Microdevice Prototype Allowing Oligonucleotide Release and Bioassays in the Field

Abstract

This project is initiated from the novel idea to realize a generic device to store, release and synthesize oligonucleotides to a length of about 20 bases. The synthesized oligonucleotides will be used either as probes in a detection device to interrogate biowarfare organisms, viruses or for diagnosis of infectious agents, or as primers such as those used in a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) system.Such a generic device can potentially reduce the development time needed to produce detection kits to interrogate new infectious or biowarfare agents. The intention of the device is also to be able to provide on-demand synthesis of oligonucleotides of desired sequence. Being able to do so obviates the time and cost needed in developing customized devices which use pre-synthesized oligonucleotides. This project is divided into two portions b