Disease Type

Latest Innovations
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
In vivo Thickness Mapping of the Tympanic Membrane Dr. Stephen Boppart from has developed a new method of mapping the thickness of the tympanic membrane. This method uses LCI and video otoscopy data to... Read More Dr. Stephen Boppart from has developed a new method of mapping the thickness of the tympanic membrane. This method uses LCI and video otoscopy data to piece together a full image of the tympanic membrane and overlay that image with thickness measurements. This will allow physicians to noninvasively examine tympanic membrane thickness leading to more accurate and less invasive diagnose middle ear infections.
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.
Process for Making Modular Bioactuators Dr. Rashid Bashir has developed a process for manufacturing modular bioactuators. The process utilizes stereolithographic 3D printing to create injection... Read More Dr. Rashid Bashir has developed a process for manufacturing modular bioactuators. The process utilizes stereolithographic 3D printing to create injection molds for cell/hydrogel cultures and for skeletal scaffolds for the actuators. The resulting ring-like actuators can then be manually placed on the scaffold. This introduces a modular design that is customizable and transferable. These actuators are also triggered optogenetically and exhibit directional motion and 2D steering.
pH Activated Antimicrobial Peptides for Treatment of H pylori Infection Dr. JJ Cheng from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a helix/random confirmation switchable antimicrobial polypeptides (HRS-AMPs) that are pH... Read More Dr. JJ Cheng from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a helix/random confirmation switchable antimicrobial polypeptides (HRS-AMPs) that are pH sensitive and can kill Helicobacter pylori. H pylori, a causative agent of gastric ulcers, lives in the acidic environment of the stomach, and these pH activated antimicrobial peptides could be used to kill H pylori. The polypeptides are inactive until reaching the stomach, thus preserving the microbiota of the rest of the GI tract. In vivo data demonstrates good biodistribution, bioavailability, efficacy, and low toxicity compared to standard treatment for H. pylori infection. Moreover, HRS-AMPs are active against MDR and clinical isolate strains.
Assay for Quantifying Polyphosphate in Plasma Dr. Morrissey from the University of IL has developed a novel assay for quantifying polyP levels in patient plasma. This assay allows for polyP quantitation to be... Read More Dr. Morrissey from the University of IL has developed a novel assay for quantifying polyP levels in patient plasma. This assay allows for polyP quantitation to be performed quickly and in a clinical setting without purification of polyP from plasma. It uses widely available coagulometer. Accurate quantification of circulating polyP levels in a patient's blood will give insight into potential risk of thrombotic and inflammatory diseases. In addition, polyP levels may be significant in conditions such as cancer, sepsis, and trauma-induced coagulopathy. 2016-020_1.png 2016-020_2.png
New Drug to Reverse Alzheimer’s Disease Dr. Moore has developed a new drug that could reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug breaks up amyloid fibrils, which are believed to be the root cause... Read More Dr. Moore has developed a new drug that could reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug breaks up amyloid fibrils, which are believed to be the root cause of the disease. This invention is the first demonstration of a drug that could treat Alzheimer’s disease.
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.
Measuring Blood Vessel Characteristics of Suspected Alzheimer Patients Dr. Sutton has developed MRI protocols for diagnosing microvascular blood velocity and microvascular segment length. These protocols can be used to diagnose and track... Read More Dr. Sutton has developed MRI protocols for diagnosing microvascular blood velocity and microvascular segment length. These protocols can be used to diagnose and track Alzheimer's Disease and other neurological disorders. The protocols are capable of creating images of brain microvasculature at high resolution, and both the acquisition and image construction times are reasonable.
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.