miRNA purification with an optimized PDMS microdevice: Toward the direct purification of low abundant circulating biomarkers

A reliable clinical assay based on circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers is highly required. Microdevices offer an attractive solution as a fast and inexpensive way of concentrating these biomarkers from a low sample volume. A previously developed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microdevice able to purify and detect circulating miRNAs was here optimized. The optimization of the morphological and chemical surface properties by nanopatterning and functionalization is presented. Surfaces were firstly characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fluorescamine assay and s-SDTB (sulphosuccinimidyl-4-o-(4,4-dimethoxytrityl) butyrate) assay and subsequently tested for their capacity to adsorb a fluorescent miRNA. From our analysis, modification of surface charge with 0.1% APTMS ((3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane) and 0.9% PEG-s (2-[Methoxy-(polyethyleneoxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane) performed at 60 °C for 10 min was identified as the best purification condition. Our optimized microdevice integrated with real-time PCR detection, was demonstrated to selectively purify both synthetic and natural circulating miRNAs with a sensitivity of 0.01 pM.