LAUSR

A microfluidic platform optimized for bead-based immunoassays is presented. It uses a simple design that incorporates passive valves in the inlet and outlet of a microreactor. The superhydrophobic, passive valves are created by selective plasma nanotexturing and deposition of a hydrophobic layer. The anti-sticking operation of the valves simplify the working principle, reduce the reagents needed, and enhance the fluorescence intensity of the assays performed on chip by reducing non-specific binding compared to assays performed on plate. Two different multi-step immunoassays were tested individually and as a mixture to evaluate the platform performance: IL6 and PDGF-2 human protein assays. The results show that the proposed platform offers faster assay kinetics, allows lower reagent use (5l instead of 50), enhanced fluorescent signals (by a factor of two or more), and reduced incubation time at least by a factor of 2. A possible configuration using the microfluidic platform for a portable biosensing system is also demonstrated. Display Omitted Superhydrophobic valves are incorporated inside a microfluidic.IL6 & PDGF-2 human proteins are detected using an antifouling LOC device.Time of analysis and sensitivity are improved using the LOC device.A portable biosensing system is demonstrated.