A simple device for multiplex ELISA made from melt-extruded plastic microcapillary film

Lab Chip. 2011 Dec 21;11(24):4267-73. doi: 10.1039/c0lc00357c. Epub 2011 Oct 27.

Abstract

We present a simple device for multiplex quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISA) made from a novel melt-extruded microcapillary film (MCF) containing a parallel array of 200 μm capillaries along its length. To make ELISA devices different protein antigens or antibodies were immobilised inside individual microcapillaries within long reels of MCF extruded from fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). Short pieces of coated film were cut and interfaced with a pipette, allowing sequential uptake of samples and detection solutions into all capillaries from a reagent well. As well as being simple to produce, these FEP MCF devices have excellent light transmittance allowing direct optical interrogation of the capillaries for simple signal quantification. Proof of concept experiments demonstrate both quantitative and multiplex assays in FEP MCF devices using a standard direct ELISA procedure and read using a flatbed scanner. This new multiplex immunoassay platform should find applications ranging from lab detection to point-of-care and field diagnostics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Goats
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Plastics / chemistry*
  • Point-of-Care Systems

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Plastics