Projects

Air pollution remains a prominent threat to global society, having cascading effects on individuals, medical systems, ecosystem health, and economies in both developing and developed countries. The market for air purification applications is large and growing, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project aims to develop an air filtration system using bio-based, sustainable materials, with applications in mask and air purifier production. The main component of this system will be cellulose, which can be sustainably and affordably sourced from agricultural waste, such as corn husks. The use of sustainably sourced materials introduces the opportunity for local production and use of this system in underdeveloped areas where medical resources are lacking.

In 2022, 14.1 kg of organic waste was discarded incorrectly on McGill’s downtown campus, which may be related to the limited availability of composting infrastructure across all campus buildings. Compost can take from two weeks to several years to fully degrade depending on the practices used. This project aims to give students the opportunity to design, prototype, and test a smart composting bin that uses bio-based active materials, such as microbes and enzymes, for accelerated composting. Additionally, biosensors may be incorporated to measure parameters and provide real-time actionable feedback to users. This data will be used to optimize compost bin conditions to accelerate the decomposition rate and to implement an odor control solution.

10% of the population globally is affected by chronic kidney disease, with over 750,000 people in the US alone. Creatinine is normally excreted through healthy kidneys, but during kidney failure, the GFR reduces and there is a buildup of high labels of creatinine in the blood. There is growing promise to use biosensors for continuous monitoring. While biosensors’ current role in healthcare is mainly for diagnosis, if applied as monitors, they could spare kidney disease patients trips to hospitals.

Hemophilia is a rare genetic condition affecting more than 250,000 people worldwide, according to a 2021 report from the World Federation of Hemophilia1. People with the disease lack the ability to produce a blood clotting factor, which is factor VIII for hemophilia A2. Intravenous injections, often from a young age, is the standard of care for this condition, and has negative impacts on the patient's quality of life and compliance with treatment. This project proposes to design optimized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of a mRNA gene therapy for hemophilia A. Significant advancements were made in mRNA vaccines delivered via LNPs around the year 2020 as part of the global effort to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. The same technology shows promise to treat many cancers and rare diseases7, such as hemophilia5,6.

Current methods of wound closure are inconvenient for internal use, especially in laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgeries, leaving an unmet need in surgeons’ toolbox1,2,3. Although sutures have high tensile strength3,4, they are prone to infection5 and their repeated punctures damage surrounding tissues3. This project proposes a biomimetic surgical adhesive inspired by the adhesion mechanism used by brown algae (Fucus serratus) and primarily composed of alginate, phloroglucinol, and calcium ions. Preliminary research has shown that such a formulation can be as strong as commercial fibrin sealant, which is the most commonly used type of internal surgical adhesive, but without any of the health risks associated with fibrin sealants2. The bioadhesive aims to decrease surgery time and improve patient outcomes compared to current internal wound closure methods in minimally invasive surgery. 

Disease-carrying mosquitoes are a major problem in Ghana, and many species are resistant to common insecticides. However, red mangrove extract is repellent and larvicidal against the main species of disease-carrying mosquito present in Ghana. We propose creating a natural, eco-friendly mosquito repellent using mangrove leaf extract that targets disease-carrying mosquitoes in Ghana. We would develop a repellent that could be manufactured on-site in Ghana, using an extract from the red mangroves grown in the region and other common materials.

Maneico is now independent from BioDesign and continuing as a start-up. See more

Cervical cancer is the 4th most common variety of cancer in women worldwide, leading to approximately 266,000 deaths annually [1]. In less developed regions, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer [1]. High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains (such as 16 and 18) are the major causes of cervical cancer but can be treated if detected early enough [2]. We propose to create an ultra-sensitive protein detection technique applying microfluidics for the p16INK4a biomarker for cervical cancer. A POC device with increased sensitivity and accuracy can be used as an adjunct to DNA-based HPV testing to improve cervical cancer screening, mainly in low-resource settings. See more

Cervic-o is no longer continuing as a BioDesign project.

Our team seeks to design a microneedle patch that can fluorescently detect sodium levels in the body, allowing for simple and non-invasive monitoring. See more

Hello! Welcome to micROS—a collaboration between McGill Biodesign and the McGill Rocket Team! Together, we are investigating the changes in levels of reactive oxidative species in microgravity and hypergravity environments. Our McGill Biodesign team is focused on designing 1) the microfluidic chip composed of channels for the flow of reagents and a microwell holding the cells, in which the reaction will take place, 2) the perfusion system for timely and efficient delivery of reagents to the microwell containing the cells, and 3) the hydrogel that the cells will be embedded in to be kept alive throughout the experiment. See more

Our goal is to fight the water crisis, specifically in Honduras. The crisis disproportionately affects developing countries; hence we are creating a water filtration backpack that is low-cost, durable, and eco-friendly. Solar-A not only facilitates safe transportation and provides low-cost filtration, but also uses the mechanical walking movement from traveling to the water source to power a sensor capable of detecting when the water is potable.  See more

Algo by Biocene is a device intended for use in bodies of water with algal overgrowth (algal blooms) where its two-part extraction and treatment will harvest and treat algae. A pump followed by flocculation and centrifugation is to be used for the collection and subsequent mechanical extraction of the algae. Key benefits of this process include the durability and efficiency of cell harvesting, with over 90% cell recovery and compatibility with most algal types. The algae will then be allowed to collect and dewater in a secondary chamber, where a waterproof photo-reflective sensor is located to alert the consumer when the device is almost full through LED indicators. In the future, a web application may be incorporated to convey more detailed information. From this chamber, the algal biomass can be treated to produce a sustainable fertilizer or biofuel through lipid extraction and conversion.  See more

BluBand is a transmitter capable of transforming a short-wave radio frequency signal into a cellular signal. It can attach to the glucose sensors worn by diabetic children attending Camp Carowanis and continuously monitor their blood sugar levels both day and night. BluBand is waterproof and easy to wear, making it ideal for children at the camp.

The Baculovirus team worked to develop a transient gene therapy delivery system using baculoviruses. Particular focus was given to growth factors critical to the healing process and lacking in many chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers. Unfortunately, this project was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ActivAid is a novel interactive bacterial cellulose wound dressing targetting venous ulcers. It includes innovative components that help maintain an ideal wound environment in order to prevent infection and accelerate healing. Although COVID-19 prevented the creation of a prototype for ActivAid, the design was submitted to Venturewell's DEBUT competition in June 2020.

MAAscreen is an eco-friendly and biodegradable sunscreen. Conventional sunscreens utilize chemical UV filters that threaten the marine environment, while MAAscreen extracts mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) from algae as a more sustainable alternative.