Microfluidic based molecular diagnostic for COVID 19

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  Our prototype microfluidic device

Inspiration

Nanoplasmas Private Company (PC) is a high-tech, innovation-driven, spin-out of NCSR Demokritos, the largest multidisciplinary research center in Greece. After more than 10 years of EU funded research and innovation protected by patents (presently transferred to Nanoplasmas from the Research center), the shareholders of Nanoplasmas have pioneered the “plasma micro-nano texturing” technology for the fabrication of novel diagnostic microchips. The company was established to commercialize excellent research results and through that to advance public health and safety. The company portfolio includes several diagnostic prototypes, such as enhanced microarray substrates, cell culture surfaces and “smart” microfluidics. Nanoplasmas latest product is a Legionella detection lab on a chip presently targeting water samples. The COVID-19 crisis immobilized us to develop a COVID-19 diagnostic kit based on the same technology we used for bacteria Our multidisciplinary team includes experienced researchers and co-founders of the company, with hundreds of research publications, tens of patents, and several millions of Euros research funding. In 2013, the company shareholders have won the 2nd award in Applied Research and Innovation Contest for Excellence "Greece Innovates" with “Smart nanostructured surfaces and bioanalytic lab-on-chip” September 2013. In 2016, Nanoplasmas had a first contract in the European Horizon 2020 Project entitled: "LoveFood2Market". This project was the continuation of the European Horizon 2020 Project entitled “Lovefood”, which was appreciated from the European committee as “one of the projects that make us proud”. In 2018 Nanoplasmas was one of the 10 finalists in Disrupt Greece 2018 competition. The same year, the company was selected for coaching and promotion in the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry incubator “Thea”. Last year our company secured a first round of investment from Unifund, Equifund and a second contract from NCSR Demokritos-Stavros Niarchos Foundation to the Industrial Scholarship Program. Last but not least, Nanoplasmas was also mentioned in a recent article about SMEs in Financial times and was selected to present its case in the celebration of the first year of Equifund.

What it does

We use a specific reagents mix which change colour if the Virus RNA is present in the sample. The platform we do the analysis is a microfluidic device, such devices decrease analysis time and make the test easier to use.

How I built it

Challenges I ran into

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

We have already similar products for bacteria detection www.Nanoplasmas.com

What I learned

What's next for Microfluidic based molecular diagnostic for COVID 19

We recently started the development of the kit. We hope to have it ready for certification in July. After the certification we plan to make it commercially available as soon as possible in Greece to cover the need for COVID-19 diagnostic kits