Abstract

Development of an Integrated Paper-based Molecular Diagnostic Device for Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)

Wamadeva Balachandran, Director, Brunel University London

Point-of-Care testing (POCT) devices have received immense attraction due to its simplicity, ease of use and swiftness. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) are a new range of devices directly aimed for POC testing. They manipulate fluids within hydrophilic channels patterned on paper and utilize the wicking capability of paper to mobilize the samples into test zones where reactions with reagents occur and results are produced. µPADs incorporate the merits of microfluidic devices and the established technology of lateral flow assays performed on porous media. µPADs are shown to be compatible with many diagnostic immunoassays. However, they suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity. The window time to diagnosis is long for immunoassays, nevertheless, recent biological research suggest that DNA based diagnostics (molecular diagnostics) result in a more specific and sensitive assay than immunoassays with much smaller window time for diagnosis. Realizing molecular diagnostics on paper is a challenge that has been little addressed. The DOCLab group at Brunel University is developing an integrated paper-based molecular diagnostic device for early diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. The presentation will discuss a chitosan functionalized paper-based lateral flow mediated nucleic acid extraction method which can be integrated with existing biosensing mechanisms into a simple to use, low-cost, disposable µPAD or a lateral flow molecular diagnostic device.