Thesis title: ALCOR: Astrobiology Lab-on-Chip for Cubesat On Board Research
This work presents three years of research activities aimed at designing and developing innovative devices meant to assess the space environment effects on model biological systems. In this framework, Lab-on-Chip (\glspl{LOC}) technologies have been thoroughly investigated as they meet the requirements of spacecraft applications, by minimizing resource consumption (power, volume, and mass), demonstrating high application flexibility, and operating in a gravity-independent fashion. An on-chip microincubator consisting of a fully integrated microsystem has been engineered. It enables real-time monitoring of microbial cultures activity, employing a combination of different thin-- and thick--film fabrication technologies jointly used to achieve a compact, automated and low-power device. Acquired techniques and know-how have been further employed to develop microfluidic systems for in-vitro growth of plant--bacteria and RNA virus amplification and sensing. Research effort was lastly devoted to implementing \gls{LOC} technologies aboard nanosatellite platforms, taking into account all the components required for their operation. The case study of Astrobio CubeSat (ABCS) is reported. Several novel solutions, ranging from optimized experimental protocol to peculiar system-level arrangements, have been implemented to meet the requirements arising from the challenging mission scenario. Some of them represent a breakthrough compared to the state–of–the–art and available products on the market.
This research has been carried out with a multidisciplinary approach, involving microelectronics, microfluidics, mechanics, chemistry and biology. Microfabrication technologies, CAD modelling and FEM analysis were deeply investigated and extensively practised to manufacture prototypes of the proposed devices as well as to verify and validate design choices. Experimental tests and proofs of concept were carried out to assess performances and to confirm their novelty and originality.