This National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I award to Adavance Nanolytics Inc. will fund the development of a plasmonic nanopore sensor device to characterize and quality control adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) used for gene therapy. The $275,000 project, running from July 2024 to June 2025, aims to demonstrate the sensor's ability to rapidly and accurately measure AAV payloads (single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, or empty) at low pre-scale-up concentrations. This will enable significant savings in subsequent large-volume AAV production for gene therapy applications. The work will optimize the nanofabrication protocol and machine learning-based discrimination between different AAV payloads. Successful completion of this Phase I project will position the company to further develop the prototype into a commercial device in a future Phase II award. The project has broader impacts in encouraging STEM education and workforce development through outreach activities in the local Dallas community college district.
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