3D-printed supercapacitor-powered electrochemiluminescent protein immunoarray

Abstract

Herein we report a low cost, sensitive, supercapacitor-powered electrochemiluminescent (ECL) protein immunoarray fabricated by an inexpensive 3-dimensional (3D) printer. The immunosensor detects three cancer biomarker proteins in serum within 35 min. The 3D-printed device employs hand screen printed carbon sensors with gravity flow for sample/reagent delivery and washing. Prostate cancer biomarker proteins, prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and platelet factor-4 (PF-4) in serum were captured on the antibody-coated carbon sensors followed by delivery of detection-antibody-coated Ru(bpy)32+ (RuBPY)-doped silica nanoparticles in a sandwich immunoassay. ECL light was initiated from RuBPY in the silica nanoparticles by electrochemical oxidation with tripropylamine (TPrA) co-reactant using supercapacitor power and ECL was captured with a CCD camera. The supercapacitor was rapidly photo-recharged between assays using an inexpensive solar cell. Detection limits were 300–500 fg mL−1 for the 3 proteins in undiluted calf serum. Assays of 6 prostate cancer patient serum samples gave good correlation with conventional single protein ELISAs. This technology could provide sensitive onsite cancer diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings with the need for only moderate-level training.

Electrochemiluminescence Detection in Paper‐Based and Other Inexpensive Microfluidic Devices

“…[61] In 2016, Kadimisetty et al reported the design and fabrication of a 3D-printed, supercapacitor-powered ECL microfluidic protein immunosensor array. [62] The 3D-printed device employed hand screen printed carbon sensors with gravity flow for sample/ reagent delivery and washing. The sensors were used to analyze three prostate cancer biomarker proteins, prostate specific antigen, prostate specific membrane antigen and platelet factor-4.…”

Low-Cost Microfluidic Arrays for Protein-Based Cancer Diagnostics Using ECL Detection

“…26 All the operator needs to do is load the cassette with reagents and samples, and start the microprocessor program. At the end of the assay, the operator measures the ECL output using the camera while applying 0.9 V vs SCE with a potentiostat.…”

“…The immunoarray is powered by a supercapacitor for ECL generation, thus avoiding the potentiostat, but still uses CCD camera detection. 26 The supercapacitor is recharged after each assay measurement with a light activated solar cell. The device utilizes three 170 µL reagent reservoirs with plugging cap inserts that seal them to stop the flow (Fig.…”

Fabrication and optimisation of a fused filament 3D-printed microfluidic platform

“…This has resulted in materials such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) becoming highly desirable for microfluidic device prototyping [10], and for the manufacture of disposable lab equipment such as the PMMA cuvettes used in this work. While polylactic acid (PLA) is not yet commonly used as a microfluidic platform, devices have been developed [13], and PLA's biochemical properties and suitability for surface chemistry are understood [14,15].…”