I-Corps: Translation Potential of a Microfluidic Electrochemical Gas Sensor Platform for Diagnostics of Airborne Chemicals

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $50,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

This I-Corps project focuses on commercializing a portable, cost-effective, and highly accurate sensor for detecting specific airborne chemical indicators associated with health and agricultural issues. Many critical human health conditions and plant diseases produce unique airborne chemical signatures, known as volatile organic compounds. Current diagnostic approaches rely on complex, expensive, and time-consuming laboratory analyses, requiring samples to be sent off-site. Transportation delays slow intervention and increase costs, hindering widespread early detection. For instance, the early detection of certain human diseases, such as lung cancer, dramatically improves survival rates; however, traditional methods are not readily accessible. Similarly, a substantial portion of global food production is lost annually due to plant diseases, threatening food security and economic stability worldwide. Effective, on-site detection tools are urgently needed to mitigate these challenges. This sensor technology enables rapid and precise identification of these chemical indicators directly where they are required – whether in a clinic or on a farm. Its compact design eliminates the need for cumbersome sample collection and transport, providing immediate results. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning, coupled with a firsthand investigation of the industry ecosystem, to assess the translation potential of the technology. This solution is based on the development of a

Key facts

NSF award ID
2535040
Awardee
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJ)
SAM.gov UEI
SGBMHQ7VXNH5
PI
Sagnik Basuray
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
BIOMEDICAL ENG AND DIAGNOSTICS
Estimated total
$50,000
Funds obligated
$50,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/15/2025 → 06/30/2027