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Development of a Point-of-Care microfluidic device to classify cells from complex samples

Doctoral student:
Marina Oronoz Arregui (Sobresaliente)
Year:
1970
University:
Master Degree in Forensic Analysis, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU
Director(s):
Jaione Etxeberria, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts & Fernando Benito-Lopez
Description:

In sexual assault cases, victim´s skin swabs are picked up as forensic evidences and their processing results can yield a mix of spermatic, salivary and epithelial cells. Although the Forensic Science Service has achieved the isolation of male cells from vaginal epithelial ones, saliva cells are unlikely isolated using conventional techniques. Here, we report the design, fabrication and preliminary performance of a microfluidic Point of Care device based on stimuli responsive ionogels to separate saliva cells from vagina cells in complex samples. The ionogels, a combination of an ionic liquid and a polymer, have been functionalised with specific proteins to induce cell adhesion. The ionogel is able to swell and shrink in response to temperature; therefore, a Point of Care device was fabricated with precise thermoresponsive microstructures that can be employed as cell adhesion and temperature cell release of a desired type of cell in a controlled manner.