Porous Bead-Based Diagnostic Platforms: Bridging the Gaps in Healthcare

Abstract

Advances in lab-on-a-chip systems have strong potential for multiplexed detection of a wide range of analytes with reduced sample and reagent volume; lower costs and shorter analysis times. The completion of high-fidelity multiplexed and multiclass assays remains a challenge for the medical microdevice field; as it struggles to achieve and expand upon at the point-of-care the quality of results that are achieved now routinely in remote laboratory settings. This review article serves to explore for the first time the key intersection of multiplexed bead-based detection systems with integrated microfluidic structures alongside porous capture elements together with biomarker validation studies. These strategically important elements are evaluated here in the context of platform generation as suitable for near-patient testing. Essential issues related to the scalability of these modular sensor ensembles are explored as are attempts to move such multiplexed and multiclass platforms into large-scale clinical trials. Recent efforts in these bead sensors have shown advantages over planar microarrays in terms of their capacity to generate multiplexed test results with shorter analysis times. Through high surface-to-volume ratios and encoding capabilities; porous bead-based ensembles; when combined with microfluidic elements; allow for high-throughput testing for enzymatic assays; general chemistries; protein; antibody and oligonucleotide applications.

Development of a Microsphere-Based System to Facilitate Real-Time Insulin Monitoring

“…[22][23][24][25] Their high surface area-to-volume ratio enhances capture of the analyte, which enhances their sensitivity. 26,27 Our hypothesis is that a monoclonal antibody based microsphere detection system can be developed into a system capable of quantitatively measuring insulin in a microfluidic device in real time. Ultimately, we intend to apply this system to insulin measurements in subcutaneous interstitial fluid (ISF), which is in equilibrium with the blood plasma and can be obtained using microdialysis.…”

Towards autonomous lab-on-a-chip devices for cell phone biosensing

“…Standalone computer controlled dedicated instruments provide these requirements (Kovarik et al, 2012;Gervais et al, 2011;Durner, 2010;Chou et al, 2012;King et al, 2014;Ducreé et al, 2007;Madou et al, 2001, https://www.cobasliat.com) but lack the ubiquity to serve personal testing.…”

Programmable Bio-Nano-Chip System: A Flexible Diagnostic Platform that Learns

“…In an attempt to move these medical microdevices into broadscale clinical practice, a number of clinical trials and pilot studies have been initiated. Likewise, the laboratory version (not shown here, but reported extensively previously) [5][6][7][8][9][10] along with the more recently developed integrated analyzer Figure 1a and p-BNC cartridges Figure 1b are now involved in six clinical trials and two pilot studies, respectively, involving over 5,000 patients including over 10 clinical sites for diseases in the areas of cardiac heart disease, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and drugs of abuse (Table 1).…”

“…Nanomaterials and microelectronics have been combined and adapted for the practical implementation of two classes of mini-sensors (bead-based sensors for soluble chemistries and membrane-based chips for cytology) that read out with high-performance yet affordable imaging systems now in development, testing, and clinical validation. Collectively, the two p-BNC sensor ensembles form a modular platform system that demonstrates one of the largest analyte diversity available to date [6]. Microdevices with a demonstrated capacity to learn, the p-BNC system leverages machine learning algorithms and high dimensional data to identify otherwise undetectable patterns underlying various diseases.…”

“…This platform technology combines unique chem-and biosensing capabilities with powerful machine learning algorithms to provide novel and intuitive single-valued indices across several major diseases [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Nanomaterials and microelectronics have been combined and adapted for the practical implementation of two classes of mini-sensors (bead-based sensors for soluble chemistries and membrane-based chips for cytology) that read out with high-performance yet affordable imaging systems now in development, testing, and clinical validation.…”