Bioengineering: designing innovative medical devices

Topics covered include:

• Biosensors
  To demonstrate the concepts and applications in optical sensors (chromogenic, fluorescent, bioluminescent, biophotonic) and applications in benchtop, handheld and wearable diagnostic devices.
  
  
• Paper-Based Diagnostic Tests
  To describe paper-based lateral-flow tests providing an overview of the challenges and limitations in cost-efficient medical diagnostics.
  
  
• Microfluidic Devices
  To explore the concept of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and microfluidic devices and provide an outline of the state-of-the-art technologies in multiplexed detection of biomarkers.
  
  
• Readout Devices and Data Acquisition
  To identify the basics of reading data from diagnostic assays using benchtop, handheld and smartphone-based analyzers and to explore biophysical and biochemical data collection in monitoring vital signs.
  
  
• Wearable Devices
  To apply the concepts and applications of microfluidics, multiplexed assays to wearable devices in sensing sweat and interstitial fluid biomarkers for real-time patient monitoring.
  
  
• Design Projects
  To develop a diagnostic technology that will solve a global unmet medical problem in infectious diseases and companion diagnostics.

On completion of this masterclass, participants will be able to:

• Describe the latest development in biosensor technologies.
• Understand the basic knowledge about paper-based devices and the associated fabrication methods.
• Apply the knowledge and experience gained to develop point-of-care multiplexed microfluidic diagnostics assays.
• Design and develop readout platforms for quantitative biomarker analysis.
• Create wearable devices that can collect real-time biomarker data.

This masterclass is designed for UG or PG students studying in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, biotechnology, computing or related disciplines with an interest in designing innovative biomedical technologies.  

Pre-requisite:  Students are expected to have a basic knowledge in chemistry and biology.  For those who do not have basic knowledge of chemistry and biology, a pre-reading list will be provided before the class starts.