WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University researchers have developed three prototype molecular diagnostic instruments designed to make testing more accurate, affordable and accessible in laboratories, clinics, farms and other settings.
Photo by Purdue University
The instruments were developed by Mohit Verma, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue, and his research team. They are designed to support testing for human and animal health, environmental monitoring and food safety.
The technology builds on a paper-based biosensor developed by the team in 2021. That sensor detects specific genetic material associated with a target organism and changes color when the target DNA or RNA is present.
While the color change provided a relatively simple way to interpret results, researchers recognized that visual interpretation could introduce subjectivity. The new instruments use cameras, scanners and software to analyze reactions and produce more consistent results.
“Our goal is to create diagnostic tools that are accurate, affordable and easy to use wherever testing is needed,” Verma said.
The three instruments, developed under the ThermiQuant name, are designed for different testing needs.
The ThermiQuant MegaScan is intended for high-volume laboratory testing, allowing researchers to process numerous samples and monitor color changes over time.
The ThermiQuant AquaStream is a portable benchtop instrument designed for clinics, farms and field environments. It can process both paper-based and tube-based reactions, helping reduce the need for separate instruments and simplifying laboratory workflows.
The ThermiQuant VitroMini is a smaller, solid-state device designed to make testing more compact and adaptable. Its dual-sided heating system helps maintain stable reaction temperatures, including under simulated outdoor conditions ranging from 39 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
The instruments use custom-built software to analyze reactions, with the AquaStream and VitroMini processing results using onboard computing capabilities.
Researchers have also worked to improve the technology’s ability to estimate the concentration of DNA targets in samples, potentially providing more information than a simple positive-or-negative result.
The goal is to bring molecular testing closer to the places where results are needed, rather than requiring every sample to be processed in a traditional laboratory. Potential applications include detecting infectious diseases, monitoring animal health, assessing food safety and identifying environmental hazards.
The research team includes Bibek Raut, who recently completed his doctorate in Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, along with other collaborators.
Raut said his interest in improving access to testing grew from his experience in Nepal during the COVID-19 outbreak, when he encountered difficulties obtaining a test.
The researchers are now working toward developing a handheld instrument that could further expand access to testing.
Funding for the work has come from several sources, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Center for Produce Safety, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, the Applied Research Institute, Krishi and Purdue University.
The instruments represent an effort to combine molecular detection technology with practical designs that can make testing easier to perform in a wider range of settings.
More information is available through Purdue’s College of Agriculture.
