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Nardi L, Davis NM, Sansolini S, Baratto de Albuquerque T, Laarraj M, Caputo D, de Cesare G, Shariati Pour SR, Zangheri M, Calabria D, Guardigli M, Balsamo M, Carrubba E, Carubia F, Ceccarelli M, Ghiozzi M, Popova L, Tenaglia A, Crisconio M, Donati A, Nascetti A, Mirasoli M. APHRODITE: A Compact Lab-on-Chip Biosensor for the Real-Time Analysis of Salivary Biomarkers in Space Missions. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:72. [PMID: 38391991 PMCID: PMC10887022 DOI: 10.3390/bios14020072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
One of the main challenges to be faced in deep space missions is to protect the health and ensure the maximum efficiency of the crew by preparing methods of prevention and in situ diagnosis. Indeed, the hostile environment causes important health problems, ranging from muscle atrophy, osteopenia, and immunological and metabolic alterations due to microgravity, to an increased risk of cancer caused by exposure to radiation. It is, therefore, necessary to provide new methods for the real-time measurement of biomarkers suitable for deepening our knowledge of the effects of space flight on the balance of the immune system and for allowing the monitoring of the astronaut's health during long-term missions. APHRODITE will enable human space exploration because it fills this void that affects both missions in LEO and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Its scientific objectives are the design, production, testing, and in-orbit demonstration of a compact, reusable, and reconfigurable system for performing the real-time analysis of oral fluid samples in manned space missions. In the frame of this project, a crew member onboard the ISS will employ APHRODITE to measure the selected target analytes, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), in oral fluid, in four (plus one additional desired session) separate experiment sessions. The paper addresses the design of the main subsystems of the analytical device and the preliminary results obtained during the first implementations of the device subsystems and testing measurements on Earth. In particular, the system design and the experiment data output of the lab-on-chip photosensors and of the front-end readout electronics are reported in detail along with preliminary chemical tests for the duplex competitive CL-immunoassay for the simultaneous detection of cortisol and DHEA-S. Different applications also on Earth are envisaged for the APHRODITE device, as it will be suitable for point-of-care testing applications (e.g., emergency medicine, bioterrorism, diagnostics in developing countries, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Nardi
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138 Rome, Italy; (N.M.D.); (S.S.); (T.B.d.A.); (M.L.); (A.N.)
| | - Nithin Maipan Davis
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138 Rome, Italy; (N.M.D.); (S.S.); (T.B.d.A.); (M.L.); (A.N.)
| | - Serena Sansolini
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138 Rome, Italy; (N.M.D.); (S.S.); (T.B.d.A.); (M.L.); (A.N.)
| | - Thiago Baratto de Albuquerque
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138 Rome, Italy; (N.M.D.); (S.S.); (T.B.d.A.); (M.L.); (A.N.)
| | - Mohcine Laarraj
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138 Rome, Italy; (N.M.D.); (S.S.); (T.B.d.A.); (M.L.); (A.N.)
| | - Domenico Caputo
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184 Rome, Italy; (D.C.); (G.d.C.)
| | - Giampiero de Cesare
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184 Rome, Italy; (D.C.); (G.d.C.)
| | - Seyedeh Rojin Shariati Pour
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Tecnopolo di Rimini, Via Dario Campana 71, I-47922 Rimini, Italy; (S.R.S.P.); (M.Z.); (M.M.)
| | - Martina Zangheri
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Tecnopolo di Rimini, Via Dario Campana 71, I-47922 Rimini, Italy; (S.R.S.P.); (M.Z.); (M.M.)
| | - Donato Calabria
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.)
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Aerospace Research (CIRI AEROSPACE), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Baldassarre Canaccini 12, I-47121 Forlì, Italy
| | - Massimo Guardigli
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.)
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Aerospace Research (CIRI AEROSPACE), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Baldassarre Canaccini 12, I-47121 Forlì, Italy
| | - Michele Balsamo
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Elisa Carrubba
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Fabrizio Carubia
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Marco Ceccarelli
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Michele Ghiozzi
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Liyana Popova
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Andrea Tenaglia
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Marino Crisconio
- Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Italian Space Agency, Via del Politecnico, I-00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Donati
- Kayser Italy S.r.l. Unipersonale, Via di Popogna 501, I-57128 Livorno, Italy; (M.B.); (E.C.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (M.G.); (L.P.); (A.T.); (A.D.)
| | - Augusto Nascetti
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138 Rome, Italy; (N.M.D.); (S.S.); (T.B.d.A.); (M.L.); (A.N.)
| | - Mara Mirasoli
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Tecnopolo di Rimini, Via Dario Campana 71, I-47922 Rimini, Italy; (S.R.S.P.); (M.Z.); (M.M.)
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Aerospace Research (CIRI AEROSPACE), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Baldassarre Canaccini 12, I-47121 Forlì, Italy
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Costantini F, Lovecchio N, Nandimandalam M, Manglli A, Faggioli F, Biasin M, Manetti C, Roversi PF, Nascetti A, de Cesare G, Caputo D. Biomolecular Monitoring Tool Based on Lab-on-Chip for Virus Detection. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13050544. [PMID: 37232905 DOI: 10.3390/bios13050544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Lab-on-Chip (LoC) devices for performing real-time PCR are advantageous compared to standard equipment since these systems allow to conduct in-field quick analysis. The development of LoCs, where the components for performing the nucleic acid amplification are all integrated, can be an issue. In this work, we present a LoC-PCR device where thermalization, temperature control and detection elements are all integrated on a single glass substrate named System-on-Glass (SoG) obtained using metal thin-film deposition. By using a microwell plate optically coupled with the SoG, real-time reverse transcriptase PCR of RNA extracted from both a plant and human virus has been carried out in the developed LoC-PCR device. The limit of detection and time of analysis for the detection of the two viruses by using the LoC-PCR were compared with those achieved by standard equipment. The results showed that the two systems can detect the same concentration of RNA; however, the LoC-PCR performs the analysis in half of the time compared to the standard thermocycler, with the advantage of the portability, leading to a point-of-care device for several diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Costantini
- CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, 00156 Rome, Italy
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Lovecchio
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Manasa Nandimandalam
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Ariana Manglli
- CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, 00156 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Faggioli
- CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, 00156 Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Cesare Manetti
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Augusto Nascetti
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00138 Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero de Cesare
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Caputo
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Lovecchio N, Costantini F, Nascetti A, de Cesare G, Caputo D. Thin-Film-Based Multifunctional System for Optical Detection and Thermal Treatment of Biological Samples. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12110969. [PMID: 36354478 PMCID: PMC9688047 DOI: 10.3390/bios12110969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we present a multifunctional Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platform based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon sensors suitable for a wide range of application in the fields of biochemical and food quality control analysis. The proposed system includes a LoC fabricated on a 5 cm × 5 cm glass substrate and a set of electronic boards for controlling the LoC functionalities. The presented Lab-on-Chip comprises light and temperature sensors, a thin film resistor acting as a heating source, and an optional thin film interferential filter suitable for fluorescence analysis. The developed electronics allows to control the thin film heater, a light source for fluorescence and absorption measurements, and the photosensors to acquire luminescent signals. All these modules are enclosed in a black metal box ensuring the portability of the whole platform. System performances have been evaluated in terms of sensor optical performances and thermal control achievements. For optical sensors, we have found a minimum number of detectable photons of 8 × 104 s-1·cm-2 at room temperature, 1.6 × 106 s-1·cm-2 in presence of fluorescence excitation source, and 2.4 × 106 s-1·cm-2 at 90 °C. From a thermal management point of view, we have obtained heating and cooling rates both equal to 2.2 °C/s, and a temperature sensor sensitivity of about 3 mV/°C even in presence of light. The achieved performances demonstrate the possibility to simultaneously use all integrated sensors and actuators, making promising the presented platform for a wide range of application fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Lovecchio
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Costantini
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
- CREA-DC Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, 00156 Rome, Italy
| | - Augusto Nascetti
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00138 Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero de Cesare
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Caputo
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
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Perrone E, Cesaria M, Zizzari A, Bianco M, Ferrara F, Raia L, Guarino V, Cuscunà M, Mazzeo M, Gigli G, Moroni L, Arima V. Potential of CO 2-laser processing of quartz for fast prototyping of microfluidic reactors and templates for 3D cell assembly over large scale. Mater Today Bio 2021; 12:100163. [PMID: 34901818 PMCID: PMC8637645 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2)-laser processing of glasses is a versatile maskless writing technique to engrave micro-structures with flexible control on shape and size. In this study, we present the fabrication of hundreds of microns quartz micro-channels and micro-holes by pulsed CO2-laser ablation with a focus on the great potential of the technique in microfluidics and biomedical applications. After discussing the impact of the laser processing parameters on the design process, we illustrate specific applications. First, we demonstrate the use of a serpentine microfluidic reactor prepared by combining CO2-laser ablation and post-ablation wet etching to remove surface features stemming from laser-texturing that are undesirable for channel sealing. Then, cyclic olefin copolymer micro-pillars are fabricated using laser-processed micro-holes as molds with high detail replication. The hundreds of microns conical and square pyramidal shaped pillars are used as templates to drive 3D cell assembly. Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells are found to assemble in a compact and wrapping way around the micro-pillars forming a tight junction network. These applications are interesting for both Lab-on-a-Chip and Organ-on-a-Chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Perrone
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maura Cesaria
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zizzari
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Monica Bianco
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Ferrara
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- STMicroelectronics S.r.l, Lecce, Italy
| | - Lillo Raia
- STMicroelectronics S.r.l, Agrate Brianza, Monza Brianza, Italy
| | - Vita Guarino
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Massimo Cuscunà
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Marco Mazzeo
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, department of complex tissue regeneration, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Valentina Arima
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
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Zhu H, Zhang H, Ni S, Korabečná M, Yobas L, Neuzil P. The vision of point-of-care PCR tests for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Trends Analyt Chem 2020; 130:115984. [PMID: 32834243 PMCID: PMC7369599 DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.115984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases, such as the most recent case of coronavirus disease 2019, have brought the prospect of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests into the spotlight. A rapid, accurate, low-cost, and easy-to-use test in the field could stop epidemics before they develop into full-blown pandemics. Unfortunately, despite all the advances, it still does not exist. Here, we critically review the limited number of prototypes demonstrated to date that is based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and has come close to fulfill this vision. We summarize the requirements for the POC-PCR tests and then go on to discuss the PCR product-detection methods, the integration of their functional components, the potential applications, and other practical issues related to the implementation of lab-on-a-chip technologies. We conclude our review with a discussion of the latest findings on nucleic acid-based diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanliang Zhu
- Department of Microsystem Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Xi'an, 710072 Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Haoqing Zhang
- Department of Microsystem Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Xi'an, 710072 Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Sheng Ni
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, S.A.R., PR China
| | - Marie Korabečná
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Albertov 4, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Levent Yobas
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, S.A.R., PR China,Corresponding author
| | - Pavel Neuzil
- Department of Microsystem Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Xi'an, 710072 Shaanxi, PR China,CEITEC Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic,Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Technická 3058/10, 616 00 Brno, Czech Republic,Corresponding author. Department of Microsystem Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Xi'an, 710072 Shaanxi, PR China
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Lovecchio N, Costantini F, Parisi E, Nardecchia M, Tucci M, Nascetti A, de Cesare G, Caputo D. Integrated Optoelectronic Device for Detection of Fluorescent Molecules. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS 2018; 12:1337-1344. [PMID: 30418921 DOI: 10.1109/tbcas.2018.2880922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the development of a compact optoelectronic device suitable for on-chip detection of fluorescent molecules. In order to obtain a highly integrated device, a long-pass multi-dielectric filter has been integrated with thin-film amorphous silicon photosensors on a single glass substrate. Filter rejects the excitation light, allowing the reduction of the distance between the source and the fluorescent site and avoiding the use of external optical component. The compatibility of the technological processes determined the materials and the temporal sequence of the device fabrication. The developed device has been designed for the fluorescence detection of ruthenium complex based molecules and tested, as a proof of concept, for the detection of double-stranded DNA down to 0.5 ng. Results demonstrate the correct operation of the integrated system in both rejecting the excitation light and in detecting the fluorescent signal, demonstrating the suitability of this optoelectronic platform in practical biomedical applications.
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