Microfluidic platforms for multi-target detection

A method of detecting a target nucleic acid, the method comprising:

• obtaining a sample including the target nucleic acid;
• functionalizing a first molecular probe complementary to a first target nucleic acid to a first nanostructure and functionalizing a second molecular probe complementary to a second target nucleic acid to a second nanostructure;
• coupling the functionalized nanostructures to a chamber having a first surface with a first electrode and a second surface displaced from the first surface at a distance and having a second electrode opposing the first electrode;
• flowing the target nucleic acids through the chamber to hybridize the first target nucleic acid to the first functionalized nanostructure and to hybridize the second target nucleic acid to the second functionalized nanostructure;
• causing the nanostructure hybridized with the first target to move in a first direction and causing the nanostructure hybridized with the second target to move in a second direction, wherein the first target and the second target are sorted based on the first direction or the second direction;
• and detecting at least one of a presence, an absence, or a quantity of the first or second target nucleic acids by measuring an electrical impedance between the electrodes.

A method of detecting target nucleic acids comprising:

• placing a solution having a plurality of functionalized nanostructures within a channel having a first surface with a first electrode and a second surface displaced from the first surface at a distance and having a second electrode opposing the first electrode, wherein a first one of the plurality of functionalized nanostructures includes a oligonucleotide probe complementary to a first target nucleic acid and wherein a second one of the plurality of functionalized nanostructures includes a oligonucleotide probe complementary to a second target nucleic acid;
• applying an alternating current field to the first and second electrodes to focus and trap the nanostructures;
• flowing a sample including the target nucleic acids within the channel and through the trapped functionalized nanostructures;
• hybridizing the target nucleic acids with at least one of the nanostructures;
• hydrodynamically shearing at least one of a non-target or a weakly hybridized target nucleic acid from the nanostructures, wherein the application of the electric current to the nanostructures causes the nanostructure hybridized with the first target to move in a first direction and causes the nanostructure hybridized with the second target to move in a second direction, and wherein the first target and the second target are sorted based on the first direction or the second direction;
• and
• evaluating the trapped nanostructures by measuring an impedance signal during the sample flow to determine a presence, an absence, or a quantity of the target nucleic acids.