Portable Gene Expression Array Reader for NASA Applications

In the last few decades our understanding of life has expanded considerably with major progress in the fields of biotechnology, molecular biology, and genetics. This has culminated in deciphering the human genome. Microarray technologies have now made it possible to identify and study the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. Currently used microarray readers are predominantly fluorescence readers for their superior sensitivity. Alternative readers that are simpler, less expensive, compact, and portable are desired for space applications and various in situ applications. Intelligent Optical Systems proposes to develop a highly sensitive, lightweight, compact, microarray reader for gene expression analysis. This proposal explores the utilization of ellipsometry in conjunction with nanoparticle-based amplification for creating an imaging microarray reader. The feasibility of the principle will be demonstrated in Phase I with commercially available oligonucleotide microarrays. The sensitivity, spatial resolution, the ease-of-use of the reader will be tested and validated to fluorescence microarray based measurements.