Fully integrated biosensing platform-integrating blood/plasma separation, digital microfluidics, and electrochemistry

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Recently, there has been a great movement toward telemedicine and remote healthcare. Despite development of the digital infrastructure for remote consultation of patients with healthcare providers, there is a lack of bioanalytical technologies for at home use. These technologies analyze patient specimens for markers of health or disease. In the post-pandemic world of virtual consultations, there is a major opportunity for transformative bioanalytical technologies that can be used at the point-of-need. This is currently a 33-billion-dollar industry that is projected to experience double digit annual growths in the next five years.In this proposal, we will combine multiple innovative technologies, developed over decades of research at McMaster University and Verv Technologies, for the first time to solve the technological and scientific challenges involved in analyzing a drop of unprocessed blood for a panel of biomarkers at the point-of-need. McMaster University has developed a bio-barcode assay that uses DNA/antibody assemblies for specifically targeting biomarkers and releasing an electroactive DNA barcode for generating an electrical signal. This system is highly sensitive and specific and is amenable to analyzing multiple analytes at once. The assay currently works with undiluted plasma, requires long incubation steps, and is operated using a series of manual steps that is difficult to follow by a novice user. Verv technologies has developed a patented platform for assay automation that is designed to work directly with blood and small sample volumes to reduce assay time. Combining the two technologies, with support from this grant, is expected to overcome the major hurdles that have inhibited the translation of biosensors from the research lab to the market. The development of this unique technology in Canada, initially targeted to the monitoring of prostate cancer, will generate research and development and manufacturing jobs, and will positively contribute to Canada's medical technology landscape. Marketing such technology is critically important for delivering high quality healthcare in Canada and globally in a world moving to virtual care, and is expected to bring equity to the delivery of healthcare.