I-Corps: Automated DNA testing device based on a nanopore genetic sequencer with a graphene nanoribbon

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是改进私人基因检测和专门的细菌和病毒筛查。基因检测的需求在过去十年中有所增加，然而现有的基因公司往往依靠出售客户的基因信息来保持盈利。虽然这个平台最初将用于人类基因组，但它可以进行修改，以便对细菌和病毒进行测序。这可以应用于接触偏远地区的人群，对感染和疾病进行诊断，以及提供在家进行病毒和细菌检测的可能性。由于COVID-19突出了对受感染人群早期发现和隔离的重要性，这项技术可以用于检测每年的流感或其他传染病，并更普遍地简化筛查和诊断。I-Corps项目开发了一种基因测序仪，使用悬浮在离子流体中的带有纳米孔的石墨烯纳米带来检测DNA通过其移位时的电压变化。核苷酸碱基对是根据其独特的电子签名来区分的，分析这些电子签名可以确定基因的遗传密码，并检测感兴趣基因的关键突变。最近的一项发现发现，用合金强化石墨烯可以让DNA以受控的方式通过。虽然它以前只能对几个核苷酸进行测序，但在模型上所做的改进已经允许对整个基因进行测序。与其他蛋白膜系统相比，该平台具有更准确、快速和成本效益更高的测序潜力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to improve private genetic testing and specialized bacterial and viral screenings. The demand for genetic testing has increased over the past decade, however existing genetics companies often rely on selling clients' genetic information in order to remain profitable. While this platform will originally be used for human genomes, it can be modified in order to sequence bacteria and viruses. This could have applications for reaching remote populations and enabling diagnostics for infection and illnesses, as well as offering the possibility of at-home viral and bacterial testing. With COVID-19 highlighting the importance of early detection and quarantine for infected populations, this technology could be adapted to test for the yearly influenza or other contagious diseases, and to more generally streamline screening and diagnostics.This I-Corps project develops a genetic sequencer using a graphene nanoribbon with nanopores suspended in ionic fluid to detect voltage changes as DNA translocates through it. Nucleotide base pairs are distinguished based on their unique electronic signature, which are analyzed to determine the genetic code of the gene and detect crucial mutations in the gene of interest. A recent discovery has found that fortifying the graphene with an alloy allows the DNA to pass through in a controlled manner. While it was previously only able to sequence a few nucleotides, the improvements made on the model have allowed for full gene sequencing. The platform has the potential to enable more accurate, rapid, and cost-effective sequencing compared to other protein membrane systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.