Improved Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cancer Using Portable Microfluidics Platforms

Microfluidics chips offer the promise of fast and accurate diagnostic and monitoring tools that are inexpensive and automated. Tests that otherwise require expensive instrumentation and consume valuable reagents can be implemented on microfluidic chips for a fraction of the cost with dramatic improvement in speed. Minaturization offers multiple benefits, enabling multiple tests on one chip, requiring tiny tissue samples and fast reaction times for picoliter volumes. More complex microfluidics chips will be able to carry out sample processing followed by cell or molecule fractionation, molecular analysis and readout of the test result. Integrated platforms incorporating microfluidics offer portable testing devices for "point of concern" testing in health care facilities, in remote areas or in the home. These devices are likely to increase access to sophisticated testing within the health system while decreasing costs and improving the quality of care.