Microfluidic system for the detection of phosphopeptides with molecularly imprinted polymer particles: Photo of the chip with detection unit
Source: BAM
Microfluidic systems are particularly suitable for the construction of miniaturised devices that can be used for analytical or diagnostic applications outside of a conventional laboratory environment and where the sample and/or the analyte make a determination in only one simple step - such as on a test strip - impossible. The advantage of microfluidics is that both chip and tube systems can be used, which means enormous flexibility when for instance purification or reaction steps become necessary. In this work, both approaches, i.e. chip and tubing microfluidics, were integrated and combined with sensory particles that generate a fluorescence signal when the analyte binds. For this purpose, these particles carry a few nanometre thin molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shell, which sensitively and selectively indicates the model analyte, a peptide with a phosphorylated amino acid (tyrosine). Phosphopeptides are of great interest as biomarkers for the detection of various cancers and neurological diseases, especially for early detection. If these could be performed directly in practices or hospitals, earlier diagnoses would be more feasible and costs would be lower.
For the current approach, Burnage et al. have realised effective peptide derivatisation, ion exchange and phase transfer for better matrix suppression, as well as sensitive optical detection here for the first time by building an inline multi-step platform based on the combination of modular and conventional microfluidics that allows rapid discrimination between phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated peptides. The work opens a new field of application for MIP probe systems for oxo-anionic analytes such as phosphorylated amino acid derivatives and highlights the synergistic effects of combining multiplatform microfluidics with fluorescent core/MIP shell particles. The result is a straightforward yet effective analytical assay, which is demonstrated by a case study from the highly relevant field of peptide sensing. The study is of great interest to a wide range of users in the field of bio(mimetic) integrated sensing thanks to the modularity of the system and the possible customisation of the individual components.
Detecting phosphopeptides with microfluidics and fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymers
Samual C. Burnage, Jérémy Bell, Wei Wan, Evgeniia Kislenko, Knut Rurack
Published in Lab on a Chip, issue 23, pages 466-474. 2023.
BAM Department Analytical Chemistry; Reference Materials
BAM Division Chemical and Optical Sensing