Development of modular instrumentation for microfluidics analyses integrated with microcontrollers

• Grant number: 24/09879-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: José Alberto Fracassi da Silva
• Grantee: Mathias Stahl Kavai
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lab-on-a-chip (LoC) devices allow for accurate, fast, and low-volume measurements. A major advantage of these devices is their customizability and scalability. 3D printing surges as an option for fast device prototyping. Many 3D printing techniques exist, each with advantages and disadvantages, but as a whole they offer the possibility to create complex objects in a cheap and reproducible way, which are often impossible with traditional manufacturing techniques. Therefore, by utilizing 3D printing techniques, cheap and custom devices can be designed for each application. Despite its advantages, there are still barriers that hinder the mass adoption of LoC devices, such as interface issues with the end user. One way to mitigate this obstacle is to use microcontrollers, which allow for the integration and control of different steps autonomously without user intervention, in addition to being able to communicate with a diverse set of sensors. From these principles, a device capable of detecting insulin and glucagon in biological samples will be created. These molecules are peptide hormones responsible for controlling the glucose concentration in blood, and abnormal concentrations could indicate a tendency to develop diabetes or other medical conditions. Therefore, the present project aims to develop cheap and user-friendly lab-on-a-chip devices that are also modular and don't require additional laboratory infrastructure.