Nanoscale Diagnostics for Precision Medicine, PoC Microchips, and Biodefense

We explore innovative nanoscale diagnostic technologies to monitor disease onset and progression, and assess treatment effectiveness at the molecular level. Nanoscale diagnostics play a crucial role in precision medicine, wearables, and point of care devices by enabling identification of specific genetic mutations, protein expression patterns, diseases, and other molecular characteristics that can guide treatment decisions with the goal of optimizing treatments and comfort for patients, preventing diffusion of highly infectious diseases, minimizing side effects and maximizing therapeutic efficacy. Nanoscale materials such as biofunctionalized nanoparticles, single-stranded DNA/RNA molecules, peptides and antibodies, serve as biosensing platforms for the detection and analysis of biological molecules and disease markers with high sensitivity and specificity. Nanoscale biosensing platforms can be integrated into wearables and point-of-care (PoC) microchips based on semiconductors, such as Silicon or Graphene, nanodevices. These ultra-miniaturized portable and wearable microchips can be used for multiplexed diagnostics at home, in a watch, or on-the-go. The same microchips also provide platforms to detect, mitigate, and respond to biological threats in our environment, including bioterrorism and emerging airborne infectious diseases.

Researchers specializing in theme:

Elisa Riedo, Davood Shahrjerdi, Katsuo Kurabayashi, Rose Faghih, Marcus Weck.