I-Corps: Automated DNA testing device based on a nanopore genetic sequencer with a graphene nanoribbon

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是改进私人基因测试以及专门的细菌和病毒筛查。过去十年，对基因检测的需求有所增加，然而，现有的基因公司往往依赖出售客户的基因信息来保持盈利。虽然这个平台最初将用于人类基因组，但它可以进行修改，以对细菌和病毒进行测序。这可能应用于接触偏远人口，实现对感染和疾病的诊断，以及提供在家进行病毒和细菌测试的可能性。随着新冠肺炎强调了对受感染人群进行早期检测和隔离的重要性，这项技术可以被应用于每年一度的流感或其他传染病的检测，并在更广泛的情况下简化筛查和诊断。这个I-Corps项目开发了一种基因测序仪，它使用悬浮在离子液体中的石墨烯纳米带来检测DNA通过它时的电压变化。核苷酸碱基对根据其独特的电子签名进行区分，分析这些签名以确定基因的遗传密码并检测目标基因的关键突变。最近的一项发现发现，用合金强化石墨烯可以让DNA以受控的方式通过。虽然它以前只能对几个核苷酸进行测序，但对该模型所做的改进已经允许进行完整的基因测序。与其他蛋白质膜系统相比，该平台具有实现更准确、更快速和更具成本效益的测序的潜力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to improve private genetic testing and specialized bacterial and viral screenings. The demand for genetic testing has increased over the past decade, however existing genetics companies often rely on selling clients' genetic information in order to remain profitable. While this platform will originally be used for human genomes, it can be modified in order to sequence bacteria and viruses. This could have applications for reaching remote populations and enabling diagnostics for infection and illnesses, as well as offering the possibility of at-home viral and bacterial testing. With COVID-19 highlighting the importance of early detection and quarantine for infected populations, this technology could be adapted to test for the yearly influenza or other contagious diseases, and to more generally streamline screening and diagnostics.This I-Corps project develops a genetic sequencer using a graphene nanoribbon with nanopores suspended in ionic fluid to detect voltage changes as DNA translocates through it. Nucleotide base pairs are distinguished based on their unique electronic signature, which are analyzed to determine the genetic code of the gene and detect crucial mutations in the gene of interest. A recent discovery has found that fortifying the graphene with an alloy allows the DNA to pass through in a controlled manner. While it was previously only able to sequence a few nucleotides, the improvements made on the model have allowed for full gene sequencing. The platform has the potential to enable more accurate, rapid, and cost-effective sequencing compared to other protein membrane systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.