On-chip detection of wild 3R, 4R and mutant 4R tau through kinesin-microtubule binding

We report the successful demonstration of an on-chip tau detection system based on the difference in landing rate and binding density of microtubules (MTs) on a kinesin surface. Tau detection device comprises of a MT reservoir, channel and collector region with an overhang structure. We assayed MTs decorated with three tau types in the kinesin coated device. Since the increase in fluorescence intensity (FI) at the collector regions reflected the type of tau decorated on MTs, thus by measuring the FI we were able to distinguish wild 3R, 4R and P301L mutant tau.