Parallel Microfluidic System for High Throughput Label Free Cytokine Analysis

描述（申请人提供）：该项目的最终目标是开发一个多重无标记平台，用于患者样本的高通量细胞因子筛查。虽然目前的悬浮相多重细胞因子分析工具（Luminex）有好处，但该技术存在许多缺点，包括试剂可变性、高试剂成本和长运行时间。高通量无标记系统的发展将提高细胞因子分析的通量和重现性。此外，还将通过降低开发成本和去除标记试剂来实现成本节约。因此，Wasatch Microfluidics将与贝勒免疫研究所（BIIR）合作，以适应Wasatch的连续流动点样技术，以创建直接与商业生物传感器阵列平台集成的流动池阵列。目前，流动池技术是高通量无标记传感技术发展的限制因素。将Wasatch Microfluidics Continuous Flow MicrospotterTM改造成高度平行的流动池，应该开始消除这一瓶颈，并为更高度平行的系统提供模板。初步工作表明，流动池阵列可以将平庸的SPR成像仪器转换为具有高度竞争力的蛋白质分析仪器，与最先进的SPR仪器相比，其通量很低。一旦流动池完成并与BIIR的商业生物传感器平台集成，将进行验证试验，以证明细胞因子区分和高通量多重无标记格式的细胞因子水平定量测量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a multiplex label free platform for high- throughput cytokine screening of patient samples. Though there are benefits to the current suspension phase multiplex cytokine analysis tools (Luminex), the technology suffers from a number of drawbacks including reagent variability, high reagent costs, and long run times. The development of a high throughput label free system will improve the throughput and reproducibility of cytokine analyses. In addition, cost savings will be realized through reductions in development costs and the removal of labeling reagents. Accordingly, Wasatch Microfluidics will team with the Baylor Institute of Immunological Research (BIIR) to adapt Wasatch's continuous flow spotting technologies to create a flow cell array directly integrated with a commercial biosensor array platform. Currently, flow cell technology is the limiting factor in the development of high throughput label free sensing technologies. Modification of Wasatch Microfluidics Continuous Flow MicrospotterTM into a highly parallel flow cell should begin to eliminate this bottleneck and provide a template for even more highly parallel systems. Preliminary work suggests that a flow cell array can convert mediocre SPR imaging instruments into highly competitive protein analysis instruments comparable to state-of-the-art SPR instruments with meager throughput. Once the flow cell is completed and integrated with the commercial biosensor platform at the BIIR, validation testing will be conducted to demonstrate cytokine discrimination and quantitative measurement of cytokine levels in a high throughput multiplex label free format.