Digitized Molecular Detection on Off-the-shelf Blu-ray Discs: Upgraded Resolution and Enhanced Sensitivity

Beyond the intrinsic capability of storing and archiving high-definition movies and games, off-the-shelf Blu-ray discs have been adopted for the preparation of molecular binding assays, which are subsequently read and quantitated with a standard computer drive in conjunction with the disc-quality check program. The performance of this digitized molecular detection system has been examined first with an artificial “ink assay” (an array of microsize ink dots) to define the quantitation capability and the lateral resolution; the conventional biotin-streptavidin binding assay was then tested with the Blu-ray detection platform, and the results compared with that obtained on a DVD. The upgraded lateral resolution (<100 μm) and enhanced assay performance (linear response up to 0.4 μg/mL and LOD estimated to be >< 0.1 μg/mL for the trial biotin-streptavidin system augments its potential to be adapted as a cost-effective and quantitative diagnostic tool for on-site analysis and point-of-care medical diagnosis at trace amounts.