SBIR Phase II: Compact genetic assessment using the Infrarray SNAP (Simple Nucleic Acid Profiler)

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期研究项目旨在进一步开发一种用于核酸检测的微流体装置，用于需要进行遗传分析和目标序列鉴定的各种研究。所提出的仪器设计紧凑，能够读取一次性药筒，在药筒上进行样品制备、放大和多重检测，使用适度大小的微阵列。该仪器通过光生成试剂（PGR）微阵列的直接成像实现，图像传感器位于微阵列的表面附近。它还可以通过使用上转换荧光粉作为标签来实现，而上转换荧光粉反过来又被通过硅微阵列的红外辐射激发。用于基因分析的廉价、完全集成和自动化的微流控装置的开发将使学术、商业和国防环境中的个人获得负担得起的微阵列分析。这种多功能平台的可用性将允许为任何核酸目标开发阵列，以及容易的多路复用。有了这样一个平台，定制阵列和现成阵列的生产将非常方便。此外，集成平台将减少与微阵列分析相关的成本和工作量。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II research project aims to further develop a microfluidic device for the detection of nucleic acids for a variety of studies where genetic analysis and identification of target sequences are required. The instrument proposed is designed to be compact and capable of reading a disposable cartridge on which sample preparation, amplification, and multiplex detection, with a modest-sized microarray, are performed. The proposed instrument is enabled by direct imaging of a PhotoGenerated Reagent (PGR) microarray, with an image sensor positioned near the face of the microarray. It is also enabled by the use of up-converting phosphors as the label, which are in turn excited by infrared radiation that passes through the silicon microarray. The development of and inexpensive, fully integrated and automated microfluidic device for use in genetic analysis would give individuals in academic, commercial and defense settings access to affordable microarray analysis. The availability of such a versatile platform would allow the development of arrays for any nucleic acid target, as well as easy multiplexing. With such a platform, production of custom arrays and off-the-shelf ones will be achieved with great facility. Moreover, the integrated platform will reduce the cost and effort associated with microarray analysis.