The goal of the project is the development of a lab-on-chip for recognition of human papillomavirus (HPV) by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) techniques and amorphous silicon sensors.
The lab-on-chip consists of an optoelectronic platform (System-on-Glass) coupled to a disposable microfluidic chip, containing the biological solutions to be analyzed, and connected to an electronic board which controls the timing and operations for biomolecular analysis, processing of data and result's visualization.
The System-on-Glass integrates the functional modules needed to carry out the required analysis for the HPV detection: one for the RNA/DNA amplification using thin-film heaters and thin film temperature sensors and one for on-chip ECL detection through amorphous silicon photosensors.
The microfluidic chip includes a process chamber where the RNA/DNA amplification occurs and a site, for capturing specific probes, which hosts also transparent electrodes for activating the ECL process.
Control electronics includes embedded electronic circuits based on microcontrollers for the read-out of photosensors and temperature sensor, the driving of the thin film heaters, the temperature sensors and the ECL electrodes.
The micro/opto-electronic devices in the lab-on-chip allow the achievement of important scientific objectives:
a) overcoming the current limits of lab-on-chip in terms of miniaturization and portability;
b) development of extremely innovative and sensitive systems for detection of HPV.
Both objectives are achieved thanks to the combination of thin film microelectronic devices integrated on glass substrates, high-efficiency ECL electrodes and specific biomolecular recognition procedures.
The project requires multidisciplinary skills, that are well-represented by project components, which guarantee the know-how and experience required to advance scientific knowledge in the fields of microelectronics and its integration with biology and chemistry.
