Biosensors

Latest Innovations
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.
Process to Measure Biomolecules on Silicon Transistors Dr. Bashir from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a process to measure biomolecules on ion sensitive field effect transistors with dry samples. This... Read More Dr. Bashir from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a process to measure biomolecules on ion sensitive field effect transistors with dry samples. This process overcomes the Debye shielding limitation of using solution samples and enable measurements of different biomolecules including proteins, virus and bacterias with reliable accuracy and sensitivity. This process will be of significance in developing point of care diagnostics technology. Related Publications: Duarte-Guevara, Carlos, et al. "Enhanced biosensing resolution with foundry fabricated individually addressable dual-gated ISFETs." Analytical chemistry 86.16 (2014): 8359-8367.
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.
Rapid detection of target DNA using gFET and LAMP Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive, graphene field effect transistor (gFET) that can detect DNA in samples. This technology uses... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive, graphene field effect transistor (gFET) that can detect DNA in samples. This technology uses Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and crumpled graphene in order to detect the presence of a target segment of DNA within a provided sample. By using crumpled graphene, gFET, and LAMP Dr. Ganguli's technology is able rapidly detect pathogens using entirely electronic means bringing diagnostics directly to point of care medical practice, all while being less expensive, more sensitive, and quicker than other traditional, gold-standard pathogen diagnostics methods. This technology is even able to detect molecular concentrations down to 8 zeptomolar. Publication: Ganguli, A., Faramarzi, V., Mostafa, A., Hwang, M. T., You, S., & Bashir, R. (2020). High Sensitivity Graphene Field Effect Transistor-Based Detection of DNA Amplification. Advanced Functional Materials, 30(28), [2001031]. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202001031
Activate Capture + Digital Counting (AC+DC) for ultrasensitive label-free detection of miRNA Professor Brian Cunningham's research group at the University of Illinois has created a technology for ultrasensitive detection of gold nanoparticles, allowing different... Read More Professor Brian Cunningham's research group at the University of Illinois has created a technology for ultrasensitive detection of gold nanoparticles, allowing different assays and applications. These single step, isothermal, room temperature, one-pot assays can process a sample volume as low as ~20 ul. These assays are performed with an inexpensive, small device based on a low intensity LED (no laser), that allows for simple data quantification by counting (no fancy imaging sensor needed) and multiplexing by sample splitting. Applications of this technology include: Activate Capture and Digital Counting (AC+DC) for detection of miRNA, based on gold nanoparticles tags prepared with DNA toehold probes (DNA-AuNPs). (LOD = 100 aM, 2h; no purification and amplification required) Activate Capture and Digital Counting (AC+DC) for detection of proteins, based on secondary antibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles (2oAb-AuNPs) within 15 min (LOD = 10pg/ml) (pictured below) Targeting Recycling Amplification Process (TRAP) for miRNA detection, based on strand displacement reactions (LOD = 0.1aM, 20 min) Activate Cleve and Count (ACC) for ctDNA detection based on gold nanoparticles released after target recognition by CRISPR/Cas (LOD = 1zM, 60 min) (pictured below Related Technology: Photonic Resonator Absorption Microscopy (PRAM) Recent scientific publications include: A compact photonic resonator absorption microscope for point of care digital resolution nucleic acid molecular diagnostics Single-step, wash-free digital immunoassay for rapid quantitative analysis of serological antibody against SARS-CoV-2 by photonic resonator absorption microscopy Digital-resolution and highly sensitive detection of multiple exosomal small RNAs by DNA toehold probe-based photonic resonator absorption microscopy Other articles: Cancer Center at Illinois program leader develops fast, low-cost blood test for detecting early-stage liver cancer Acceleration of cancer biomarker detection for point of care diagnostics
SPOT (Rapid, Accurate, Scalable and Portable Testing) for COVID-Diagnosis Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a COVID-19 testing system named SPOT that consists of a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate assay and a battery... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a COVID-19 testing system named SPOT that consists of a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate assay and a battery-powered portable device. The assay combines RT-LAMP with an Argonaute protein from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus for a precise recognition and cleavage of target DNA in saliva samples. The simplicity of the SPOT system enables rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 without a trained personnel and minimal sample handling.
Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Sensors for the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a low-cost, reusable sensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. The sensor detects H2O2 over the range of... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a low-cost, reusable sensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. The sensor detects H2O2 over the range of biologically relevant concentrations (including as low as 0.016 uM) with sensitivity thresholds of up to 4903 uA mM-1 cm-2, with performance demonstrated in test solutions designed to mimic human blood. The device uses Bi2Te3 as its active material and can be fabricated at room temperature using conventional processes, making the sensors far less expensive than alternative commercial or pre-commercial solutions.
Combined Microfluidic & Nanofluidic System for SARS-CoV-2 Detection via Mass Spectrometry RT-PCR RNA based approaches, the most popular method for SARS-CoV-2 detection, are limited by large numbers of consumables and reagents required, the need for well-... Read More RT-PCR RNA based approaches, the most popular method for SARS-CoV-2 detection, are limited by large numbers of consumables and reagents required, the need for well-optimized protocols, challenges with mutations, and RNA lingering after infectivity. Researchers at the University of Illinois, led by Dr. Aaron Timperman, have developed a protein-based rapid, reliable and inexpensive nanofluidic/microfluidic system to detect viral proteins with limits of detection at clinically relevant levels. The system receives a sample, purifies the virions, prepares the sample and sprays the sample directly into a mass spectrometry. This protein-based approach allows the collection of additional information such sequence mutations, modifications that affect protein function, and bound antibodies.