User-friendly and robust paper-based device for in-field diagnostic of infectious diseases

EPSRC: Giulia Core: EP/ r513222 /1传染病的早期检测需要快速、便携和高灵敏度的分子诊断平台。该项目将在加拿大麦克马斯特大学的Globalink实习期间进行，目的是创建一种即时护理设备，简化社区监测和消除传染病的工作。已经开发出了基于微流体的低成本纸质设备，但目前没有一种符合世界卫生组织提供的有效POC检测的“确定”标准（价格合理，敏感，特异性，用户友好，快速且坚固，无需设备并可交付给最终用户）。即使目前的检测方法可以检测到非常低浓度的传染性生物体，但由于在实验室环境之外具有挑战性的现场条件下，基本试剂（如酶）会降解，因此它们的可靠性有限，限制了它们在诊所和社区的实际使用。在这个项目中，我们将开发新的无酶检测方法，并将它们集成到纸底物上，以提供“ASSURED”设备。

EPSRC : Giulia Core : EP/R513222/1Early detection of infectious diseases requires rapid, portable and highly sensitive molecular diagnostic platforms. The project, to be carried out during the Globalink placement at McMaster University in Canada, aims at creating a point-of-care (POC) device that simplifies the efforts in monitoring and eliminating infectious diseases in communities. Low-cost, paper-based devices based on microfluidics have been developed but none currently meet the "ASSURED" criteria for effective POC testing provided by World Health Organisation (Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment-free and Deliverable to end-users). Even if current tests can detect very low concentrations of infectious organisms, their limited robustness restricts their practical use in clinics and in communities, due to the degradation of essential reagents (such as enzymes) in challenging field conditions, outside of the laboratory environment. In this project, we will develop new enzyme-free detection methods and integrate them onto paper substrates to deliver "ASSURED" devices.