Rapid Point-of-Care Microfluidic Chip for Simultaneous Detection of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Malaria

Abstract

Dengue, Chikungunya, and Malaria are vector-borne diseases that significantly impact global health, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Millions suffer from this mosquito borne illnesses annually, leading to severe morbidity and mortality. Timely and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and disease control. However, current diagnostic methods, like PCR and ELISA, are slow, requiring several hours to days for results. This delay can prolong patient suffering, increase disease transmission, and limit access to care in resource-limited settings. This invention proposes a novel microfluidic chip for point-of-care diagnosis of these three diseases. The chip offers rapid results through a colorimetric change, enabling immediate visual interpretation within minutes. This eliminates the need for specialized labs and extensive training, making it suitable for use in remote clinics or even patient homes. Additionally, the chip is cost effective due to its affordable materials and simplifies testing by simultaneously detecting biomarkers for all three diseases in a single test. This multiplexing capability reduces time, cost, and the risk of misdiagnosis due to overlapping symptoms. By ensuring accurate and early diagnosis, the microfluidic chip has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, particularly in resource-limited settings, leading to better patient outcomes, reduced disease burden, and improved global health.

Specification

Description:Field of Invention: The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip for detecting and analysing biological fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva. The microfluidic chip enables precise and rapid testing of biological samples using minimal fluid volumes. It can be applied to various fields, including clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and research laboratories. 3. Background of the Invention: In recent years, the need for rapid and precise analysis of biological fluids has grown significantly, particularly in clinical diagnostics. Conventional diagnostic methods often require large sample volumes, numerous reagents, and extensive laboratory equipment. These methods can be time-consuming, making them unsuitable for urgent medical or point-of-care diagnostics. Microfluidic technology offers a miniaturized platform for performing biochemical assays, reducing the volume of fluids and reagents required while increasing the speed and accuracy of analysis. Microfluidic chips are designed to automate the processes of fluid manipulation, including mixing, separation, and detection, all within a single, compact device. Various patents have contributed to the development of this technology. For instance, US8679723B2 describes an integrated microfluidic chip for fluid sample analysis, while WO2006054323A1 discloses a droplet-based microfluidic system for biochemical assays. These inventions have enabled advances in clinical diagnostics, enabling faster and more efficient detection of diseases and other health conditions. However, there is still a need for improved microfluidic devices that offer enhanced control over fluid flow and interaction within the chip, without requiring complex and expensive sensors or detection systems. The present invention seeks to address these challenges and provide a simpler yet effective solution for biological fluid analysis. 4. Objective of the Invention: The main objective of this invention is to develop a microfluidic chip that facilitates the analysis of biological fluids, ensuring efficient and accurate detection with minimal sample volume. The invention focuses on providing a cost-effective, scalable solution for point-of-care diagnostics without the need for sophisticated detection systems or sensors. 5. Statement of the Invention: The present invention provides a microfluidic chip for the detection and analysis of biological fluids. The chip consists of micro-channels and micro-chambers that guide the flow of fluids through the device, where they interact with pre loaded reagents for chemical or biological reactions. The reactions take place within a controlled environment, allowing for the efficient capture and analysis of analytes. The microfluidic chip can be used in various settings, including medical laboratories, clinics, and remote healthcare facilities. The simplicity of the design and lack of external sensors make it an ideal choice for rapid, point of-care testing. 6. Summary of the Invention: The microfluidic chip described in this invention consists of a network of micro channels and micro-chambers that allow the controlled flow of biological fluids such as blood, urine, or saliva. The fluids are introduced into the chip through an inlet port, where they are guided through the micro-channels to reaction chambers containing pre-loaded reagents. The chip operates by exploiting microfluidic principles such as laminar flow, capillary action, and diffusion to ensure precise mixing and reaction of fluids. The reagents in the chambers may include chemicals or biomolecules specific to the analyte of interest, enabling rapid detection and analysis. The microfluidic chip does not require any sensors or external detection systems, making it a highly cost-effective solution for diagnostic applications. The output of the chip can be easily observed and analysed without the need for complex electronic or optical detection methods. The device can be used in various diagnostic applications, including blood glucose monitoring, detection of proteins, and DNA amplification. 7. A Brief Description of Accompanying Drawings: The drawings mentioned herein disclose exemplary aspects of the claimed disclosure. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawing. Overview of the Microfluid chip 3.Detection zone (Malaria) 1.Inlets 2.Mixing Chamber 4.Detection zone (Dengue) 5.Detection zone(chikungunya) Figure 1 6. Outlet Figure 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a microfluidic chip for detecting multiple diseases, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The biological sample (1) is introduced through the inlet (located at the top of the chip) and directed into the Mixing Chamber (2). The biological sample can be blood, serum, or any other fluid sample containing potential biomarkers for different diseases. In the Mixing Chamber, the sample is thoroughly mixed with diagnostic reagents to ensure uniform reaction across all zones. These reagents can include disease-specific antibodies, dyes, or enzymes which are essential for the detection process. The chamber is designed to allow sufficient contact time for the reagents to mix thoroughly with the sample. After the mixing process is complete, the sample is passed into the first detection zone (3) which is specific to Malaria. The zone contains reagents that selectively bind to malaria-related antigens or biomarkers if they are present in the sample. The structure and fluid flow ensure proper interaction between the sample and the detection elements in this zone. Next, the partially processed sample is directed to the second detection zone (4), which is configured to detect Dengue. In this zone, the sample interacts with dengue-specific reagents. If dengue-related pathogens or biomarkers are present, a reaction will occur, indicating a positive detection for dengue. The sample is then transferred to the third detection zone (5), which is designed for detecting Chikungunya. Similar to the previous zones, chikungunya-specific reagents are used to identify the presence of relevant biomarkers in the sample. Each zone operates independently, ensuring that the presence or absence of one disease does not affect the detection of others. Once the sample has passed through all detection zones, any excess fluid is expelled via the outlet (6). The outlet is designed to manage waste and unreacted sample material, ensuring that the chip is ready for the next sample or can be disposed of if it's a single-use device. The entire chip is composed of micro-scale channels, chambers, and detection zones, all of which are carefully designed to optimize fluid flow, minimize cross contamination, and provide rapid diagnostic results. The chip operates on the principle of multiplexed detection, allowing simultaneous detection of multiple diseases from a single sample in a quick and efficient manner. The zones, chambers, and inlet/outlet systems are sealed using appropriate materials to prevent leaks, maintain sterility, and ensure accurate results. The chip can be integrated with a variety of analytical systems for real-time monitoring or used as a standalone diagnostic tool in point-of-care settings. 8. Detailed Description of the Invention: In the present scenario, the rapid spread of various diseases globally highlights the importance of efficient diagnostic tools. Microfluidic chips offer a promising solution for early disease detection and monitoring by utilizing small fluid volumes and enabling controlled reactions in a compact format. These chips are capable of handling biological samples such as blood, urine, or saliva, making them ideal for point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings.The microfluidic chip consists of several key components, including the inlet port, micro-channels, reaction chambers, and the outlet port. The biological fluid sample is introduced into the inlet port, where it enters the micro-channels. These micro-channels guide the fluid into various reaction chambers, where pre-loaded reagents are stored. The micro channels are etched into a substrate material such as glass, silicon, or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), depending on the intended application of the chip. The reaction chambers are designed to hold specific reagents that interact with the biological fluids. These reagents may include enzymes, antibodies, or chemical agents tailored to the target analyte. For instance, in glucose detection applications, the chambers may contain glucose oxidase, which reacts with the glucose in the blood sample to produce a detectable change. The microfluidic chip leverages laminar flow to ensure that the fluids pass through the channels and interact with the reagents in a controlled manner. In addition, diffusion-based mixing occurs within the micro-channels, allowing for efficient and uniform reactions between the sample and the reagents. Once the reactions are complete, the fluid exits through the outlet port, where the resulting data can be observed. The chip is fabricated using microfabrication techniques such as soft lithography or photolithography. The material used in the construction of the chip, such as PDMS or glass, is selected for its chemical compatibility with biological fluids and reagents. The entire system is designed to be disposable after a single use, preventing cross-contamination between tests. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the chip is used for the detection of protein biomarkers in blood samples. The chip is pre-loaded with antibodies that bind specifically to the target proteins. As the blood sample flows through the micro-channels, the target proteins bind to the antibodies in the reaction chambers, allowing for easy detection and analysis of the presence of the biomarkers. In another embodiment, the microfluidic chip is designed for DNA amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The chip contains chambers for holding the necessary reagents, including nucleotides, primers, and DNA polymerase. The DNA sample is introduced into the chip, where it undergoes thermal cycling to amplify the target DNA sequences. The entire process occurs within the microfluidic chip, eliminating the need for bulky laboratory equipment. , Claims:1. I/We claim a microfluidic chip for the detection and analysis of biological fluids, comprising micro-channels and micro-chambers configured to transport and react biological samples.
2. I/We claim the microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biological fluids are selected from a group consisting of blood, saliva, and urine.
3. I/We claim the microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction chambers are pre-loaded with reagents for biochemical or biological reactions.
4. I/We claim the microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reagents include chemicals or biomolecules specific to the analyte of interest.
5. I/We claim the microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chip is fabricated from materials selected from a group consisting of PDMS, glass, and silicon.
6. I/We claim the microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chip operates without external sensors or detection systems.
7. I/We claim the microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chip is designed for single-use to prevent cross-contamination.
8. The microfluidic chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chip is used for point-of-care diagnostic applications

Documents