Fiber-based assay with pipetteless absorption sampling

What is it about?

For early or regular diagnostic purposes, a non-invasive bioanalyte detection is required. Saliva is a potential body fluid source for non-invasive assessment of various biological information. Saliva contains various biochemical substances related to health, e.g. ions, non-protein / protein compounds such as hormones, and many others. Until now, most of quantitative assessment of these bioanalytes requires complex and expensive equipments. This work proposed the use of cotton fibers as integrated colorimetric assay device that can sample saliva without pipette or microtubes, using time-based absorption sampling. The device has integrated in situ calibration that enables low cost semi-quantitative assay of salivary bioanalytes. The benefit of time-based absorption sampling is proven by comparing with conventional pipetted dropping sampling using the same device.

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Why is it important?

The report presents the first time the implementation of microfluidic channel and assay using cotton fibers. Fibers are twisted to build microfluidic channel and made into ball to make reaction zones. Sampling is conducted using time-based absorption with the fiber-based microfluidic sampling. Hence, additional equipment like pipette is not required. Furthermore, integrated calibration is provided to enable more quantitative colorimetric assay.

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