α1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a glycoprotein present
in serum, which is associated with the modulation of the immune system
in response to stress or injuries, and a biomarker for inflammatory
diseases and cancers. Here, we propose a pump-free microfluidic device
for the electrochemical determination of AGP. The microfluidic device
utilizes capillary-driven flow and a passive mixing system to label
the AGP with the Os (VI) complex (an electrochemical tag) inside the
main channel, before delivering the products to the electrode surface.
Furthermore, thanks to the resulting geometry, all the analytical
steps can be carried out inside the device: labeling, washing, and
detection by adsorptive transfer stripping square wave voltammetry.
The microfluidic device exhibited a linear range from 500 to 2000
mg L–1 (R
2 = 0.990)
and adequate limit of detection (LOD = 231 mg L–1). Commercial serum samples were analyzed to demonstrate the success
of the method, yielding recoveries around 83%. Due to its simplicity,
low sample consumption, low cost, short analysis time, disposability,
and portability, the proposed method can serve as a point-of-care/need
testing device for AGP.