# Integrated Acoustofluidic Plasmonic Molecular Diagnostic System for Detecting MicroRNA Biomarkers

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $34,437

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 The goal of this project is to develop an Integrated acoustofluidic plasmonic molecular diagnostic system
designed for rapid isolation, detection and multiplexed identification of circulating exosomal microRNA (miRNA)
biomarkers in human clinical samples for early detection of diseases. Dysregulation of miRNAs is often observed
in various diseases including cancer, cardiovascular illnesses, and infectious diseases. For instance, recent
studies have also demonstrated that miRNAs can be secreted from tumor cells into bloodstream via exosomes,
and their expression profiles can be used to classify cancer types. Therefore, circulating exosomal miRNAs are
considered promising biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis of cancer. However, these small molecules
have not been adopted into clinical practice because of the technical difficulties involved in the isolation of
exosomes and the analysis of exosomal miRNAs. Thus, there is a need to develop alternative analyzing
strategies that could offer more advantages over conventional methods. In this regard, we propose an integrated
acoustofluidic plasmonic molecular diagnostic system designed for rapid isolation and multiplexed detection of
exosomal miRNA biomarkers. The cross-disciplinary approach will provide new capabilities to advance the
precise clinical diagnosis of cancer. This system integrates two unique but proven technologies: (1) the
acoustofluidic technology that can rapidly isolate exosomes with high yield and purity, and (2) surface-enhanced
Raman scattering (SERS)-based “Inverse Molecular Sentinel” (iMS) nanoprobes for direct miRNA detection.
Although miRNAs related to colorectal cancer (CRC) will be used as the model system, the proposed project will
lead to the development of a generally applicable point-of-care diagnostic technology for other types of diseases.
 The specific aims are: (1) Develop and integrate an acoustofluidic system for exosomal miRNA isolation;
(2) Develop iMS nanoprobes for multiplexed detection of exosomal miRNA biomarkers; and (3) Technical
Evaluation of the SERS-acoustofluidic system. We will build upon the combined knowledge of our
interdisciplinary team and establish the technical validation required to ready this integrated technology for use
in clinical settings. Throughout this project, an integrated acoustofluidic plasmonic system will be developed and
validated for in-situ analysis of multiple exosomal miRNAs from clinical samples without the need for miRNA
extraction and amplification. In the technical validation phase, the result will be compared to that obtained using
conventional assays (e.g. qRT-PCR). The proposed system will lead to a no-sample preparation and “sample-
to-answer” analysis approach that is based on the integration of existing sub-components, many of which have
already been separately tested in similar applications. This new integrated molecular diagnostic system is
capable of enhancing research and translation in the areas ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10580345
- **Project number:** 3R01GM135486-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Tuan Vo-Dinh
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $34,437
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10580345

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10580345, Integrated Acoustofluidic Plasmonic Molecular Diagnostic System for Detecting MicroRNA Biomarkers (3R01GM135486-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10580345. Licensed CC0.

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