Developing a novel electrochemical sensor using aptamers to detect Covid-19, CSF, cortisol, and more in minutes.

Aptamers are short, single stranded DNA or RNA that bind to a specific molecular target such as a protein or hormone. This is a cost effective point of care device that quickly and accurately detects the presence of various biomarkers in nasal fluid.

OUR WORKFLOW

First a sterile cotton tipped nasal swab will gently pass through a nostril. The swab is placed in a collection tube and stirred thoroughly with a buffer solution. The lid of the collection tube has an attachable dropper. Next, multiple drops from the collection tube will be placed on the electrodes of the MiniCell. After a few minutes the Potentiostat will measure a current difference. The phone connected to Potentiostat will state the amount of cortisol found via Android app (PStouch).

OUR PITCH

A presentation on the clinical need for our device. The original pitch focused on CSF detetction, but we have shifted towards cortisal testing due to unforseen delays.

CAD EXPLODED VIEW

To date there is no efficient, cost-effective method to quickly and accurately detect the presence of cortisol or CSF in a nasopharyngeal sample.

We have designed a point of care device to collect nasal fluid that measures cortisol using off the shelf components. The device is compact, easy to use, low cost, and results can obtained in less than 15 minutes. We are specifcally focused on cortisol, but our design is capable of detecting COVID-19 and Beta-2-transferrin (a protein found in CSF).

COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease cuased by SARS-CoV-2 virus. A majority of people infected with COVID-19 will experiance mild to moderate respiratory illness without requiring special treatment. Individuals with underlying medical condition are more likely to develope a serious illness.

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a serious problem that occurs when there is a tear in the dura mater, a semipermeable membrane that encapsulates the brain and spinal cord. CSF leakage can have dire effects if not treated promptly, such as meningitis, stroke, and intracranial hypotension.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone that helps respond to stress, fight infection, regulate blood sugar, and maintain blood pressure. If your cortisol levels are too high or low, this may point towards a disorder of your adrenal gland such as Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease.

Next look at this cool stuff

The Problem

To date there is no efficient, cost-effective method to quickly and accurately detect the presence of cortisol in a nasopharyngeal sample. Currently the most common way to measure cortisol is via blood test. Blood tests are inconvenient as it requires a trained healthcare professional to extract the sample twice in one day due to cortisol levels fluctuating throughout the day. Our devise allows for ease in sample collection and a decrease in cost.

THE SOLUTION

To address this challenge, we have created a novel electrochemical MiniCell device to detect cortisol. It uses a potentiostat to detect changes in current and patented shrinky-dink technology to increase probe sensitivity and reduce sample size. The potentiostat includes an Android app so patients can immediately understand their results.

OUR PRODUCT

The electrochemical sensor will be capable of rapid and highly sensitive detection of cortisol, through a specialized aptamer (DNA oligonucleotide) designed to bind with cortisol.

THE PARTS

We have optimized the minicell size and enhance its robust connection from the minicell to the potentiostat in order to obtain a reproducible and accurate signal.

THe University of California, Irvine

Thank you to UC Irvine for the funding and resources allocated towards our senior design course (BME180A-B-C).

The Center for Advanced Design and Manufacturing of Integrated Microfluidics (CADMIM)

Thank you to CADMIM for the financial support provided through the Natural Science Foundation (NSF).

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Thank you to UROP for awarding us with a fall grant and supporting our research.