Abstract

Droplet-based Microfluidics for Biomarker Detection and Quantification

Valérie Taly, CNRS Research Director, Group Leader and Professor, Université Paris Cité

Droplet-based microfluidic has led to the development of highly powerful tools with great potential in High-Throughput Screening where individual assays are compartmentalized within aqueous droplets acting as independant microreactors. Thanks to the combination of a decrease of assay volume and an increase of throughput, this technology goes beyond the capacities of conventional screening systems. Added to the flexibility and versatility of platform designs, such progresses in the manipulation of sub-nanoliter droplets has allowed to dramatically increase experimental level of control and precision.

The presentation will aim at demonstrating through selected examples, the great potential of this technology for patient monitoring in infectious diseases and cancers. A specific focuss will be made on the application of droplet-based digital PCR for the detection of blood-based methylation biomarkers (liquid biopsy). The results of several prospective clinical studies will be presented highlighting great potential of this technology for the follow-up of both advanced and localized cancers.