Integrated Microfluidic Chip for NEV Analysis

Description:

The Integrated Microfluidic Chip for NEV (IMCN) Analysis is a lab-on-a-chip diagnostic platform developed for the rapid separation and multiplexed detection of neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles (NEVs) from minimally invasive serum samples. NEVs carry disease-specific molecular cargo — including surface proteins and microRNA sequences — that reflect active biological processes including cancer progression, inflammatory response, and immune dysregulation. Traditional NEV isolation methods require large sample volumes, lengthy centrifugation protocols, and separate detection steps. The IMCN chip integrates all these steps onto a single chip using only 10 µL of serum.

The chip captures CD66b⁺ NEVs at greater than 90% efficiency using antibody-coupled magnetic beads within optimized microchannels. Following capture, a CD63 aptamer recognizes the surface of isolated NEVs. Heat lysis then releases internal miRNA cargo. On-chip rolling circle amplification (RCA) amplifies the released miRNA signals. Furthermore, RCA products bind to molecular beacons (MBs) — initiating allosteric hairpin structures that generate amplified fluorescence turn-on signals measurable without complex external instrumentation. This RCA-MB assay detects three simultaneous biomarker targets: CD66b⁺ NEV abundance, miR-223-3p, and miR-425-5p — collectively termed NEV signatures.

Clinical validation data shows the IMCN chip achieves an AUC of 0.891 distinguishing gastric cancer from healthy controls and 0.857 separating gastric cancer from benign gastric disease. Additionally, combining NEV signatures with conventional serum markers CEA and CA199 raises the AUC to 0.912. A machine learning ensemble classification layer further increases diagnostic accuracy beyond single-biomarker performance. The average NEV size eluted from the chip measures 138nm, consistent with standard extracellular vesicle size ranges.

These platforms directly apply to Pakistan’s oncology research programs at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, university biomedical research departments in Lahore and Karachi, hospital clinical laboratory medicine departments developing liquid biopsy capabilities, and pharmaceutical research facilities investigating NEV-based biomarkers for early cancer detection across Pakistan’s growing diagnostic research sector.

Tactical Supply Pakistan supplies IMCN analysis chips for extracellular vesicle research, cancer liquid biopsy, and molecular diagnostic laboratory procurement across Pakistan.