A centrifugo-pneumatic cascade for fully integrated and multiplexed biological analysis

This work introduces a toolkit of structures based on centrifugo-pneumatic actuation that allows for liquid loading/transfer, metering, mixing and sedimentation in a microstructured polymer disc. This pneumatic cascade leverages full integration and automation of a range of bioassays initiated by a single sample reagent loading phase and using the same fluidic pathway for a sequence of sample and reagents. The centrifugo-pneumatic cascade also reduces manufacturing complexity as there is no need for valving based on surface coatings, geometrical microfeatures or sacrificial inlays common in other automation schemes. As a proof of concept of a homogeneous bioassay, we detect nitric oxide in whole blood by colorimetry.