Microfluidics sensor for sepsis

Interleukin 6 in a blood sample indicates the body’s response to infection.  Knowing this, MIT engineers have designed a microfluidics device that captures IL-6 in as little as 5 microliters of blood.  “In an effort to create a less expensive alternative [to current biomarker identification], the researchers looked to miniaturize a magnetic bead-based assay. Their device contains a microfluidic channel that is loaded with a blood sample and microbeads that contain antibodies designed to capture IL-6. A peristaltic pump moves the liquid around the device, before the beads that are bound to IL-6 attach to an electrode. By passing a current through the electrode, the device can measure the amount of bound IL-6 on the beads, from which it can calculate the amount in the blood.“  MORE

Image Credit:   MIT and MedGadget.com