Microwave-Enhanced Microreactor for Ultrafast Detection of Protein Biomarkers

Project Summary In diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of life-threatening diseases/conditions, every minute counts and unambiguous detection of many relevant protein biomarkers is crucial. Unfortunately, the workflow of current unambiguous approach–mass spectrometry–is bottlenecked by the sample preparation process. A microwave-enhanced, flow-through microreactor is proposed here for both selective capture and digestion of proteins to address this major limitation. The specific aims of this Phase I STTR are to create a prototype microreactor and to demonstrate a proof of concept of the microreactor-enabled mass spectrometry analysis of protein biomarkers. The proposed technology and product will streamline the workflow of mass spectrometry analysis of proteins, free end users from the laborious and tedious multiple sample preparation steps, and allow near real-time and unambiguous detection of protein biomarkers, as well as therapeutics, drug targets, etc.Project Narrative Ultrafast and specific detection of protein biomarkers are especially crucial for risk stratification, identification, and/or management of many life-threatening diseases/conditions. The proposed microwave-enhanced microreactor technology and product will address this critical need by streamlining the workflow of sample preparation process and enabling near real-time, unambiguous mass spectrometry analysis of relevant protein biomarkers.