POCT

The speed of cytokine detection is essential for taking life-saving measures quickly in the case of cytokine release syndrome. Therefore, the authors jointly worked on the development of a cost-efficient point-of-care testing platform using SPARCL.

SPARCL (Spatial Proximity Analyte Reagent Capture Luminescence) is a chemiluminescent immunoassay which is producing light proportional to the analyte’s concentration. This light is being captured by our application specific SPAD-based line sensor IC with high sensitivity in CMOS microchip technology. Due to this ASIC, no light source or other optical components (lenses, filters) are required for the system.

The SPAD-based line sensor IC features a high-density sensor array with 192 rows, allowing for spatially-resolved recording of the temporal sequence of light emission within microfluidic channels.

Various filling strategies and concentrations of Acridan-Antibody (Acr-Ab) were explored for chip integration, leading to optimized signal generation. Results demonstrate the efficacy of immobilizing Acr-Ab on the underside of the measurement channel, minimizing nonspecific signals and aligning with microfluidic chipdesign principles. This integration opens avenues for enhanced point-of-care diagnostics, with future research focusing on further sensitivity improvements, clinical validation, and fine-tuning of CMOS microchip parameters.