlling the flow rate and optimizing the mixing efficiency while reducing fabrication resources by eliminating the need for separate pads, making these methods suitable for resource-limited settings. Microfluidics also provides greater control over fluid dynamics compared to traditional LFIA methods, which contributes to enhanced detection sensitivity even with lower sample volumes and no buffer solution, helping to enhance the usability of POCT. These findings highlight the potential to develop accessible, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic tools essential for timely medical interventions at the POC. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2079-6374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-e860a73c133f4608aa2d927faa192dfa2025-08-20T02:28:40ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-03-0115421410.3390/bios15040214Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein DetectionAmirmahdi Tavakolidakhrabadi0Matt Stark1Alexander Küenzi2Sandro Carrara3Cédric Bessire4Institute for Human Centered Engineering HuCE, Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 2501 Biel, SwitzerlandInstitute for Human Centered Engineering HuCE, Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 2501 Biel, SwitzerlandInstitute for Human Centered Engineering HuCE, Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 2501 Biel, SwitzerlandBio/CMOS Interfaces Laboratory (BCI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 2002 Lausanne, SwitzerlandInstitute for Human Centered Engineering HuCE, Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 2501 Biel, SwitzerlandLateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) were integrated into microfluidic chips and tested to enhance point-of-care testing (POCT), with the aim of improving sensitivity and expanding the range of CRP detection. The microfluidic approach improves upon traditional methods by precisely controlling fluid speed, thus enhancing sensitivity and accuracy in CRP measurements. The microfluidic approach also enables a one-step detection system, eliminating the need for buffer solution steps and reducing the nitrocellulose (NC) pad area to just the detection test line. This approach minimizes the non-specific binding of conjugated antibodies to unwanted areas of the NC pad, eliminating the need to block those areas, which enhances the sensitivity of detection. The gold nanoparticle method detects CRP in the high-sensitivity range of 1–10 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>g/mL, which is suitable for chronic disease monitoring. To broaden the CRP detection range, including infection levels beyond 10 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>g/mL, fluorescent labels were introduced, extending the measuring range from 1 to 70 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>g/mL. Experimental results demonstrate that integrating microfluidic technology significantly enhances operational efficiency by precisely controlling the flow rate and optimizing the mixing efficiency while reducing fabrication resources by eliminating the need for separate pads, making these methods suitable for resource-limited settings. Microfluidics also provides greater control over fluid dynamics compared to traditional LFIA methods, which contributes to enhanced detection sensitivity even with lower sample volumes and no buffer solution, helping to enhance the usability of POCT. These findings highlight the potential to develop accessible, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic tools essential for timely medical interventions at the POC.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/4/214conjugated fluorescent antibodiesgold nanoparticle-based detectionmicrofluidic integrationextended detection range for CRP measurementmicrofluidic-controlled LFIA for CRP |
| spellingShingle | Amirmahdi Tavakolidakhrabadi Matt Stark Alexander Küenzi Sandro Carrara Cédric Bessire Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection Biosensors conjugated fluorescent antibodies gold nanoparticle-based detection microfluidic integration extended detection range for CRP measurement microfluidic-controlled LFIA for CRP |
| title | Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection |
| title_full | Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection |
| title_fullStr | Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection |
| title_short | Optimized Microfluidic Biosensor for Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Detection |
| title_sort | optimized microfluidic biosensor for sensitive c reactive protein detection |
| topic | conjugated fluorescent antibodies gold nanoparticle-based detection microfluidic integration extended detection range for CRP measurement microfluidic-controlled LFIA for CRP |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/4/214 |
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