Towards automating micro cellular detection process using micro vortex pump arrays

This paper reports a polymer based microfluidic analysis system integrated with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for detecting the specific binding of biomolecules and qualitatively monitoring of cell adhesion on the sensor surface. Micropumps, microchannels, and SPR biosensor were integrated into a single polymer (PMMA) based microfluidic system. The integrated system has been studied in its potential application in bio-molecules detection and drug discovery. Two experiments, 1) monitoring the reaction between BSA-BSA antibody, and 2) monitoring the activities of living cells in the presence or absence of trypsin in RPMI-1640 medium, were conducted to show the feasibility of real-time cellular and molecular detection. Based on these successful experimental results we have also developed a computer-controllable vortex micropump system that will eventually automate many bio-molecular detection and drug discovery processes.