Session: 18-01-04: Sustainability in Industry

Paper Number: 149366

149366 - Nanopath's Integrated Point-of-Care System for Rapid Pathogen Identification and Characterization 

The purpose of Nanopath's research is the development of a diagnostic platform to enable rapid, point-of-care characterization of infections with an initial focus in woman's health. Samples are processed on our integrated consumable, which performs multiplexed sample preparation and bacterial characterization. From start to finish, our product aims to limit total-analytical-time to less than 15 minutes. To the best of our knowledge, no other technology can provide species-level bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility information within a single doctor’s office visit. Nanopath's proposed technology and platform removes time-intensive culture steps, the need for nucleic acid amplification, and complex workflows requiring extensive clinical expertise to diagnosis common infections. The described research and development efforts combine principles of nanotechnology, bioengineering, and advanced data analysis to accelerate the diagnosis of infection. 

Detection of pathogens is achieved by the combination of hands-free, integrated sample preparation with our proprietary molecular nanosensor within a single-use, microfluidic driven consumable. The consumable is then coupled with a proprietary low-cost readout instrument to enable precise motion control, thermal and fluidic manipulation, and optical readout. Within the consumable, the sample is lysed and target nucleic acid sequences bind selectively to custom probes on the engineered nanosensor to generate spectral signals that are analyzed for diagnosis. Multiplexing of the test is enabled by spatially functionalizing the nanosensor surface with custom probes specific to the molecular targets of interest. 

Research in the area of the nanosensor to date includes finite element analysis and empirical validation to maximize signal response upon pathogen binding as a function of nanosensor geometry and development of the techniques necessary to manufacture the nanosensor with a path to large volume, low cost replication. Research in the area of the consumable and readout instrumentation to date includes development of the optical train required to maximize signal-to-noise for the readout of the nanosensor; computational fluid dynamics modelling, manufacturing, and empirical validation of microfluidic architectures necessary for precise fluidic control and disruption necessary to enable less than 15 minute total-analytical-time; and development and empirical validation of advanced spectral data analysis techniques for pathogen detection. 

Through the combined efforts of assay, nanosensor, hardware, and software development, Nanopath has been able to successfully and specifically detect clinically relevant pathogen loads in clinical samples within our research setting. These preliminary results have shown a culture and amplification free, multiplexed, easy to use, point-of-care clinical diagnostic platform for a wide range of sample matrices and applications, including and beyond woman's health, is feasible. 

Presenting Author: Matt Cote Nanopath

Presenting Author Biography: Matt Cote is an engineering leader with experience successfully leading interdisciplinary teams of mechanical, electrical, and optical engineers to develop and commercialize products that meet a wide variety of customer segments. At Nanopath, Matt leads the engineering team, overseeing sensor, consumable, software, and reader development. Prior to Nanopath, Matt studied mechanical engineering (ME, UCONN; BS, WPI) and has held roles in the defense and biotech sectors, most recently as the Principal Engineer at Quanterix for a field leading single molecule detection platform.

Authors:

Matt Cote Nanopath
Amogha Tadimety Nanopath
Alison Burklund Nanopath