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Optical and electrochemical detection techniques for cell-based microfluidic systems

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Abstract

The ability to fabricate microfluidic systems with complex structures and with compatible dimensions between the microfluidics and biological cells have attracted significant attention in the development of microchips for analyzing the biophysical and biochemical functions of cells. Just as cell-based microfluidics have become a versatile tool for biosensing, diagnostics, drug screening and biological research, detector modules for cell-based microfluidics have also undergone major development over the past decade. This review focuses on detection methods commonly used in cell-based microfluidic systems, and provides a general survey and an in-depth look at recent developments in optical and electrochemical detection methods for microfluidic applications for biological systems, particularly cell analysis. Selected examples are used to illustrate applications of these detection systems and their advantages and weaknesses.

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Fig. 1
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Fig. 5a–d
Fig. 6

Abbreviations

MS:

mass spectrometric

NMR:

nuclear magnetic resonance

CE:

capillary electrophoresis

ECARs:

extracellular acidification rates

LIF:

laser-induced fluorescence

CL:

chemiluminescence

BL:

bioluminescence

HRP:

horseradish peroxidase

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

ADP:

adenosine diphosphate

AMP:

adenosine monophosphate

PDMS:

poly(dimethyl siloxane)

PCR:

polymerase chain reaction

TLM:

thermal lens microscopy

PIN:

positive-intrinsic-negative

C4D:

capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector

UME:

ultramicroelectrode

QDs:

quantum dots

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong (CityU Project No. 9040983) and the National Hi-Tech 863 Program, China (2003AA2Z2052).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochip Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

    Changqing Yi, Jianlong Zhao & Mengsu Yang

  2. Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China

    Changqing Yi, Qi Zhang, Cheuk-Wing Li, Jun Yang & Mengsu Yang

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  1. Changqing Yi
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  3. Cheuk-Wing Li
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Correspondence to Mengsu Yang.

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Yi, C., Zhang, Q., Li, CW. et al. Optical and electrochemical detection techniques for cell-based microfluidic systems. Anal Bioanal Chem 384, 1259–1268 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-005-0252-x

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