New Jersey Institute of Technology

Bharath Babu Nunna

Eon Soo Lee

K Stephen Suh

An apparatus and method to detect disease-specific antigens assists in disease diagnosis. Point-of-care (POC) micro biochip incorporates at least one hydrophilic microchannel for controlled and self-driven flow of body fluid. Metallic nano-interdigitated electrodes disposed within the channels give enhanced sensitivity detection. Microchannel controls flow and amplifies a capillary effect. Electrodes are fabricated on microchannel surface to detect biomolecular interactions. When a sample flows through microchannel, disease-specific antigens from the sample form antigen-antibody complex with antibodies immobilized on electrodes. Antigen-antibody interaction is detected via an electrical change in the biochip's nano circuit. Each electrode may include a different antibody to detect different antigens. Capacitance during antigen-antibody interaction without microfluidic flow is higher than with microfluidic flow due to immobilized antibodies instability on sensing surface caused by shear stress. POC biochip provides nano level detection of many disease-specific antigens of any type based on micro volume or single drop sized sample.

Enhanced sensitivity and specificity for point-of-care (POC) micro biochip

A microfluidic biochip for detecting disease antigens using gold nano interdigitated electrode circuit under a controlled self-driven flow condition is disclosed. The biochip incorporates hydrophilic microchannels for controlled self-driven flow and gold nano interdigitated electrodes for capacitive sensing with enhanced sensitivity. The biochip's microchannel has a surface treated with oxygen plasma to control microchannel surface hydrophilicity and flow rate of the biofluid sample. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are utilized as an intermediate layer to enhance the binding capability to nano electrodes to enhance sensitivity. Due to the carboxylic groups of the CNTs, covalent bond binding between the antibodies and the CNTs allows the antibodies to adhere more readily on the surface of the electrodes. The quantity of antibodies attaching to the surface is increased due to the high surface to area ratio in CNTs.

Microfluidic biochip with enhanced sensitivity

Improved diagnostic assemblies are provided. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved and highly advantageous chip based diagnostic assemblies configured to detect human diseases (e.g., cancer) and/or pathogens, and related methods of use. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for consumable micro- or nano-fluidic chip based diagnostic assemblies having visual biosensors, with the diagnostic assemblies using continuous flow-based micro- or nano-fluidic channels and antibody-based immuno-complex designs. In certain embodiments, the diagnostic assembly includes a self-sustainable and operable chip (e.g., thumb-sized chip) that is configured to be deployed as a single use consumable with a direct all-or-none readout as an output to satisfy a point of screening method to screen a population.

Microfluidic diagnostic assembly

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are utilized to detect diseases and minimize false negative/positive scenarios. MIPs are implemented on a nano-electric circuit in a biochip where interactions of MIPs and an Antigen/Antibody (AG/AB) are detected, and disease specific biomarkers diagnosed. Biomarker detection is achieved with interdigitated gold electrodes in a biochip's microchannel. Capacitance changes due to biomarker interaction with AG/AB electrode coating diagnose diseases in a microfluidic environment. Biofluid passes through the microchannel and exposed to the nanocircuit to generate a capacitance difference and diagnose any specific disease in the biofluid sample. Blood capillary flow in a microchannel curved section experience centrifugal forces that separate liquid from solid. Various blood densities and segments experience different centrifugal effects while flowing through the curved section so serum is separated from various solid matter without using external devices.

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Randolph, NJ, United States of America

Bharath Babu Nunna