Development of miRNA detection module for biomedical cancer screening device
Cancer, miRNA, Biomarker, Biosensor, Embedded System, System-Aided Diagnosis
State of the art: Cancer, also known as malignant neoplasia, is a disease that is associated with disordered cell growth and can be quite aggressive and uncontrollable. The various types of cancer are associated with the variety of cells present in the human body, differentiating through the speed of cell multiplication and the ability to attack tissues and organs. Problem: Specialized professionals and high-cost equipment are essential for the diagnosis. In underdeveloped or developing countries, the complexity to perform the diagnosis increases, due to the high demand of patients and the absence of quality analysis. However, new technologies and strategies that act directly in early diagnosis are being investigated. One of them is the use of miRNAs, which are key regulators of gene expression, a fact that associates the interaction of miRNAs with the genome and the onset of diseases and can thus be used as a biomarker. Methodology: A study of cancer and miRNAs as possible biomarkers. Then, a study on some types of biosensors in use today to find a way that fits portability and low-cost parameters. From that, the development of the project took place through simulation of the circuit in a computational system and its subsequent real construction. The need for integration with the information management system and task organizer was considered in all these stages. Results and discussions: This study provided subsidies for the development of a device with an embedded system that performs the reading and quantification of miRNA residues to ensure high specificity, being controllable by an external system through serial communication, which performs the test quickly and low cost, providing greater savings to SUS. Conclusion: The miRNA-Box is hardware with an embedded system used in a biomedical device, developed by the Advanced Center for Technological Innovation (NAVI) in partnership with the Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health (LAIS) and the Ministry of Health (MS) proposes the applicability in Primary Health Care (PHC) intending to perform the analysis and early diagnosis of breast, prostate and cervical cancer, to improve the screening process of patients and provide cost reduction in the health area with complex diseases.