Biosensors

Latest Innovations
New Way to Detect DNA Changes Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a new, cheaper and easier way to detect methylation (alterations) of DNA. By measuring the methylation... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a new, cheaper and easier way to detect methylation (alterations) of DNA. By measuring the methylation of certain DNA sequences, doctors can predict the likelihood of cancers and other disorders. This early detection has the potential to save lives.
Near Ultraviolet-Wavelength Photonic-Crystal Biosensor with Enhanced Surface-to-Bulk Sensitivity Ratio Biosensors based on one- or two-dimensional photonic-crystal reflectance filters operating at near-ultraviolet wavelengths. The biosensors feature a tightly... Read More Biosensors based on one- or two-dimensional photonic-crystal reflectance filters operating at near-ultraviolet wavelengths. The biosensors feature a tightly confined resonant electric field at the surface of this biosensor and provide a high surface-sensitivity to bulk-sensitivity ratio, enabling enhanced detection resolution for biomolecules adsorbed on the biosensor surface. These new biosensors can be fabricated in mass by replica molding and are especially well suited for applications requiring the detection of small molecules or ultra-low analyte concentrations.
Distributed Feedback Laser Biosensor A biosensor based upon a vertically emitting, distributed feedback (DFB) laser. The DFB laser comprises a replica-molded, one- or two-dimensional dielectric... Read More A biosensor based upon a vertically emitting, distributed feedback (DFB) laser. The DFB laser comprises a replica-molded, one- or two-dimensional dielectric grating coated with a laser dye-doped-polymer as the gain medium. A sensor is also described in which the grating layer and the active layer are combined into a single layer. DFB lasers using an inorganic or organic thin film with alternating regions of high and low index of refraction as the active layer are also disclosed. The sensor actively generates its own narrowband high intensity light output without stringent requirements for coupling alignment, thereby resulting in a simple, robust illumination and detection configuration.
Project Diagnosis of Trimethylaminuria with a Handheld Optoelectronic Nose The inventors have developed a sensitive handheld device which can detect TMA vapors at concentrations well below the diagnostically significant... Read More The inventors have developed a sensitive handheld device which can detect TMA vapors at concentrations well below the diagnostically significant concentration of TMA. Current methods require expensive instrumentation, complicated preparation of sensors, lack of portability, and long times of analysis. Benefits Method of detection not limited to handheld devices (which the manuscript addresses) First report of a line reader/sensor for a biological application Novel method of TMA detection
Nanoporous Organic Semiconductor Thin Films Fabrication Dr. Ying Diao has identified a new nanoporous thin film fabrication method using simple solution processing methods applicable to both polymer... Read More Dr. Ying Diao has identified a new nanoporous thin film fabrication method using simple solution processing methods applicable to both polymer and small molecule semiconductors. Using the novel additive method, she has developed a OFET chemical sensors comprising of nanoporous thin film. Templated by the nanostructured PVP:HAD layer, the pore sizes in the semiconductor layer are widely tunable from 50 nm to 1µm. Compared to the currently available sensors, the invention exhibited ultrafast and ultrasensitive response to ammonia as well as formaldehyde molecules down to 1ppb at hundred-millisecond time scale, a breakthrough of 10-fold sensitivity enhancement. The excellent performance, simple fabrication, and diverse form-factors of nanoporous transistors has opened up a wide range of applications of the invention in the fields of personal health and environmental monitoring, both fields which demand sensors with high sensitivity on the ppb level with fast response.
PathTracker Drs. Cunningham and Bashir have developed a novel point of care diagnostic device capable of detecting pathogen infection from a single drop of blood. A blood sample is... Read More Drs. Cunningham and Bashir have developed a novel point of care diagnostic device capable of detecting pathogen infection from a single drop of blood. A blood sample is channeled through a microfluidics device allowing amplification of viral DNA/RNA of interest, which is then detected using a uses smartphone. Infection information is then uploaded allowing tracking of infections geographically. Immediate uses for the technology are for diagnosis of viral infection in human patients (Zika, dengue, and Chikungunya) and diagnosis of respiratory infection in equine populations (Equine herpesvirus, Equine influenza, Strangles, Equine adenovirus type 1, and Equine arteritis virus). Further uses include water testing, food safety, and pharmaceutical quality control.
Real-Time Label-Free Acoustic Sensing at High Throughput Rate Professor Gaurav Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a device that performs real-time high sensitivity acoustic sensing of flowing fluid... Read More Professor Gaurav Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a device that performs real-time high sensitivity acoustic sensing of flowing fluid-suspended cells and particles using ultra-high-Q microfluidic opto-mechanical resonators (OMFRs). They aim to achieve throughput rate of 50,000 cells/second. Related Publications: Bahl, Gaurav, et al. "Brillouin cavity optomechanics with microfluidic devices." Nature communications 4 (2013). Zhu, K., et al. "Opto-acoustic sensing of fluids and bioparticles with optomechanofluidic resonators." The European Physical Journal Special Topics 223.10 (2014): 1937-1947.
Identification of Methylated Proteins by use of Nanopores for Early Disease Detection While nanopore sequencers available in the DNA sequencing industry are capable of detecting the presence of proteins in DNA strands, they are currently unable to identify... Read More While nanopore sequencers available in the DNA sequencing industry are capable of detecting the presence of proteins in DNA strands, they are currently unable to identify specific proteins that are present. To solve this, Professor Leburton has developed a matched filter algorithm to classify particular epigenetic markers. The algorithm’s novel sensor technology detects and maps regions of hyper- and hypo-methylations across the genome using genetic markers. By calculating electrical current signatures of proteins and comparing them to other current signatures, it identifies the type of protein that exists on the DNA strand. The technology, which can be implemented onto existing hardware, is programmable to identify any protein. Integrating a sensor with signal processing architectures could pave the way to developing a multipurpose technology for early disease detection.
Large Scale Parallel DNA Detection by 2D Solid-state Multi-pore Systems A scalable device design of a dense array of multiple 2D nanopores made from nanoscale semiconductor materials to simultaneously detect multiple DNA strands and identify... Read More A scalable device design of a dense array of multiple 2D nanopores made from nanoscale semiconductor materials to simultaneously detect multiple DNA strands and identify translocations of many biomolecules in a massively parallel detection scheme. The technology is based on the variation of the transverse sheet current across each membrane. The electronic sensing across the nanopore membrane offers a higher detection resolution compared to ionic current blocking technique in a multi-pore setup, irrespective of the irregularities that occur while fabricating the nanopores in a 2D membrane.
Rapid detection of intact viruses Professor Yi Lu from the University of Illinois has developed an aptamer-based method for virus detection that is able to distinguish infective viruses from non-infective... Read More Professor Yi Lu from the University of Illinois has developed an aptamer-based method for virus detection that is able to distinguish infective viruses from non-infective virions at concentrations as low as 1 pfu/mL. This technology has been developed on human adenovirus but can be generalized to any virus of interest. Since it is not based on the sequencing of genetic information, it requires no sample preparation and can be completed in ~30 minutes. This technology has great potential utility for diagnostics and environmental testing, specifically water quality testing, for the identification and mitigation of water-borne illnesses including adenovirus.