Role in the project
The contribution of the WPA group to the TASNANO STREP will be focused on the following three issues: a) electronics design necessary for the ultra-high speed signal processing and low level analysis of the cantilever signals; b) special software for high level intelligent signal processing and extraction of relevant information from the massive parallel cantilever array signals (neural networks, pattem recognition, expert systems; e) handling and packaging through implementation of an innovative high accuracy self-aligning system, taking advantage of PIM technology for high aspect ratio microstructuring on a broad choice of metal and ceramic materials. The ARC Molecular Diagnostic group will bring in the project its profound (molecular) biology and microarray expertise paired with a concrete biomedical application of high relevance. Due to the work already done on the development of microarrays for infectious disease diagnostics, the Molecular Diagnostic group can provide the consortium with already validated DNA probes for antibiotic resistance and pathogen identification, which can be used right away for Functionalisation of cantilevers. In addition, polymers developed by ARC for Functionalisation of glass microarray surfaces can be provided for surface modification of cantilevers. The Molecular Diagnostic group will take over the part of performing comparative assays on cantilevers and traditional microarrays using real biological samples and preparing them for piezoresistive cantilever sensoring, respectively for optical (fluorescence) detection on microarrays.