Researchers at the A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics and the Genome Institute of Singapore have developed a silicon-based microfluidic chip that is able to sense and differentiate the H1N1 virus from other seasonal influenza strains. The device shows potential for quick on-site diagnosis of infectious diseases. According to Linus Tzu-Hsiang Kao, whose team developed the chip, “The system will be suitable for use as a portable diagnostic tool for on-the-spot screening of highly contagious viruses, such as the influenza A H1N1 strain.” The chip uses a silicon-nanowire sensing module for virus identification. The nanowires are modified with nucleic acid-containing polymers that specifically bind to the target DNA, resulting in a change in electrical resistance. The team is working to improve the sample module. “We are in the process of building a fully automated and integrated prototype, which will allow us to proceed to clinical validation with our collaborators,” says Kao. The article can be viewed online at the link below.
http://www.research.a-star.edu.sg/research/6314