Mohamed Azize

Lab-on-chip for Molecular Diagnosis 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) team in the Business Innovation Center (BIC) at the Photonics Center provides a case study in how ADI executes intrapreneurship with their Analog Garage model. Now known as NTDHC, the team is focused on developing the next generation of Biosensor platform-on-chip for diagnostics and therapeutics. To deliver point-of-care, low-cost, rapid, disposable diagnostics that don’t require sample prep and still having molecular accuracy to “gold standard” techniques requires a skilled team with expertise across multiple disciplines. Being part of a larger organization, NTDHC can draw from ADI’s expertise in Biology, Chemistry and Materials Science as well as ADI’s analog/mixed signal electronics expertise and capabilities in device manufacturing.

Here in this project is proposed a disruptive low-cost & rapid disposable instrument-free route to develop disposable nanoLab-on-a-chip for molecular diagnostic to tackle the current COVID 19 Pandemic and beyond. Conventional Electrochemistry methods will be used to characterize the electro-chemical nanomaterial-based sensor.

Such a novel disposable biosensor device would be a promising alternative to the current gold standard of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to the other emerging nanotechnology-based diagnostic testing systems. The instrument-free MDx could pave the way for an efficient transformation of the Digital Health Care industry.

The summer research participant will be in charge to evaluate the multiple optical and EC sensor used by the competition prior to performing a benchmark study (e.g. COVID 19) with the ADI EC nanomaterial-based sensor. Furthermore, a novel bacteria use case will be explored using the ADI EC nanomaterial-based sensor.

LABORATORY MENTOR
Hari Chauhan

RESEARCH GOALS
– Competition landscape in Molecular diagnostic
– Develop a lab-on-chip method for benchmarking internally the different biosensors used in MDx
– Development of low cost Cartridge for Molecular assays
– A novel bacteria use case to be explored and characterized using ADI nano-sensor versus conventional methods

LEARNING GOALS
– Learn about Optical &Electrical characterization for Molecular assays as well as nanomaterial used for Biosensors
– Learn about the design and fabrication of Biosensors chips in cleanroom
– Learn about SolidWorks, laser cutting and 3D printing for quick prototyping
– Learn about how teamwork is organized in a large US corporation vs a startup company
– Learn about Entrepreneur vs Intrapreneur

Learn more about Mohamed Azize on his faculty page.