Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip for bovine tuberculosis diagnostic: bTB-test
Bovine tuberculosis, transmissible from bovine to humans by milk or meat, is a public health issue. Lab-on-a-chip technology may help for tuberculosis diagnostic in its early stages.
This project is completed now. If interested, feel free to contact us.
Tuberculosis diagnostic on a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip: introduction
Standard tuberculosis testing is efficient and sensitive, but also logistically challenging, and time and resource consuming.
In this project, a simpler and non-invasive method of tuberculosis diagnostic will be developed on the basis of metabolomics research.
Metabolites, small-molecule compounds found in body fluids, reflect changes in the blood chemistry induced by disease. Analysis of metabolite types and concentrations may allow early tuberculosis diagnostic.
Tuberculosis diagnostic on a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip: project description
We aim to identify the signature of bovine tuberculosis-specific metabolites and develop a standardized testing procedure to detect these biomarkers.
In this project, we will focus on the detection and analysis of volatile organic compounds. Samples will be collected from animals’ breath, skin, and feces, and the volatile organic compounds will be detected thanks to an electronic nose system.
Ultimately, a portable prototype will be built, regrouping a preconditioning unit, with all the sensors and electronics needed to detect bovine tuberculosis. The prototype will include a software.
We will design and build new lab-on-a-chip devices for tuberculosis diagnostic to analyze the volatile organic compounds released by the body fluid samples.
All the powerful tools developed for flow control will be used to handle the fluids in the chips and precisely tune the different parameters.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 MSCA-RISE under grant agreement No 777832 (bTB-Test project).
