Project description
A microfluidics device for virus detection in drinking water
Virus detection in drinking water poses a technological challenge with important health ramifications since a viral concentration of just 10-100 particles in 2 litres of water is infectious. Traditional methods employ various virus concentration steps followed by molecular or culture-based analysis. Scientists of the EU-funded MoViD project propose an alternative approach based on a novel microfluidic device capable of separating water particles in detection reservoirs according to size. The separated viral particles remain intact and can then be easily analysed using a variety of methods. The MoViD device offers a simplified approach for the prompt identification of water contaminants.
Objective
The detection of dilute populations of nanoparticles in microfluidics is difficult due to diffusion as the time limiting step to reach the sensor. Using active transport, we propose to build a proof of concept microfluidic device that reaches sub-attomolar detection sensitivity within an hour and at a device footprint of 1 cm. The active transport enables size separation of the particles into multiple channels and up-concentration in detection reservoirs for label free detection. At the end of the process the size-separated particles can be easily extracted for further downstream processing.
The applied use case is the detection and quantification of virus in drinking water, a global health-critical challenge. A viral concentration of 10-100 particles is infectious in 2l of water consumed by a person, corresponding to a concentration of 10^(-22) molar. Traditional methods rely on multiple concentration steps followed by detection using molecular and/or culture based methods. Most common are adsorption/elution assays which co-concentrate and add contaminations that interfere with the downstream detection analysis. The detection methods are also often specific for the viral type and require a priori identification of the target virus. Metagenomic sequencing allows for general identification but lacks sensitivity.
The proposed method will simplify and improve the process significantly. The viruses will be concentrated without damage of the virus shell and with a high rejection of the contamination present in the sample. All virus particles will be separated and sorted according to predefined size ranges into detection compartments on the chip, allowing for a parallel and quantitative marker-less detection on a single particle level. Specific identification is possible for future devices using (integrated) molecular methods with reduced cross-contamination and without a priori virus identification.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidics
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processesdrinking water treatment processes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantHost institution
8803 Rueschlikon
Switzerland