Centrifugal micro-fluidic device and method for detecting analytes from liquid specimen

Abstract

A centrifugal micro-fluidic device detecting analytes in a liquid specimen and a method of detection of analytes from a liquid specimen using the micro-fluidic device are provided. Reaction efficiency is increased using a repetitive flow of the liquid specimen induced by an alternating combination of capillary force and centrifugal force, thereby enhancing detection sensitivity.

1 . A centrifugal micro-fluidic device comprising:
 at least one micro-fluidic structure comprising a chamber and at least one channel connected with the chamber; and   a detection unit,   wherein the chamber comprises a reaction chamber in which a detectable signal generator is combined with an analyte of a liquid specimen to create a detectable signal generator-analyte complex, and an analysis chamber located downstream from the reaction chamber,   wherein the reaction chamber comprises a porous material which includes a detectable signal generator,   wherein the analysis chamber comprises a detection region where a capture binder is combined with the detectable signal generator-analyte complex,   wherein the detection region includes one of porous membranes, micro-pore structures and micro-pillars.   
     
     
         2 . A method of analyzing an analyte in a liquid specimen, the method comprising:
 injecting the liquid specimen into a micro-fluidic structure of a micro-fluidic device;   centrifuging the liquid specimen to obtain a supernatant;   transporting the supernatant into a porous material installed in a reaction chamber of the micro-fluidic structure by capillary action in which a detectable signal generator is contained, wherein the flow of the supernatant is temporarily stopped by capillary force of the porous material;   combining the analyte in the supernatant with the detectable signal generator to create a detectable signal generator-analyte complex;   subjecting the micro-fluidic device to centrifugation;   transporting the detectable signal generator-analyte complex into an analysis chamber of the micro-fluidic structure, wherein the analysis chamber is located downstream of the reaction chamber and comprises a detection region to which a capture binder is fixed, and the detection region comprises porous membranes, micro-pore structures or micro-pillars;   moving the detectable signal generator-analyte complex by capillary force to an end of the analysis chamber;   combining the detectable signal generator-analyte complex in the supernatant with the capture binder in the analysis chamber;   applying centrifugal force to the micro-fluidic device to deliver the supernatant moved to the end of the analysis chamber to another end of the analysis chamber and simultaneously combining the detectable signal generator-analyte complex in the supernatant with the capture binder in the analysis chamber;   applying centrifugal force to the micro-fluidic device to spin-dry the detection region of the analysis chamber; and   detecting the detectable signal generator-analyte complex combined with the capture binder.