A Novel Rapid Nucleic Acid Isolation Microchip Intergrated in the FASTGENE PCR Microfluidics Device for Point of Care Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

The catastrophic impact of infectious diseases including the recent coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic on global health cannot be over emphasized. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques are the most sensitive and reliable diagnostic tools for infectious diseases but are time-consuming and labour-intensive. This project aims to develop a simple, rapid and cost-effective novel nucleic acid (NA) isolation microchip and integrate it in the FASTGENE PCR microfluidics device for point of care (POC) diagnosis of infectious diseases. The project will exploit the competence of the experience researcher (ER) on the theoretical and practical knowledge of medical biotechnology and molecular epidemiology while implementing the expertise of BforCure team in microfluidics design to develop this new microchip. The ER will develop a new NA isolation microchip based on silica gel solid phase extraction system and integrate it in the FASTGENE PCR microfluidics device of BforCure to become a closed system device that automatically extracts NA and amplifies it to detect infectious diseases. After the design and production, the device will be tested for its efficiency. Once satisfied, positive control bacteria and viral samples will be used to assess the performance of the device and the results will be compared with that of standard commercially available NA extraction and PCR kits. The device is expected to have high sensitive compared to other microfluidics devices, reliable and can detect pathogens in less than 20 minutes. A patent will be secured for the product while the findings of the research will be made public and commercialized. This novel device will be suitable for POC diagnosis to promptly detect and manage infectious diseases. This project will develop the ER's potential to transform research ideas to products and build up his industrial experience. It will make the ER gain expertise in the design and fabrication of microfluidics tools and develop his entrepreneuri