A digital microfluidic platform to automate the synthesis of aptamer-based biosensors

用于自动合成基于适体的生物传感器的数字微流控平台

• 批准号: 560819-2020
• 负责人: Shih, Steve
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: Concordia University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=707293
• 关键词: digital; microfluidic; platform; automate; synthesis

In the FRQNT grant, the team of Shih and Wilds proposed to construct a new microfluidic platform that will drive down the costs of genome engineering which will be capable of accelerating the pace of genome synthesis. Our goal in the FRQNT grant is to use this platform to automate the genetic engineering process such that new cells can be quickly engineered for a variety of synthetic biology applications. Here in this proposal, we are expanding the application space and using our platform to synthesize COVID-19 aptamer-based biosensors. Due to their relatively simplistic configuration, aptamers are stable and highly sensitive for the detection of numerous applications (e.g., diseases and environmental monitoring). Typically aptamers are small, single-stranded oligonucelotides that are usually synthetically designed and manufactured. The main challenge is that the current technique to synthesize these aptamers result in very low yield, especially aptamers that are longer in length. Hence, we are joining forces with Dr. Maria DeRosa (Carleton University) to use our automated platform for the synthesis of aptamer-based biosensors. Given the pandemic, our goal is to use our automated platform to quickly synthesize aptamer-based biosensors for COVID-19. We believe with our system, we will be able to find aptamers that can rapidly detect COVID-19 with results in less than an hour at the location it was given. By improving on these efforts, we can make testing easier and more powerful with the hope of ending 'stay-at-home' orders.

在 FRQNT 资助中，Shih 和 Wilds 团队提议构建一个新的微流体平台，该平台将降低基因组工程的成本，从而加快基因组合成的速度。 我们在 FRQNT 资助中的目标是使用该平台实现基因工程过程自动化，以便可以快速设计新细胞以用于各种合成生物学应用。在本提案中，我们正在扩大应用空间并使用我们的平台合成基于 COVID-19 适体的生物传感器。 由于其相对简单的配置，适体对于多种应用（例如疾病和环境监测）的检测来说是稳定且高度敏感的。 通常，适体是小的单链寡核苷酸，通常是合成设计和制造的。 主要挑战是目前合成这些适体的技术导致产量非常低，尤其是长度较长的适体。因此，我们与 Maria DeRosa 博士（卡尔顿大学）联手，使用我们的自动化平台来合成基于适体的生物传感器。 鉴于大流行，我们的目标是利用我们的自动化平台快速合成针对 COVID-19 的基于适配体的生物传感器。 我们相信，通过我们的系统，我们将能够找到能够快速检测 COVID-19 的核酸适体，并在不到一小时的时间内在指定地点得到结果。 通过改进这些努力，我们可以使测试变得更容易、更强大，并希望结束“呆在家里”的命令。