A microfluidic device for dry sample preservation in remote settings

摘要: This paper describes a microfluidic device for dry preservation of biological specimens at room temperature that incorporates chemical stabilization matrices. Long-term samples is crucial remote medical analysis, biosurveillance, and archiving, but the current paradigm transporting remotely obtained relies on costly “cold chain” to preserve analytes within biospecimens. We propose an alternative approach involves use microfluidics in state with matrices, developed by others, are based self-preservation chemistries found nature. describe SlipChip-based allows minimally trained users three simple steps placing sample inlet, closing lid, slipping one layer device. The fills automatically, pre-loaded desiccant dries samples. Later, can be rehydrated recovered analysis laboratory. portable, compact, self-contained, so it transported operated untrained even limited-resource settings. Features such as dead-end sequential filling, combined “pumping lid” mechanism, enable precise quantification original sample’s volume while avoiding overfilling. In addition, we demonstrated integrated plasma filtration module, validated operations capabilities testing stability purified RNA solutions. These features modularity this platform (which facilitates integration simplifies operation) would applicable other devices beyond application. envision field matrices develops, will useful cost-effectively facilitating biosurveillance also opening new opportunities diagnostics, drug development, fields.