Project R-14810

Concept development of stochastic impedance and its lab-on-chip application to monitor DNA hybridization (Research)

The research project aims to develop a new method called stochastic impedance to study the binding of molecules and the transition between molecular states. The researchers plan to periodically perturb the system with a certain frequency and measure the response to characterize the system. The method involves measuring both amplitude and phase shift of the response signal, which can provide information about the underlying stochastic process, such as the topology of interconnected stochastic states and the transition rates between them. The project will use microfluidic channels with integrated sensing capabilities to experimentally prove the concept. The setup allows for real-time optical and thermal based measurements of transient systems to gain a more detailed understanding of their dynamics. The goal is to create a costeffective and efficient platform technology without the need for expensive equipment or specialized knowledge, making it accessible for various applications. The project has three work packages: building a basic theoretical understanding and a first experimental setup, extending the model to the detection of anomalies in two-state processes and optimizing the accuracy and specificity of the detection process, and exploring multi-state processes and new thermal measurement concepts. The researchers hope that by the end of the project, they will have developed a powerful new tool that can support a wide range of applications and drive new open research.

01 October 2024 - 30 September 2028