Dr. Aaron Hawkins, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is helping develop a new diagnostic technology for synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that often affects adolescents and young adults.
As part of an interdisciplinary research team led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Dr. Hawkins and the team recently received nearly $3.6 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health to develop a highly sensitive blood-based test for the disease.
Synovial sarcoma is characterized by the SS18-SSX fusion, a genetic abnormality that drives tumor development. Because the cancer can be difficult to detect before it spreads, the research team hopes to create a test capable of identifying extremely small amounts of the fusion’s RNA and protein biomarkers in blood samples.
The proposed diagnostic combines nanopore sensing with a technique called Trapping-Assisted Capture Rate Enhancement, or TACRE. The technology uses functionalized microbeads to capture target molecules and concentrate them near a nanopore sensor. As individual molecules pass through the nanopore, they produce changes in electrical current that can be measured and analyzed.
Unlike many existing diagnostic methods, the proposed system is designed to detect biomarkers without chemical amplification or fluorescent labels. The team hopes this approach will improve the sensitivity of liquid biopsies while also helping researchers understand how synovial sarcoma cells communicate and spread.
Dr. Hawkins directs the university’s Integrated Microfabrication Laboratory. His group will contribute its expertise in semiconductor manufacturing and microfabrication by creating the specialized low-stress membranes required for the project’s microfluidic chips.
These membranes are a critical part of the integrated device, which must combine fluid handling, molecular capture, nanopore sensing, and electrical detection in a compact platform. Hawkins’s work will help translate the research concept into a manufacturable chip that can be tested for future clinical applications.
The project brings together expertise in cancer biology, clinical genetics, optofluidics, nanopore technology, and semiconductor fabrication. Although the initial focus is synovial sarcoma, the researchers believe the platform could eventually support sensitive molecular testing for other cancers, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions.
“This project brings together fantastic people and nanotechnology,” Hawkins said. “We have a great shot at transforming how rare cancers are monitored and treated.”
Click here for more information about Dr. Hawkins’ research.