Abstract

Highly Integrated Sample-to-Answer Microfluidic Cartridges for Diagnostic and Life Science Applications

Holger Becker, Chief Scientific Officer, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH

A clear technological trend in point-of-care diagnostics (POCD) is the utilization of single-use disposable microfluidics-enabled cartridges to perform the respective diagnostic assay in a sample-to-answer fashion. This means that all protocol steps from the introduction of the raw, unprocessed sample are carried out in this cartridge. As a consequence of this development, the requirements with regards to the complexity of cartridge design and function have massively increased in recent years. In addition, also the reagents required to perform these protocols have to be integrated, either in liquid and/or dried form, in order to reduce contamination risk and to simplify the instrument which operates the cartridge. In this talk, we will present strategies to develop such complex cartridges as well as highlight technological challenges. With several examples for such microfluidics-enabled cartridges we will exemplify the technical solutions.