STTR Phase II: Tip Biosensor Array for MRSA Surveillance Testing

这个小企业技术转移研究（STTR）第二阶段项目是开发一个原型生物传感器阵列系统，用于快速监测耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA），由受过最低限度培训的人员操作。MRSA是医疗获得性感染（HAI）的主要细菌病原体之一，困扰着过度拥挤和人手不足的美国医院。因此，迫切需要一种更快速、可靠但又负担得起的HAI筛查测试方法。建议的尖端传感器？新的样品浓缩机制可以快速筛选整个细胞，然后确认遗传特征。该项目采用了一种专有的样品浓缩机制，以专门针对细菌大小的方式高效捕获和检测细菌病原体。所提出的工作的新奇涉及研究DNA反应动力学增强的高频电场上的高纵横比尖端。拟议的生物传感技术的变革性质，使筛选病原体和纳米粒子没有文化和amplification.The更广泛的影响/商业潜力，这个项目是建立一个坚实的制造和检测方法的高通量生物传感器。尖端传感器提供特定浓度的全细菌细胞（筛选）和加速的DNA检测（确认）。所提出的方法将铺平道路，高通量筛选病原体，通过特定的检测，在目标几何形状，电气性能，和亲和化学。通过上级浓缩性能，可最大限度地减少操作成本和时间。考虑到浓度和检测机制，尖端传感器用作用于低成本检测临床样品中的各种致病分析物（包括细菌和病毒、蛋白质和核酸）的通用平台。这种生物传感器平台的社会影响将满足未满足的需求，以节省与特定病原体相关的医疗成本。该技术最终将用于资源有限的环境，包括个人用途，以检测各种病原体。因此，这项技术将直接影响微/纳米芯片制造，生物医学传感器和低成本诊断领域。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project is to develop a prototype biosensor array system for rapid surveillance of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) operated by minimally-trained personnel. MRSA, one of the major bacterial pathogens for healthcare acquired infections (HAI), afflicts overcrowded and understaffed US hospitals. Thus, an urgent need exists for a more rapid, reliable yet affordable testing method for HAI screening. The proposed tip sensor?s novel sample concentration mechanism enables rapid screening of whole cells followed by confirmation of genetic signatures. The project implements a proprietary sample concentration mechanism for highly efficient capture and detection of bacterial pathogens in a size-exclusive manner. The novelty of the proposed work involves studying DNA reaction kinetics enhanced by a high-frequency electric field on a high aspect ratio tip. The transformative nature of the proposed biosensing technology enables screening for pathogens and nanoparticles without culture and amplification.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to establish a solid fabrication and detection method for a high-throughput biosensor. The tip sensors offer a specific concentration of whole bacterial cells (screening) and an accelerated DNA detection (confirmation). The proposed method will pave the way to high-throughput screening of pathogens through the specific detection in terms of target-geometry, electric properties, and affinity chemistry. The operation cost and time can be minimized through superior concentration performance. Considering the concentration and detection mechanisms, the tip sensor works as a universal platform for low cost detection of various pathogenic analytes including bacteria and viruses, proteins and nucleic acids in clinical samples. The societal impact of this biosensor platform will fulfill an unmet need to save healthcare costs associated with specific pathogens. The technology would eventually be deployed in resource-limited settings including individual uses, for the detection of various pathogens. Thus, this technology will directly impact the fields of micro/nanochip fabrication, biomedical sensors, and low-cost diagnostics.