Low cost paper-based biosensors for point-of-care nucleic acid diagnostics of pathogens (360G-Wellcome-202078_Z_16_Z)

This project aims to develop ultra-low cost, paper-based biosensors that can provide point-of-care nucleic acid diagnostics of target pathogens in various specimens. As a proof-of-concept, we will design synthetic HPV viral DNA responsive genetic circuits and validate their diagnostic efficacy in a portable filter paper-based cell-free gene-expression system. This can be freeze-dried and rehydrated, and can produce graduated colorimetric outputs to indicate HPV subtype and load in cervical cell samples lysed by inexpensive nonionic detergents. We envision the proposed is an exciting, feasible and elegant solution to a major global challenge – providing kits for self-diagnosis, at home, of infectious agents that are sufficiently simple, cheap and robust to be used across the poorest countries in the world.