Development and testing of a multiplex microbead assay on a plastic microfluidic device

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Cytodiagnostics is an Ontario-based biotechnology company and a leader in the development of nanotechnology products for the life sciences market. The company has identified a market opportunity to integrate their nanoparticle and microbead technology with microfluidic systems. These systems, also commonly referred to as "lab-on-a-chip" devices, take advantage of physical forces at the microscale to precisely control and manipulate fluids in miniaturized geometries. Because of their intricate geometric features, these devices are ideal in applications involving micron-sized materials such as biological samples, and thus are currently receiving significant attention in life sciences research and the biotech industry. Cytodiagnostics has conceptualized a new multiplex microbead assay on a microfluidic chip that would represent a major advance over existing products in the market, but progress has been hindered by long turnaround times and high development costs. The main goal of this project is to use simple and low-cost fabrication processes, recently developed in Dr. Young's laboratory, to streamline the development process for Cytodiagnostics' multiplex microbead assay. The collaborative effort will involve design and fabrication of a plastic microfluidic device that interfaces with a high-throughput array of microwells, enabling efficient deposition of microbeads into the array. The array can then be amenable to fluorescence imaging, detection, and analysis. By expediting the development process, Cytodiagnostics will be able to offer new, innovative products to the market in less time, thereby further demonstrating their leadership in the biotech industry, and strengthening Canada's reputation as a hub for biotech innovations.