Design features for enhancing optical detection on lab-on-a-disc platforms

Abstract

Centrifugal microfluidics has undergone a massive growth surge over the past 15 years, evident by the number of comprehensive reviews currently available, with special regard towards Lab-On-A-Disc (LOAD) diagnostic solutions.1–3 The potential of a LOAD system is dependent on its ability to mimic the specific laboratory protocols with which are required to conduct sample-to-answer analysis. This would include sample handling and manipulation (such as mixing and separation), sample modification (including heating and redox reactions), as well as reaction detection (such as optical, electrochemical, or as required by user). Optical detection strategies on LOAD platforms has been largely successful in both the fields of biological and chemical sensing.4 Herein, will demonstrate the optical optimisations which were carried out on a biological fluorescent-based5 and a chemical absorbance-based6 LOAD detection platforms. This will include the identification and optimisation of LED-photodiode selection, the effects of detection orientation and pathway-length fluorophore selection. Also covered will be a comparison between the microfluidic architecture for incorporating either detection methods as well as their reported limits of detection