PFI:AIR - TT: Microfluidic dose response analyzer for cell-based assays

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译一项发现，该发现涉及在微流体装置中存储数百纳米级液滴，该装置具有前所未有的控制单个液滴化学成分的能力。这种微流控剂量反应分析仪将通过改变制药行业临床前药物发现的方式，带来显著的社会效益。它将在药物发现过程的早期指导决策，帮助缩短药物开发周期时间和成本。该项目将产生一个具有定义的设计标准和性能参数的原型，以及基于细胞的分析的验证数据。该技术使用更少的样品和试剂体积，消除移液错误，并允许自动试剂输送和洗涤。与目前占据市场空间的多孔板和移液系统相比，这些功能将显著节省成本，提供高分辨率数据，简化工作流程。这个项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的技术障碍。目前的微流控滴方法缺乏将细胞精确地存储在基质上，然后添加或去除培养基或药物的能力。因此，这种方法很难培养细胞和筛选药物疗效，同时保留了纳米升试剂体积的好处。在这个项目中，这个瓶颈将通过在一个独特设计的微流体网络中凝聚储存和移动的液滴来解决。工作原型和验证数据将通过优化设备设计、细胞密度和流动条件产生。此外，参与本项目的人员（研究生和本科生）将接受创新创业培训。项目负责人和合作负责人参与了大学加速器计划，该计划将为参与该项目的学生提供学习创业知识的自然渠道。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a discovery, which involves storing hundreds of nanoliter-scale droplets in a microfluidic device with unprecedented capabilities to control the chemical composition of individual drops. This microfluidic dose response analyzer will deliver significant societal benefit by transforming the way preclinical drug discovery is conducted in the pharmaceutical industry. It will guide decision-making early on in the drug discovery process helping to reduce drug development cycle time and cost. The project will result in a prototype with defined design criteria and performance parameters, as well as validation data on cell-based assays. This technology uses significantly less sample and reagent volumes, eliminates pipetting errors and allows automated reagent delivery and washing. These features will lead to significant cost savings, high-resolution data and simpler workflows compared to multiwell plates and pipetting systems that occupy the current market space.This project addresses the technical obstacles as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. Current microfluidic drop methods lack the ability to store cells at precise coordinates on a substrate, followed by addition or removal of media or drugs. As a result, such approaches have difficulty culturing cells and screening for drug efficacy, while retaining the benefits of nanoliter reagent volumes. In this project, this bottleneck will be resolved by coalescing stored and moving drops in a uniquely designed microfluidic network. A working prototype and validation data will be produced by optimizing device design, cell density and flow conditions. In addition, personnel involved in this project (graduate and undergraduate students) will receive training in innovation and entrepreneurship. The PI and co-PI have been involved in the University Accelerator Program which will form a natural channel for students working on this project to learn about entrepreneurship.