ProDNA-Nano · Development of DNA-based nanodevices for the point-of-care detection of clinically-relevant proteins

WHY: The detection of specific proteins that are overexpressed in different types of cancers is critical for early diagnosis and targeted cancer screening. Existing methods for quantifying these clinically-relevant proteins, including the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), have the disadvantage of being a multi-step, reagent-intensive and laboratory-bound process which result in relatively high costs, limiting its applicability at the point of care. To overcome these limitations, new methods and approaches are urgently needed. WHAT: ProDNA-Nano aims to address this need with the development and characterization of a general class of cell-free DNA-based systems that can be used to quantify different cancer-related proteins through electrochemical and optical methods to maximize the versatility and applicability of the technology. Specifically, the innovative cell-free system developed in this project couples the specificity of protein-ligand binding with the high sensitivity of RNA-based detection, thus providing a versatile and efficient platform for protein quantification. Moreover, the proposed system will allow to quantitatively measure different protein concentrations directly in biological media in an orthogonal fashion, with reduced complexity and cost and rapid turnaround time. The modular nature of the system will also allow its adaptation to a wide range of targets, thus making it a versatile nucleic acid-based tool. HOW: Through a multidisciplinary approach, I will receive training in molecular biology, optical/electrochemical biosensors, and DNA nanotechnology. Prof. Ricci's group at the University of Rome Tor Vergata (UNITOV) offers extensive expertise in these areas, being at the forefront of DNA nanotechnology and biosensors development. Thanks to this MSC Fellowship, I will diversify my scientific knowledge and acquire cutting-edge competences as well as complementary skills, which will become the foundation of my scientific independence.