XLi-03
Low-cost and sensitive multiplex DNA detection on 3D Paper-based microfluidic biochips
Health, human disease & diagnostics
Preferred major field of study or minimum required skills
No specific majors or skills required
Scholarly significance/intellectual merit
Plant and animal diseases from fungal, bacterial, and viral organisms have caused serious economic losses annually. In addition, foodborne and infectious diseases from microorganisms become a serious public health concern throughout the world. Therefore, pathogen detection in plant, animal, food, and infectious diseases attracts significant interest. A great variety of pathogen detection has benefited from DNA testing using microarray. However, it usually requires expensive instruments and cumbersome procedures for DNA probe immobilization. Therefore, the goal of this project to develop a simple low-cost paper-based microfluidic biochip integrated with DNA testing techniques for multiplexed pathogen detection.
Research question(s)
- How to immobilize DNA codes on the paper substrate easily?
- How to minimize DNA no-specific binding on the paper substrate?
- Will our paper-based microfluidic lab-on-a-chip biochips allow for sensitive pathogen detection in resource-poor settings, such as field detection or in developing countries?
Methods/techniques/instruments to be learned/utilized
- The microfluidic technique developed in the 1990s (also called Lab-on-a-chip, or micro total analysis system (µTAS)) offers a unique opportunity for various biomedical applications.
- Electrochemical detetection, and fluorescence detection.
- Different bioanalysis methods.