Microfluidic platform for fast immunoassays

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 9125.1;7 PFNM-NM

Short description (English)

Microfluidic platform for fast immunoassays

Short description (French)

Microfluidic platform for fast immunoassays

Abstract (English)

The aim of this project is to develop a novel microfluidic platform for fast immunoassays using the immunochip developed by DiagnoSwiss, but with a enhanced loading capacity and an interface to mass spectrometry analysis. The first generation of instruments with electrochemical detection has demonstrated that it was possible to use microfluidics to reduce the size of an ELISA assay down to nanoliters range, thereby decreasing dramatically the analysis time. This first generation of ELISA assay instrument is now commercially available in a robotic version under the trade name GRAVITM-Chip.The first goal of this project is to combine magnetic beads technology to the microfluidic immunochip in order to increase the sorbing capacity of antigens so as to lower the detection limit. The second goal is to interface the immunochip directly to mass spectrometry to obtain a direct detection without the use of an enzymatic amplification step. The new instrument will benefit from an automated sample dispensing unit, from novel stationary phases and a well-proven electrospray ionisation unit.

Abstract (French)

The aim of this project is to develop a novel microfluidic platform for fast immunoassays using the immunochip developed by DiagnoSwiss, but with a enhanced loading capacity and an interface to mass spectrometry analysis. The first generation of instruments with electrochemical detection has demonstrated that it was possible to use microfluidics to reduce the size of an ELISA assay down to nanoliters range, thereby decreasing dramatically the analysis time. This first generation of ELISA assay instrument is now commercially available in a robotic version under the trade name GRAVITM-Chip.The first goal of this project is to combine magnetic beads technology to the microfluidic immunochip in order to increase the sorbing capacity of antigens so as to lower the detection limit. The second goal is to interface the immunochip directly to mass spectrometry to obtain a direct detection without the use of an enzymatic amplification step. The new instrument will benefit from an automated sample dispensing unit, from novel stationary phases and a well-proven electrospray ionisation unit.