Fluidics Cube for Biosensor Miniaturization

Abstract

To create a small, portable, fully automated biosensor, a compact means of fluid handling is required. We designed, manufactured, and tested a "fluidics cube" for such a purpose. This cube, made of thermoplastic, contains reservoirs and channels for liquid samples and reagents and operates without the use of any internal valves or meters; it is a passive fluid circuit that relies on pressure relief vents to control fluid movement. We demonstrate the ability of pressure relief vents to control fluid movement and show how to simply manufacture or modify the cube. Combined with the planar array biosensor developed at the Naval Research Laboratory, it brings us one step closer to realizing our goal of a handheld biosensor capable of analyzing multiple samples for multiple analytes.

Current and Developing Technologies for Monitoring Agents of Bioterrorism and Biowarfare

“…The array biosensor has been tested with target analytes in different complex matrices, including toxins in clinical fluids, environmental samples and food matrices (179), and bacteria in food (251,277). The assay process has been automated with development of a small fluidics module that can be coupled to the array detector (79). The integrating waveguide biosensor uses a glass capillary tube as the waveguide and has been used to detect staphylococcal enterotoxin B at pg/ml levels (178).…”

Fluorescence-based array biosensors for detection of biohazards

“…The second invention was an integrated fluidics unit whereby fluid flow was controlled using a small air relief valve (Dodson et al. 2001; Feldstein 2002).…”

“…This system has reduced the size, weight and power requirements of the fluidic components. Several prototypes of this system have been constructed by fabricating a layered fluidic system in plastic (Dodson et al. 2001).…”

TIRF Array Biosensor for Environmental Monitoring

“…The first was a method for attaching flow channels to the waveguide without stripping evanescent light from the surface [70,79]. The second invention was an integrated fluidics unit whereby fluid flow was controlled using small air valves [122,123]. To solve the problem of attaching a flow cell to the waveguide without perturbing the confinement of the excitation light, but still allowing for optimization of the evanescent field in either air or water, a unique patterned reflective cladding was developed.…”

“…The array biosensor fluidics system and flow manifold described by Dodson et al [122] and Leatzow et al [147], respectively, could also be molded in a single plastic piece. Such plastic parts could be integrated along with a molded lens array for focusing the fluorescent signal onto the image camera and lyophilized fluorescence reagent into a disposable sensing element.…”