A flexible electrochemical micro lab-on-chip: application to the detection of interleukin-10

We report on a simple method to manufacture an electrochemical micro lab-on-chip (mu LoC), for the detection of interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokine of patients suffering from heart failure (HF). To monitor the critical levels of inflammation, a mu LoC containing eight gold microelectrodes based on a polyimide (PI) substrate was fabricated. The microelectrodes were manufactured on PI by a combination of soft lithographical tools. To produce an operational mu LoC, a microfluidic system fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane was sealed onto the PI substrate through silane reagent (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane. Cyclic voltammetry was applied as the characterization technique for the gold microelectrode surface properties. Finally, electrochemical characterization of the mu LoC was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the quantification of IL-10. These were detected within the range of 1-15 pg. mL(-1). The time and cost of fabrication for this mu LoC was very low when compared to those that have been fabricated by conventional lithography.