Fluid Waveguides For Microfluidic Flow Cytometry

描述(由申请人提供)：此第一阶段SBIR申请提出使用新的流体-液体波导技术作为芯片上流式细胞仪技术的基础。我们已经证明，折射率失配的流体可以用来产生动态波导，这些波导可以用来量化岩心流体中包含的颗粒的浓度。我们建议通过执行集成的芯片上激活的血小板计数来证明这项技术的可行性和优势。这项拟议的应用是这项技术作为一种护理点生物医学诊断工具的潜力的辛酸说明。这项建议的具体目的是： 1)为单电池检测灵敏度配置流动条件和光学元件。我们相信，这项技术的灵敏度极限将使单个细胞或颗粒的检测和计数成为可能。 2)将这种新的片上波导技术与Metafluidics在以下领域的现有专业知识相结合 微尺度液体和细胞处理，以执行单步全血分析。这一目标的成功将通过对照标准化的活化血小板计数方案进行验证来量化。 第一阶段的成功将为这项技术在第二阶段的成熟奠定基础，这将导致一种永久的硬件，几乎任何分析都可以使用定制的试剂盒。这将产生一种独特的工具，可广泛用作重点诊断工具或平台研究辅助工具。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase I SBIR application proposes the use of novel fluid-fluid waveguiding techniques as the basis of an on-chip flow cytometry technology. We have shown that refractive index-mismatched fluids may be used to create dynamic waveguides and that these guides may be used to quantify the concentration of particulates contained within the core fluid. We propose to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of this technology by performing integrated on-chip activated platelet counts. This proposed application serves as a poignant illustration of this technology's potential as a point of care biomedical diagnostic tool. The specific aims of this proposal are to: 1) To configure flow conditions and optics for single cell detection sensitivity. We believe that the sensitivity limit of this technique will enable the detection and counting of individual cells or particles. 2) To combine this novel on-chip waveguiding technique with Metafluidics' existing expertise in microscale fluid and cell handling to perform a single-step whole blood assay. Success of this aim will be quantified through validation against standardized activated platelet counting protocols. Phase I success will set the stage for the maturation of this technology during Phase II, which will result in a piece of permanent hardware with which customized cartridges for virtually any assay may be used. This will produce a unique instrument that is broadly applicable as a focused diagnostic tool or a platform research aid.