Medical lab-on-a-chip technology under development in Brazil

Scientists are working toward the production of a miniaturized device that will allow samples to be analyzed more precisely and enable medical tests to be performed in places without lab services.

By Diego Freire

Agência FAPESP – Brazil’s Energy & Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN) is developing medical lab-on-a chip (LOC) technology capable of processing extremely small structures made of various materials, by using ultrashort laser pulses. The ability to perform laboratory tests on a miniaturized device with a single integrated microchip has many benefits, including more precise analysis and the ability to provide more complete healthcare in places without laboratory services.

The technology is being developed as part of two projects: “Micromachining station with amplified femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system” and “Complete microfluidic system.” Both are supported by FAPESP through its Multi-User Equipment Program.

LOCs can process fluids of various types in tiny amounts, of the order of a nanoliter (a billionth of a liter) or even less. Microchannels printed on the substrate transport and manipulate the fluids, integrating chemical and biochemical processes in the miniaturized lab’s automated microanalysis systems.

“LOCs simplify medical diagnosis by dispensing with all the infrastructure required for traditional procedures, thus cutting costs and extending the reach of the service, while at the same time making analysis more accurate and advancing the study of complex cellular processes,” said Wagner de Rossi, coordinator of the project and a researcher at IPEN’s Laser & Application Center (CLA).

The technology that could lead to the development of the device will be based on femtosecond laser micromachining, in which ultrashort laser pulses are used to sculpt miniature structures with outstanding precision.

“These and other innovations may be made possible by the development of smaller, lighter equipment, which will offer several competitive advantages for activities in fields such as medicine and engineering,” Rossi told Agência FAPESP.

Rossi also coordinates the Thematic Project “Micromachining with ultrashort laser pulses applied to the production and control of optofluidics circuits,” which is supported by FAPESP and has the objective of developing in Brazil the capability to process materials by using ultrashort laser pulses for a range of applications.

Part of the funding will be used to acquire a femtosecond micromachining workstation and a complete microfluidics system. This equipment will be required for developing the technology and will be made available to researchers from other state institutions that work in the same field as IPEN.

“The initial goal of the research is to develop the micromachining capacity to produce micrometer-scale structures in any type of material. Next, we’ll begin building microfluidic circuits, integrating optical components into them and developing applications. It’s a complete project covering everything from basic research to application software,” Rossi said.

Diagnosing toxoplasmosis

According to Rossi, the first applications of the project will include immunological assays and the production of radiopharmaceuticals, starting with the radiotracer 18F-FDG, which is used in positron emission tomography, the most advanced medical imaging technology for the detection of cancer and other diseases.

“IPEN pioneered the production of this radiotracer, but the complete process of synthesis as it’s performed today, which involves 16 stages, can be optimized by using microfluidic circuits,” Rossi said.

IPEN’s Radiopharmacy Center will supply the necessary inputs for testing and will oversee the analysis of the results obtained.

The technology can also be used in the development of a platform for diagnosing toxoplasmosis. “The development of a microfluidics system will result in a platform small enough to achieve significant reductions in reagent consumption and analysis processing time, which amounts to hours in traditional immunoenzyme assays,” Rossi said.

The LOC will also be adaptable for use with smartphones, thereby extending its applicability.

“The physicochemical reactions of samples recorded on the microchip can be transmitted via phone to a referral center for analysis and more complex diagnoses,” he said.

In addition to FAPESP, the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MCTI) is also supporting this research through the National Council for Scientific & Technological Development (CNPq) and the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN).