Devising a Successful Microfluidic Platform for ELISA

Enzyme-Linked-ImmunoSorbent-Assay, also known as ELISA, is a biochemical technique used to detect the presence of an antibody or antigen in a particular sample. The existing problem with ELISA is that it presents two options: either the detection of a small concentration over a long period of time, or the detection of a large concentration in a short period of time. Yet when combined with the technology of microfluidics, ELISA is able to become more effective and efficient by increasing the potential for the detection of low concentrations in a sample more quickly. My research project in the summer of 2009 focused on two objectives. First, I created a microfluidic platform with a membrane interface. Secondly, by allowing an electrical charge to be applied across the membrane interface, I was able to allow fluorescent reporter molecules to be trapped at the membrane interface of the microfluidic chip, thus permitting substantially earlier detection of a much smaller concentration of dye. Both project aims were successfully completed, which will allow for the possibility of further research to continue in demonstrating ELISA onto a microfluidic platform.