Systems and methods for performing immunoassays

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for assays. In particular, provided herein are systems and methods for performing high throughput immunoassays.

1 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A device, comprising:
 a transparent substrate having a first broad surface;   an array of nanoparticles coupled to the first broad surface of the transparent substrate, wherein the array of nanoparticles is patterned onto the first broad surface using an adhesion layer and is functionalized with antibodies specific for target material of a sample; and   a microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the array of nanoparticles, wherein the microfluidic channel has an inlet and an outlet supporting pump-driven fluid flow through the microfluidic channel;   wherein the device is operable in an assessment mode wherein:   the microfluidic channel contains a sample, comprising a target component, from a subject, an interaction between the target component and the antibodies functionalized at the array of nanoparticles produces a set of signals associated with light scattering, and   the set of signals is detected, at an optical detection platform, from the transparent substrate.   
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the array of nanoparticles is patterned with an aminated silane layer. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the array of nanoparticles is arranged for multiplexed detection of different targets of said target material of the sample, with distinct antibodies positioned at different locations within the array. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the array of nanoparticles is structured for specific binding of different epitopes of said target material of the sample. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the array of nanoparticles comprises particles composed of at least one of gold, silver, copper, titanium, and chromium fabricated into at least one of: nanorods, nanostars, nanopyramids, nanodiamonds, nanorings, and core-shells. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the transparent substrate is structured for transmission of light corresponding to at least one of absorbance and scattering of light from the array of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein said antibodies are attached to nanoparticle surfaces via a linker, and wherein the linker comprises a thiol linker. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the microfluidic channel comprises a reservoir for supplying the sample to the array of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the microfluidic channel has a volumetric capacity greater than 10 nL. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the microfluidic channel has a first channel dimension at one of the inlet and the outlet that is different than a second channel dimension at an intermediate portion of the microfluidic channel. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein said target material of the sample comprises at least one of: cytokines, proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the transparent substrate is treated with plasma for material removal. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the sample comprises a saliva sample. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 48 , further comprising: a detection apparatus comprising the optical detection platform, wherein the optical detection platform comprises a lens operable to transmit light from an interaction between target material of the sample and the array of nanoparticles, through a filter and to a sensor subsystem in communication with a computing subsystem for processing the set of signals generated from the sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 48 , further comprising a syringe pump in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel. 
     
     
         63 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a sample into a reservoir;   transmitting the sample from the reservoir into a microfluidic channel, by way of a pump, and into communication with an array of nanoparticles coupled to a broad surface of a transparent substrate, wherein the array of nanoparticles is patterned onto the first broad surface using an adhesion layer and is functionalized with antibodies specific for target material of the sample;   
       promoting an interaction between said target material and said antibodies functionalized at the array of nanoparticles; and 
       detecting a set of signals produced from the interaction, through the transparent substrate. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the sample comprises a saliva sample. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the interaction is associated with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said target material of the sample comprises at least one of: cytokines, proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising performing multiplexed detection of different targets of said target material of the sample, with distinct antibodies positioned at different locations within the array of nanoparticles.