Development of two novel automated fluoropolymer microfluidic platforms for high sensitivity multiplex diagnostic immunoassays

Our research team recently pioneered the development of ultra-sensitive sandwich ELISA in a novel melt-extruded microfluidic material called Microcapillary Film (MCF) [1-4]. Quantitative biomarker assays can be performed on whole blood in fluoropolymer MCF strips without the need of sample preparation [2], with simple optical detection with low-cost optoelectronic components including smartphones [3] that deliver limit-of-detection comparable to state-of-the-art clinical equipment [4]. To date, these assays were performed manually, and no automation of assays in MCF strips has yet been reported. Here, we report for the first time prototypes of two fully automated devices for performing ELISA in fluoropolymer MCF, using integrated low cost optoelectronic components for affordable signal quantitation.