Microfluidic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type, for the concentration, purification, and detection of biological and/or medical targets of interest from a biological sample

A microfluidic device for the concentration, purification, and detection of biological and/or medical targets of interest starting from a biological sample, which comprises:

• a capillary insertion duct for insertion of a biological sample containing a target;
• an electrophoresis chamber, containing an electrophoretic material stationary phase;
• said electrophoresis chamber being in capillary connection with said capillary insertion duct along an insertion section of said capillary insertion duct, on the bottom of the electrophoresis chamber;
• a pair of insertion electrodes arranged across said insertion section said pair of insertion electrodes comprising a first insertion electrode arranged on top of the electrophoresis chamber and a second insertion electrode arranged underneath the capillary insertion duct and being adapted to generate an electrical field capable of extracting and injecting dynamically, into said electrophoresis chamber, said target contained in said biological sample, while said biological sample is in motion along said insertion section, said target becoming concentrated in said electrophoresis chamber owing to said dynamic injection;
• a microfluidic pump, in capillary connection with said capillary insertion duct, which is configured to maintain said biological sample in motion along said capillary insertion duct at a speed adapted to allow said dynamic injection of said target into said electrophoresis chamber;
• said electrophoresis chamber comprising a pair of electrophoresis electrodes arranged on opposite lateral sides of the electrophoresis chamber at right angles with respect to said pair of insertion electrodes which are adapted to generate an electrical field capable of making said target concentrated in said electrophoresis chamber undergo a purifying electrophoretic run through said electrophoretic material;
• a capillary extraction duct adapted to receive said target that has been concentrated and purified in said electrophoresis chamber;
• said capillary extraction duct having an extraction section defined by a longitudinal portion of the capillary extraction duct, said extraction section being in capillary connection with the electrophoresis chamber and arranged substantially parallel to the insertion section;
• a detection chamber, in capillary connection with said capillary extraction duct, in which the presence is detected of said concentrated and purified target,
• a pair of extraction electrodes arranged across said extraction section, said pair of extraction electrodes comprising a first extraction electrode arranged on top of the electrophoresis chamber and a second extraction electrode arranged underneath the capillary extraction duct which are adapted to generate an electrical field capable of injecting, into said extraction section of said capillary extraction duct, said target that has been concentrated and purified in said electrophoresis chamber.