Grant: Alliance Grants

Nanomaterials have advanced life science applications. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used as promising candidates for biosensing applications similar to rapid tests for COVID19 and electrochemical applications, among others via DNA molecule designs. Next-generation nanomaterials are raising interest in the manipulation of DNA (and RNA). Moreover, some advanced DNA sequencing technologies use beads conjugated with DNA. This illustrates the importance of the interface between nanomaterials and DNA oligonucleotides. The proposed project has two goals/deliverables: 1) To develop "building blocks" of amidite nanoparticles to be integrated into synthetic DNA oligonucleotides, useful for high throughput purification and selection (and various types of molecular biology experiments); 2) MNPs as solid substrates for repetitive polymerization to produce oligopolymers for different applications, which may (or may not) include analog nucleotides to add chemical functionalities. Two expected results: 1) new class of nanomaterials, synthesizable at high capacity based on a controlled MNP/oligonucleotides interaction, 2) new oligonucleotide purification techniques. The development of these technologies will allow Canadian companies, such as Galenvs Sciences, to offer DNA oligonucleotide synthesis and high-throughput sequencing projects and services for the diagnostics industry and for other organizations working in the development of diagnostic platforms or tests. This technology, co-developed with Galenvs Sciences, will help provide a better way to perform many assays that rely on oligonucleotides, which will be beneficial for the sector globally, but will initialy provide an advantage to Canadian companies and Canadians users where these products will first be available, in addition to strategic collaborations that may ensue along the way.