An integrated device for fast and sensitive immunosuppressant detection

Abstract

The present paper describes a compact point of care (POC) optical device for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The core of the device is a disposable plastic chip where an immunoassay for the determination of immunosuppressants takes place. The chip is designed in order to have ten parallel microchannels allowing the simultaneous detection of more than one analyte with replicate measurements. The device is equipped with a microfluidic system, which provides sample mixing with the necessary chemicals and pumping samples, reagents and buffers into the measurement chip, and with integrated thin film amorphous silicon photodiodes for the fluorescence detection. Submicrometric fluorescent magnetic particles are used as support in the immunoassay in order to improve the efficiency of the assay. In particular, the magnetic feature is used to concentrate the antibody onto the sensing layer leading to a much faster implementation of the assay, while the fluorescent feature is used to increase the optical signal leading to a larger optical dynamic change and consequently a better sensitivity and a lower limit of detection. The design and development of the whole integrated optical device are here illustrated. In addition, detection of mycophenolic acid and cyclosporine A in spiked solutions and in microdialysate samples from patient blood with the implemented device are reported. Graphical abstract

A magnetic nanoparticle-based microfluidic device fabricated using a 3D-printed mould for separation of Escherichia coli from blood

“…A step forward towards miniaturization and portability is the use of optical fibre spectrometers [ 33 ] or laser-photomultiplier systems [ 34 ]. The integration of photodiodes coupled with the MNPs would be a viable solution to complete a POC design [ 35 ].…”

Beta-Lactam Dose Optimisation in the Intensive Care Unit: Targets, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Toxicity

“…While there are several high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assays available, access to these in ICUs may be limited [31]. One option to negate the need for chromatography assays is point-of-care (POC) testing; aiming to provide rapid results at the bedside, allowing immediate clinical interpretation [103]. While most research into POC TDM has focused on immunosuppressants, recent studies with beta-lactam antibiotics show promise [104].…”

Hybrid 3D printed integrated microdevice for the determination of copper ions in human body fluids

“…Microfluidics, also known as lab-on-a-chip (LOC), has aroused people’s great interest, particularly during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, for its numerous advantages, such as precise control and manipulation of low-volume fluids, reduced reagent consumption, lowered detection time, higher sensitivity and detection automation [ 20 – 24 ]. Integrated LOC devices, such as centrifugal microfluidics devices, can incorporate many of the necessary functionality of biochemistry and medical analysis field into a tiny chip [ 25 – 27 ]. The flow detection system with SWASV based on microfluidics has been investigated [ 28 – 30 ].…”