Design and micro/nanofabrication of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip biosensors

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Broad Goals: The proposed research will apply nanobiotechnologies to address engineering challenges and provide effective solutions in lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices for disease diagnosis and agricultural plant protection. Relevant Background: The gold standard for DNA/RNA tests is quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). However, the equipment is costly and is not portable. Further, professionally trained technical personnel are required to operate qRT-PCR instruments. We propose an impedance-based LOC device as an alternative solution. LOC tests only need a tiny amount of reagents, and the devices are fully automated and portable.  Immediate applications include COVID-19 viral testing. Flow cytometry is a commercially available device for cell counting. However, the device is large and not suitable for onsite monitoring. We propose a dielectrophoresis (DEP) LOC device for accurately measuring airborne pathogens. The possible applications include real-time monitoring of airborne COVID-19 virus and airborne spores harmful to agricultural food products. Research Aims: Aim #1: Develop isothermal amplification to amplify nucleic acids and then apply impedance sensing to read out test results. Aim #2: Integrate dielectrophoresis with impedance-sensing to achieve single-cell sensing.      Core Expertise: Dr. Jie Chen's research group at the University of Alberta includes engineers and biomedical researchers with specialties in molecular biology, artificial intelligence, microfabrication, and surface chemistry. Over the past 8 years, we have developed an impedance-based LOC devices that can function the same as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We have successful tested SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with our LOC device. The cost of our device and all the necessary components required to run a test is less than $10 with results being reported in one hour.   Expect Outcomes: Our  made-in-Canada LOC device can detect nucleic acids at femtomolar concentrations and detect pathogens at the single-cell level. We expect to publish two to three articles every year in top-ranking journals. We also expect to train postdoctoral fellows and Ph.D. students in the next five years. We expect to file two to three patents and license the technologies to Canadian companies to ensure successful commercialization of our technology and translation to end users.