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The NAOMI project

While technological innovations have enabled the analysis of genetic material in miniaturized test formats, the more delicate nature of protein structures has hindered the development of such devices for proteins.

Only recently, protein biochips have emerged and now a broad range of technologies and investigation techniques is required to meet the needs of the field and to address the bulk of biological problems.

The NAOMI project tackles the challenge to develop miniaturized protein chips, focusing on the combination of nano and micro technologies to deliver compact, reliable and potentially low cost diagnostic tools, with improved analysis performances.

The project is aimed to study and implement different micro and nano approaches for the detection and analysis of proteins, based on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and biomolecules. This will be achieved by integrating different technologies (photonics, microfluidics, microelectronics, nanotechnology and surface chemistry) in a 3D-stacked structure, instead of the classical planar (2D) approach.
The 3D device will be schematically realized by a microfluidic layer, an optical layer and a functionalized surface able to immobilize the proteins into the proper reaction sites.

The different detection schemes that will be implemented are:

punto Fluorescence-based approach. A channeled pulsed laser light stimulates the emission of fluorescence markers; then, integrated filters and sensors will analyze and detect the optical signal; integrated processing circuitry will characterize it in terms of intensity and duration.

punto Resonant modes in microresonators (label-free approach). The attachment of a protein analyte on the functionalized surface of a microresonator (microsphere and microdisk) results in a red-shift of its optical resonance.

punto THz spectroscopy. A narrowband tunable THz source illuminating the samples gives information on the protein conformation; broadband sensors, in conjunction with synchronized readout electronics, will detect the transmission spectra.