Chemiluminescence-Based Biosensors for Point-of-Care Multiplex Sensing as a Companion Diagnostics in Personalized Medicine

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SELECTBIO

Aldo Roda, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of Bologna

Abstract
A portable biosensing device was developed employing chemiluminescence lensless “contact imaging” detection. The device is composed of an ultrasensitive CCD camera placed in contact, through a fiber optic taper, with a transparent microfluidics-based reaction chip. Arrays of biospecific probes (antibodies or nucleic acids) are immobilized in the chip to perform binding assays, while enzyme activity measurements are performed in solution. As a proof-of-concept, a model hybrid panel test was realized by combining an enzyme assay for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, a nucleic acid hybridization assay for Parvovirus B19 DNA, and an immunoassay for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a model antigen. Adequate LODs were obtained, such as 10 IU/L for ALP, 3.5 fmol/L of HRP, and 50 nmol/L for B19 DNA. The key advantage of the device is the possibility to combine different types of assays, thus providing the ability to develop “ad hoc” cartridges for the diagnosis of a given disease through the detection of a panel of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers, even of different nature (e.g., enzymes, antibodies, proteins, nucleic acids). This approach is particularly interesting in the context of personalized medicine, which requires personalized diagnostics for patient targeted therapy and follow up.