Plastic nanochips for DNA analysis for cancer monitoring

During the current pandemic, cancer patients have been one of the most vulnerable groups. The pandemic added up to an already precarious situation, where there is still no reliable way to monitor the efficiency of a treatment, to find resistances or to detect relapse or metastasis at an early stage. In recent years, we have developed a novel methodology for the analysis of single molecules of DNA in very cheap plastic devices. We have used it to analyze different viral species, including tumor viruses, and we are currently working on the proof of concept for the detection of RNA from coronaviruses. Furthermore, we are also making the technology portable, to bring it outside the lab.

In this project, we would extend the use of the device for its use not only for pathogen detection, but also explore its use for cancer monitoring. We will work towards scalability, and show the proof of concept of our technology and nano-devices for obtaining the methilation profiles of DNA molecules as an early indication of methastasis or hidden resistance to treatment in collaboration with the UKE, and validate it for a large number of samples.