"Point of Injury"Sampling Technology for Battlefield Molecular Diagnostics

In this project Optofluidics, Inc. proposes to develop a"CLIA waivable"sample collection method for the concentration and quantification of blood-borne biomarkers associated with late phase hemorrhagic shock and traumatic brain injury. The sample collection technology is based on (1) a finger prick based assay, (2) a multistage packed bead filtration system, and (3) a novel"nanofluidic collapse"aptamer based specific protein concentration technique, originally demonstrated by the Erickson lab at Cornell University and covered under a patent application. It is proposed that this sample collection technique can be integrated with our existing Nanoscale Optofluidic Sensor Array technology to create a handheld"molecular medic"that can rapidly detect the presence of biomarkers related to these conditions. With our devices untrained personnel or first responders could diagnose with better certainty the presence of these injuries and make more informed decisions regarding treatment, having a dramatic influence on outcomes following a traumatic event.