Development of a highly sensitive detection platform based on metallic nanoparticle hydrogel composites in a microfluidic device

诊断是医疗保健系统的重要组成部分。早期和准确发现疾病指标对于减少传播和成功治疗至关重要。在Dae Kun Hwang博士之前工作的基础上，Hwang博士发明了一种基于水凝胶膜的高速同步多路免疫分析平台来解决这一挑战。这将在同一样品中同时检测和量化各种生物标志物。微流体还需要更小的样品，这更便宜，更容易自动化。这些优点将大大减少测试和检测时间。然而，与电喷雾质谱等高灵敏度检测设备相比，这种水凝胶膜微流控平台的灵敏度较低。黄禹锡博士将通过与金永洪博士研究组的国际合作，将金博士研究组合成的银等金属纳米粒子封装到水凝胶中，以克服低灵敏度的限制。这种纳米颗粒包封将显著增强靶生物分子的检测信号。金博士和黄禹锡博士的研究小组将研究金属纳米颗粒的大小、形状和浓度对信号增强的影响。黄博士的创新和多功能生物医学工具将使他能够大规模提高医疗保健和福祉的质量。

Diagnostics are an essential part of the healthcare system. Early and accurate detection of disease indicators are vital for reducing transmission and successful treatments. Building upon Dr. Dae Kun Hwang's previous work, Dr. Hwang has invented a highly rapid and simultaneous multiplexed immunoassay platform based on a hydrogel membrane to address this challenge. This will detect and quantify various biomarkers concurrently in the same sample. Microfluidics also requires smaller samples which are cheaper and easier to automate. These advantages will significantly reduce testing and detection time. However, this hydrogel membrane microfluidic platform suffers from low sensitivity compared to highly ultra-sensitive detection devices, such as electrospray mass spectrometry. Via the proposed international collaboration with Dr. Younghum Kim's research team, Dr. Hwang will encapsulate metallic nanoparticles such as silver, synthesized by Dr. Kim's team, into the hydrogel to overcome the low sensitivity limitation. This nanoparticle encapsulation will significantly enhance the detection signals of target biomolecules. Dr. Kim's and Dr. Hwang's research teams will investigate the effects of the size, shape, and concentration of metallic nanoparticles on signal enhancement. Dr. Hwang's innovative and versatile biomedical tools will allow him to improve the quality of healthcare and wellbeing on a large scale.