Safety is paramount in the development and execution of MB-ERCC for COPD. This document outlines the steps and precautions taken by HS-China to ensure that our project is conducted safely, ethically, and responsibly.
Our team adhered strictly to the safety protocols in the lab for handling biological agents and chemicals. We wore appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and disposed of waste materials in designated containers with properly labeling. In fact, we wore close-toed shoes, long pants, formal lab coats, face masks and disposable latex gloves. Long hair was tied up. No food and drinks in the lab area. Follow the instructions of apparatus all the time. Using primary and secondary containment measures, such as safety cabinets and sealed containers, to prevent accidental release.
All biological materials were handled inside a certified biosafety cabinet, and we followed proper sterilization procedures to decontaminate waste.
Chemicals were handled with utmost caution, stored in appropriately labeled containers, and were disposed in special labeled container to prevent environmental contamination and ensure user safety.
Our project aims to find miRNA Biomarker based Exponential RCA with CRISPR-Cas12a for COPD We have considered the potential ethical implications and societal impacts of our project and have engaged with the public and relevant stakeholders to address any concerns
Based on the biomarkers available for COPD detection, our project is divided into two sets of experiments. The first is based on reverse transcription and real-time Polymerase Chain Reactions (RT-qPCR). The second is based a one-pot, isothermal detection system named EXTRA-CRISPR. The system involves Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) and Cas12a cleavage. Both reaction systems are cell-free and microbe-free. Detection and quantification are carried out in qPCR machines and our own hardware, also with no cell/microbe involved.
Ensuring the safety and ethical integrity of MB-ERCC for COPD has been a priority for HS-China. By adhering to established safety protocols and engaging in open dialogue about the implications of our work, we aim to contribute responsibly to the field of synthetic biology.