Next generation of microfluidic nanosensing platforms for medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring

重要性：由于诊断工具的高成本和分辨率有限，许多疾病和损伤的早期和准确检测仍然是一个挑战。目前的诊断方法主要是结合临床表现和使用不同的分子方法。这些检测工具大多依赖于光学和成像检测系统，在许多情况下不能提供结论性结果，而且劳动密集、耗时且昂贵，因此它们尚未转化为临床环境。此外，无数有毒化学品和污染物被释放到环境中，而现有的监测和传感系统无法可靠地检测到这些化学品和污染物。电化学传感器由于其高灵敏度和选择性、快速、无标签、简单和易于自动化的性能，近年来在各种分子的检测中获得了声誉。然而，电化学传感器仍然价格昂贵，可用性较低，而且它们的修改既昂贵又耗时，而且可重复性有限。此外，这些传感器用于现场监测和护理点设置的效用仍然受到限制，因为需要手动处理几个传感步骤，特别是同时检测多个目标。目的：本研究的目的是开发新的电化学传感平台和设备，用于各种生物分子、生物颗粒和环境毒素和污染物的自动分离、纯化和超灵敏检测。预期结果：我们的传感设备有望通过在低成本和自动化传感系统中对不同目标分子和颗粒的高灵敏度和选择性检测，解决快速准确诊断和环境监测的未满足需求。这些设备提供了新的检测方法：(1)不需要稀释样品；(2)需要少量的生物液；(3)维持目标颗粒的活力；(4)尽量减少样品采集和目标检测之间的处理步骤和时间；(5)具有同时检测多个目标分子和粒子的能力。对加拿大的好处：该项目将培养具有纳米技术、诊断工具和传感设备等跨学科专业知识的下一代研究人员。它还将通过开发纳米材料和传感工具、启动医疗诊断和环境监测工具的新衍生公司以及创造对加拿大纳米技术和诊断产品的需求，为加拿大带来经济效益。感应产品将为加拿大患者服务，使他们能够在比以前可能的更早的时间点接受最适当的治疗，并支持制定有效的环境保护战略。

Importance: Early and accurate detection of many of diseases and injuries is still a challenge due to high cost and limited resolution of diagnostic tools. The current diagnostic methods are mainly based on a combination of clinical presentations and the use of different molecular methods. Most of these detection tools rely on optical and imaging detection systems, which in many cases do not provide conclusive results and are labor intensive, time consuming and expensive, therefore they have not been translated into clinical settings. Moreover, countless toxic chemicals and pollutants are released into the environment, which are not detectable reliably using existing monitoring and sensing systems. Electrochemical sensors have recently found reputation for detection of various molecules due to their highly sensitive and selective performance, rapid, label-free, simple, and ease of automation. However, electrochemical sensors are still expensive and less available, and their modification is costly and time-consuming with a limited reproducibility. Also the utility of these sensors for on-site monitoring and point-of-care settings is still restricted due to manual process of several steps of sensing particularly for simultenous detection of multiple targets. Objective: The goal of the proposed research program is to develop new electrochemical sensing platforms and devices for automatic isolation, purification and ultrasensitive detection of various biomolecules, bioparticles, and environmental toxins and pollutants. Anticipated Outcome: Our sensing devices are expected to address the unmet needs of rapid and accurate diagnostics and environmental monitoring via highly sensitive and selective detection of different target molecules and particles in low-cost and automated sensing systems. These devices present new detection methods that (1) do not require dilution of  samples; (2) need a small volume of biofluids, (3) maintain the viability of target particles; (4) minimize the number of processing steps and time between sample collection and target detection; and (5) have the capacity of detecting multiple target molecules and particles simultaneously. Benefits to Canada: This project will train the next generation of researchers with the interdisciplinary expertise in nanotechnology, diagnostic tools, and sensing devices. It will also lead to economic benefits for Canada through developing nanomaterials and sensing tools, launching new spin-off companies for medical diagnostic and environmental monitoring tools, and creating demands for Canada's nanotechnology and diagnostic products. The sensing products will serve Canadian patients by enabling them to receive the most appropriate therapy at an earlier time-point than previously possible and support the development of efficient strategies for environmental protection.