Soft Cleaning of Wire-Immobilized Genetic Material

To automate the sample prep for MinION sequencing, we propose a paradigm shift in the inherently liquid-based, multi-step protocol. The traditionally labor-intense process will occur within disposable microfluidic “cards” which have an unexpected feature. Each card will contain separate reaction wells where single operations will occur (e.g. lysis, fragmentation, amplification). However, these chambers will all remain physically isolated from one another, having no active fluidic interconnects between them. The target DNA will undergo each successive modification step – moving from reaction well to reaction well – simply by going through the intervening walls. This technique, which we call Soft Cleaning of Wire-Immobilized Genetic material (SCWI-G), constitutes a mechanical method of isolating and purifying nucleic acids.

The ISS has a respectable portfolio of biological testing equipment. Two of these instruments include flight-hardened versions of the Cepheid SmartCycler and the Oxford Nanopore MinION. These represents the cutting edge of genetic testing technology. The prevailing challenge has been the multistep nature of the sample preparation protocols. We have solved this problem for qRT-PCR reactions in the SmartCycler, and we now propose to adapt this TRL8 method to the more challenging task of sample prep for MinION sequencing of microbial DNA.

The biotech targeted market is a 4.7 billion market with an established CAGR of 11.4%. Primary commercialization strategy is by licensing the technology to our BioGX technology transitioning partners and supporting future technology refinements and modifications pending feedback from end users and field tests.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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