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A novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device with dual colorimetric and electrochemical detection (dual μPAD) was developed for the assessment of transferrin saturation (TSAT) in samples from ischemic stroke patients. TSAT was calculated from the ratio between transferrin-bound iron, which was colorimetrically measured, and the total iron-binding capacity, which was electrochemically measured. To this end, a μPAD was smartly designed, which integrated both colorimetric and electrochemical detection reservoirs, communicating via a microchannel acting as a chemical reactor, and with preloading/storing capabilities (reagent-free device). This approach allowed the dual and simultaneous determination of both parameters, providing an improvement in the reliability of the results due to an independent signal principle and processing. The μPADs were validated by analyzing a certified reference material, showing excellent accuracy (Er ≤ 5%) and precision (RSD ≤ 2%). Then they were applied to the analysis of diagnosed serum samples from ischemic stroke patients. The results were compared to those provided by a free-interference method (urea-PAGE). Impressively, both methods exhibited a good correlation (r = 0.96, p < 0.05) and no significant differences were found between them (slope 1.0 ± 0.1 and the intercept 1 ± 4, p < 0.05), demonstrating the excellent accuracy of our approach during the analysis of complex samples from ischemic stroke patients, using just 90 μL of clinical samples and taking less than 90 min in comparison with the 18 hours required by the urea-PAGE approach. The developed fully integrated colorimetric-electrochemical μPAD is a promising ready to use reagent-free device for the point-of-care testing of TSAT, which can be used to assist physicians in the fast diagnosis and prognosis of ischemic strokes, where the decision-time is crucial for the patient's survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These insights attempt to share with the community the lights and shadows of one emerging and exciting topic, Food Microfluidics, defined as microfluidic technology for food analysis and diagnosis in important areas such as food safety and quality. The reader is invited to question non-easy interrogations such as why Food Microfluidics, what is the next step and what could we do with the available technology. This article invites food analysts to be seduced by this technology and then to take an interesting trip departing from the main gained achievements, having a look at the crossing bridges over Food Microfluidic challenges or having a look at available technology to start. Finally, this trip arrives at a privileged place to gaze the horizons. A wonderful landscape – full of inspiration – for Food Microfluidics is anticipated. These insights have also been written wishing to give improved conceptual and realistic solutions for food analysis, with the additional hope to attract the community with exciting technology, in order to get novel and unexpected achievements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Lab-on-a-chip” approaches based on the novel marriage between an electrokinetic microfluidic platform and nanotechnology is proposed for analytical domains. Conceptually, the analytical challenges are linked with the analytical promises offered from the integration of lab-on-a-chip and nanotechnologies. The analytical suitability of the electrokinetic microfluidic platform with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as detectors is proposed based on its dual format/use as a flow and separation system, independently. Two relevant applications of high significance, determination of total isoflavones and fast detection of antioxidant profiles were chosen to demonstrate their analytical potential. For both analytical uses, the target challenges, the strategy proposed, the expected role of microfluidics and carbon nanotubes and future prospects are discussed and demonstrated. A good analytical performance of the proposed microfluidic platform in terms of reliability, versatility and fast analytical solutions is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Lab-on-a-chip" approaches based on the novel marriage between an electrokinetic microfluidic platform and nanotechnology is proposed for analytical domains. Conceptually, the analytical challenges are linked with the analytical promises offered from the integration of lab-on-a-chip and nanotechnologies. The analytical suitability of the electrokinetic microfluidic platform with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as detectors is proposed based on its dual format/use as a flow and separation system, independently. Two relevant applications of high significance, determination of total isoflavones and fast detection of antioxidant profiles were chosen to demonstrate their analytical potential. For both analytical uses, the target challenges, the strategy proposed, the expected role of microfluidics and carbon nanotubes and future prospects are discussed and demonstrated. A good analytical performance of the proposed microfluidic platform in terms of reliability, versatility and fast analytical solutions is demonstrated.