I-Corps: Translational Potential of On-Paper Porous Silicon Sensors for Quantitative Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Award ID: 2631182

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a point-of-care diagnostic platform that provides quantitative health data outside of traditional laboratory settings. Current diagnostic assays are qualitative, prone to human error, and unable to track subtle disease progression. These limitations prevent patients and healthcare providers from accessing timely, numerical health metrics needed to effectively monitor chronic conditions. This technology uses highly sensitive disease biomarker quantification via a standard smartphone camera, bridging the gap between inexpensive home tests and complex lab equipment. It may be used as a point-of-care diagnostic for chronic disease management and remote digital health monitoring. This technology may enable individuals to actively track critical health indicators at home, which may improve early disease intervention, reduce overall healthcare expenses, and expand access to high-precision medicine. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a nanostructured porous silicon-on-paper sensing platform for biomarker quantification. This technology vertically integrates a porous silicon membrane with paper microfluidic channels, enabling increased surface reactivity and control over fluid dynamics. When target analyte binds to capture agents in the functionalized porous silicon membrane, the resulting refractive index change causes a color change. A deep-learning algorithm integrated into a smartphone application is employed to convert small color intensity changes into accurate biomarker concentrations within 30 minutes. In addition, a specialized anti-biofouling and anti-corrosion surface treatment is applied to allow testing of complex biological samples, facilitating selective molecular capture without requiring labor-intensive sample preparation. This technology may benefit users by providing access to laboratory-grade, quantitative analytical results for monitoring chronic disease progression or therapeutic treatment efficacy without the need for a laboratory. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman