Silica-based DNA extraction kinetics for compact lab-on-chip systems

DNA and RNA extraction from a variety of patient-based samples are routinely done in a clinical setting prior to nucleic acid analysis.  For many nucleic acid-based tests performed in clinical practice, the time between the sample collection and test result is typically greater than 24 hours since the sample often needs to be shipped to a centralized lab for analysis.  This can lead to delays in appropriate and/or effective treatment for the patient.  For certain testing needs, a shift in the paradigm is warranted with point-of-care based lab-on-chip systems providing rapid time-to-result capabilities as one potential solution.

Lab-on-chip systems require efficient binding of DNA for purification prior to amplification within a compact extraction filter to enable efficient, cost-effective microfluidic test cards.  However, limited understanding of the kinetics of the DNA binding process present challenges for optimizing the extraction conditions.  The focus of this thesis is to experimentally extract relevant kinetic parameters and fit to models of the DNA binding process developed at imec.  Furthermore, the student will investigate the important physical mechanisms to gain better insights on how the DNA binding conditions can be tuned to improve the extraction process by carefully designed experiments.  The results of this work will facilitate the design of more performant DNA extraction filters for integrated systems.

Prospective candidates should prior studies in suitable science, physics, or engineering-related fields. Prior practical lab experience in molecular biology techniques is highly desired (including PCR and DNA extraction).  At imec, the selected candidate will work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team at a world-leading research center and gain hands-on experience in the field of life sciences.