Issue 10, 2022

A microreactor sealing method using adhesive tape for digital bioassays

Abstract

Digital assays using microreactors fabricated on solid substrates are useful for carrying out sensitive assays of infectious diseases and other biological tests. However, sealing of the microchambers using fluid oil is difficult for non-experts, and thus hinders the widespread use of digital microreactor assays. Here, we propose the physical isolation of tiny reactors with adhesive tape (PITAT) using simple, commercially available pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape as a separator of the microreactors. We confirmed that PSA tape can effectively seal the microreactors and prevent molecules from diffusing out. By testing several types of adhesive tape, we found that rubber-based adhesives are the most suitable for this purpose. In addition, we demonstrated that single-molecule enzyme assays can be successfully performed inside microreactors sealed with PSA tape. The results obtained using PITAT are quantitatively comparable to conventional oil sealing, although it is quick and cost-effective. Finally, we demonstrated that single-particle virus counting of the influenza virus can be achieved using PITAT. Collectively, our results suggest that PITAT may be suitable for use in the design of sensitive tests for infectious diseases at the point of care, where no sophisticated equipment or machines are available.

Graphical abstract: A microreactor sealing method using adhesive tape for digital bioassays

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Jan 2022
Accepted
18 Apr 2022
First published
19 Apr 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Lab Chip, 2022,22, 2001-2010

A microreactor sealing method using adhesive tape for digital bioassays

H. Yaginuma, K. Ohtake, T. Akamatsu, H. Noji and K. V. Tabata, Lab Chip, 2022, 22, 2001 DOI: 10.1039/D2LC00065B

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