Details

Project title: Integrated chip development for biomolecule purification and diagnostic applications
Acronym: MAGCHIP
Coordinator: Nurex Srl

Type: Project
Annuality: Third
TP/LS membership: TecnInn/HMNA2
Subjects involved: Nanovector, Eltek, University of Turin (DGBB – NIS), Polytechnic of Turin

Status: Completed
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Abstract: The project was aimed at developing new devices and reagents needed to increase the quality and analytical cadence of analytical processes in which the sample extraction/purification step requires high accuracy, miniaturization and automation. The devices and reagents were used for some diagnostic applications using novel protein markers (phosphoproteins) and molecular biology applications.

Name: Franca Mannu
Organization: NUREX Srl
Phone: 3356581687
E-mail: nurex@tin.it
WEB: www.nurex.it

THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED

Fundamental components of an analytical system such as magnetic particle sets functionalized to meet different applications, single-use cartridge with parallelized minicells, microfluidic system and integrated reagents, new robotic worksatation, and validated procedures and software were developed and prototyped in the project.

The solutions identified allow cost reduction (miniaturization and use of integrated components), increased productivity (parallelization up to 8 modules), high flexibility, and easy integration to the most popular automated systems or to a platform developed and built by NUREX Ltd.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT

In the project, micro/nano particles were developed for pre-analytical purification of biomolecules with a view to application in the integrated micro-chip.Optimization of magnetic particles to enable their use on the same micro-chip regardless of their different functionalization (similar magnetic characteristics, rheology, hydrophilicity, etc.).Development of microcells specifically designed for separation of biomolecules by differentially functionalized magnetic particles Optimization of methods, selection of magnetic particles, development of reagents. Increased productivity by process parallelization through development of “ready-to-use” cartridges with fluidic system integrated with robotic stations and development of automated procedures. Full automation of processes using different types of detectors Characterization of interferents and optimization of micro-methods to different biological matrices. Testing of applications where very high analytical performance is required for measurement of phosphoprotein and molecular biology markers. Measurement of diagnostic performance and system robustness.

PROJECT RESULTS

Magnetic micro/nanoparticles have been made that constitute the fundamental unit of the system . methods and reagents needed to perform tests, integration and further development of automated devices, and validation of methods. microcells in modular format (cartdridge) designed to perform biomarker purification under miniaturized and automated conditions. The industrial partners will produce a range of materials that can be marketed independently or jointly to build complex systems. The companies are finalizing a collaboration agreement for industrial exploitation of the results. It is expected that the technologies developed may originate a patent and may have
industrial spillovers in the short to medium term.

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