Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIs) are widely used for quick chemical and biological testing. Examples of LFIs include: pregnancy test, COVID-19 tests and water testing kits. Due to the lost cost-nature of both CD microfluidics and LFI testing strips, our group wanted to explore the possiblity of "controlling" the fluid menicsus propagation speed as it goes up the strip. Experiments were conducted and validated with ANSYS by manipulating RPM to halt (without flushing) the propagation of the fluid menicsus depending on the membrane's pore size and porosity. Future work aims to validate the reaction kinetics of the antibodies at the testing and control lines.
1: This was my first publication, so I learned much of the logistics behind research as an undergraduate student (communications, timelines, roles, setbacks, etc.)
2: CNC manufacturing of acrylic disks and the post-processing required to make a CD microfluidics
3: Validating the experimental results to my colleague's simulation results
4: Formally learning to write a research publication and how to create a compelling story behind it
[1] Snehan Peshin, John Golden, Boyang Gan, Christian Mast, Lawrence Kulinsky, Controlling the advancement of the liquid front of the nitrocellulose membrane assay under the influence of the centrifugal force on the Lab-on-a-Disc platform, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Volume 386, 2023, 133735, ISSN 0925-4005, Link to publication.