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Microfluidics a Potent Route to Sample Delivery for Non-intrusive Sensors

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Biosensors for Security and Bioterrorism Applications

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Abstract

Biosensors offer wide opportunities for threat agent analysis, but practical analytical systems require these sensors to be integrated with pre- and post analytical steps to enable simplified, seamless operation. Perhaps the most important of these steps relates to sample handling and presentation. Advances in microfluidics now offer a realistic means for simplified, practical handling with the facility for compressing existing analytical platforms in biosensing. Small volume handling can not only allow for miniaturisation, but flow at this scale enables a different type of flow profile and the a facility for direct liquid-liquid exchange. Basic flow principles in microflow are presented followed by a description of aqueous/organic flows and how they cab be used both for solute partitioning and in situ membrane formation. The potential value of miniaturised separation membranes is described, including for sample cleanup, handling and biosensor protection. Finally, examples of sensor integration into microfluidic structures are given as pointer towards future developments. Overall, the chapter seeks to rebalance the traditional emphasis on biosensor design by highlighting the importance of controlled sample presentation as a potential route to low maintenance biosensors with improved response characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

Generous support from the EPSRC, BBSRC and UKIER is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK

    George Kyriacou, Hong Chang, Joseph Gargiuli & Pankaj Vadgama

  2. CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani, Rajasthan, India

    Ajay Agarwal

Authors
  1. George Kyriacou
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  2. Hong Chang
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  3. Joseph Gargiuli
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  4. Ajay Agarwal
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  5. Pankaj Vadgama
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pankaj Vadgama .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Dimitrios P. Nikolelis

  2. Lab. of Inorganic & Analytic Chemistry, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Georgia-Paraskevi Nikoleli

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Kyriacou, G., Chang, H., Gargiuli, J., Agarwal, A., Vadgama, P. (2016). Microfluidics a Potent Route to Sample Delivery for Non-intrusive Sensors. In: Nikolelis, D., Nikoleli, GP. (eds) Biosensors for Security and Bioterrorism Applications. Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28926-7_2

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