University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Optimization of a Signal Enhancement Strategy for the Detection of MicroRNA Using Silicon Photonic Microring Resonator Arrays

Para, Christopher

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95814

Description

Title
Optimization of a Signal Enhancement Strategy for the Detection of MicroRNA Using Silicon Photonic Microring Resonator Arrays
Author(s)
Para, Christopher
Contributor(s)
Bailey, Ryan
Issue Date
2016
Keyword(s)
  • Chemistry
  • Communication
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an important class of non-coding RNA molecules, regulating gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. As potent gene regulators, miRNAs have been linked to developmental processes and establishment and maintenance of tissue differentiation. As a result, miRNA expression in tissue and blood samples can be associated with disease types and stages and be used to fully distinguish tissue types. These findings, among others, have firmly established the diagnostic value of miRNAs. Recently, our group has shown the ability of silicon photonic microring resonators to quantitatively detect miRNA.This technology is scalable, highly multiplexable (128 sensors/chip), and inexpensive (<$1/assay). Current nucleic acid analysis methods have distinct disadvantages when compared to microring resonators. qRT-PCR is incredibly sensitive but requires expensive reagents and has limited multiplexing capabilities. Conversely, microarrays are highly multiplexable, but labor intensive and expensive. Here we use the microring resonator platform to quantitate expression levels of 7 miRNAs relevant to distinguishing tissue type, while also leaving sensors to normalize data and compare the results to those obtained from qRT-PCR (the current gold standard).
Publisher
Office of Minority Student Affairs
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95814
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 Christopher Para

Owning Collections

TRiO - Vol. 2, no.1 2016 PRIMARY
The TRiO McNair journal is a culmination of research conducted by student scholars and their facutly representatives through the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program.