Quantum dot biosensors; microfluidics-based manufacturing of a diagnostic tool

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Quantum Dots (QDs) represent one newer form of technology that is now being exploited for the detection and tracking of dynamic cellular events in living systems. The goal of this research is to develop a manufacturing process that will offer a new tool for nucleic acid diagnostics at the cellular and intracellular levels, to ultimately enable the early detection of disease and to monitor disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. Two technology platforms are required to achieve the manufacturing goal: 1. We will design and construct a microfluidic reactor and suitable surface chemistries to produce QD-biosensors. The reactor will be based on solid-phase synthetic modification of immobilized QDs. Biosensors will be based on oligonucleotides that are immobilized on QDs, with the transduction system operated in fluorescence resonance energy transfer mode. The biosensors will be self-contained, meaning that fluorescently labelled nucleic acid targets are not required. Small molecule and peptide tags will be co-immobilized with oligonucleotides onto the QDs as a vector to selectively deliver QD-biosensors to targeted cells. In collaboration with our industry partner GL Chemtec, we will develop synthetic methodologies and validate the quality of the products from the reactor. 2. We will design and construct a separate microfluidic tool for rapid assessment of the performance of QD-biosensors produced in the reactor. The microfluidic tool will allow for moderate throughput investigation of the interactions between QD-biosensors and individual living cells. This will allow evaluation of the performance of the functional materials, which will guide development and optimization of the design of the manufacturing process to improve performance of QD-biosensors.