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Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
In the area of Exploration Medical Capability, the Human Research Program's goal is to the shrink a hospital lab for spaceflight, an environment where astronauts will not have access for large analytical tools. Many of these diagnostic tools can be in the form of simple to use lab-on-a-chip devices. Our objective is to generate a sensor manufacturing methodology that is highly tunable for a variety of targets and is suitable for in-space manufacturing. Our proposed solution is a paper based printed electrochemical biosensor that can accept fluids such as blood or urine. Our proposed solution is a paper based printed electrochemical biosensor that can accept fluids such as blood or urine. This platform has several advantages for long duration space flight. First, sample fluid moves by a capillary action through the paper substrate as opposed to traditional PDMS microfluidics, which have known complications in microgravity. Secondly, the sensor fabrication is accomplished using simple printers, thermal, piezoelectric drop on demand or atmospheric plasma, to define the microfluidic channels and electrode. An electrode comprised of a network of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been integrated within paper substrates.
ISS based manufacturing of critical biosensor technology eliminate shelf-life concerns with currently used medical diagnostic sensor strips. In-space manufacturing of critical biosensor technology will enable crew health management on long-duration flight missions. This technology can be used for all human space flight endeavors. Cheap, autonomous biosensor technology has great applications to DARPA, NIH and USDA for human health monitoring, biowarfare agent detection and food contaminant detection.
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