Developing the Next Generation Rapid Diagnostic Microfluidic Devices for Measuring the Protein Levels in Multiple Myeloma Patients for Early Detection of Disease Re-Appearance

Abstract

The objective of this research is to determine whether rapid diagnostics paper microfluidic devices can be easily fabricated in the lab and be viable for in house testing, for multiple myeloma patients. Numerous paper microfluidics diagnostics tools exist for pregnancy test, diabetes, various infectious diseases but we lack self-administered FDA approved paper diagnostics test kits for multiple myeloma patients. Our construct is designed to detect IgG levels, after chemotherapy treatment most patients relapse and followed by a disease resurgence. Current healthcare model required patients to visit hospital settings to perform weekly checkup tests. Our aim is to use develop in colorimetric paper micro-fluidics chips which readouts can be easily visualized to quantitate human immunoglobulin levels in serum or in urine without visiting a clinical laboratory. Our device offers great detectability and sensitivity and capable of reaching the potential of becoming non-invasive, user-friendly, low-cost and reliable in-home self-administered diagnostics test kits. Further development and advances in paper-based diagnostics devices are going have a subtle effect in early disease detection and addressing global health issues. The technology will have a profound impact on applications that might go beyond healthcare such as global environmental, water and even food testing and disrupting the current diagnostics landscape.