Ricerc@Sapienza

A lab-on-chip system, integrating an all-glass microfluidics and on-chip optical detection, was developed and tested. The microfluidic network is etched in a glass substrate, which is then sealed with a glass cover by direct bonding. Thin film amorphous silicon photosensors have been fabricated on the sealed microfluidic substrate preventing the contamination of the micro-channels. The microfluidic network is then made accessible by opening inlets and outlets just prior to the use, ensuring the sterility of the device.

Here, we present a LoC device functionalized with an aptasensor material based on poly 2-(hydroxyethylmethacylate) (PHEMA) brushes, for monitoring the presence of the mycotoxin Ochratoxin A (OTA). OTA has been recognized toxic for different organs and its early detection in food commodities, by using this LoC in the production site, would reduce the risks for human and animal health. The aptamer, having high affinity versus OTA (OTA-aptamer), is immobilized into the PHEMA layer grown within a microfluidic channel.

In this paper, we present an optoelectronic system-on-glass (SoG), suitable for detection of fluorescent molecule. It integrates, on the same glass substrate, an array of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photosensors and a thin film interferential filter. The system can be directly coupled with another glass substrate hosting a polydimethylsiloxane based microfluidic network where the fluorescent phenomena occur.