Disposable immunoassay chips for HIV monitoring in resource-constrained environments

Abstract

Here we describe the microfluidic components enabling disposable immunoassay chips for HIV diagnosis in resource-constrained environments. The thermoplastic chip monitors the conserved viral capsid protein, p24 antigen. It combines blood sampling and plasma separation together with zero-power on-chip pumps and burst valves for manual flow control of sample and buffers. To enable sensitive p24 detection we have realized a polymer monolith porous support together with a novel anchoring chemistry allowing efficient covalent antibody immobilization. Using IgG as a model antigen to monolith-immobilized anti-IgG, an detection limit below 0.1 ng/mL has been achieved with an assay time of only 10 min.