Descrizione del progetto
Un dispositivo microfluidico per rilevare i virus nell’acqua potabile
La rilevazione di virus nell’acqua potabile costituisce una sfida tecnologica dalle importanti conseguenze per la salute, dal momento che una concentrazione virale di sole 10-100 particelle in 2 litri d’acqua risulta infettiva. I metodi di rilevazione tradizionali utilizzano diverse concentrazioni virali a gradino, seguite da analisi molecolari o basate sulle colture. Gli scienziati del progetto MoViD, finanziato dall’UE, propongono un approccio alternativo basato su un dispositivo microfluidico innovativo, in grado di separare le particelle di acqua in base al peso all’interno di serbatoi di rilevazione. Le particelle virali separate rimangono intatte e possono quindi essere analizzate facilmente, utilizzando una grande varietà di metodi. Il dispositivo MoViD offre un approccio semplificato per identificare rapidamente gli agenti inquinanti nell’acqua.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
Not validated
Not validated
- 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
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantIstituzione ospitante
8803 Rueschlikon
Svizzera