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Latest Innovations
Bioresorbable Silicon Electronics for Neural Sensing Dr. John Rogers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed bioresorbable silicon electronics that can be used for real-time sensing of neural... Read More Dr. John Rogers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed bioresorbable silicon electronics that can be used for real-time sensing of neural electrical activity. This invention could prevent follow-up neural surgeries, and has potentials for long-term monitoring of patients. 2015-158 Photo for Web.png
Quantum Dots with Thin Coatings that Allow for Efficient Bioconjugation Dr. Andrew Smith from the University of Illinois has developed new quantum dots with a multidentate polymer coating that minimizes size while maintaining stability and... Read More Dr. Andrew Smith from the University of Illinois has developed new quantum dots with a multidentate polymer coating that minimizes size while maintaining stability and improving efficiency of conjugation. Quantum dots are promising agents for cellular and molecular imaging, but their bulky organic coatings have limited their use in cells. Dr. Smith's quantum dots are small, stable, and can be conjugated to targeting molecules and purified easily.
Algorithm Modified Deoxynybomycin for the Treatment of Gram-Negative Bacteria Dr. Hergenrother from the University of IL has developed a novel antibiotic that is effective against certain antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. His powerful... Read More Dr. Hergenrother from the University of IL has developed a novel antibiotic that is effective against certain antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. His powerful predictive algorithm determines accumulation of molecules in Gram-negative bacteria and enables conversion of known Gram-positive only antibiotics into novel compounds with Gram-negative potency.
A Pro-Apoptotic Microbial Community Network Enriched in the Tissue of IPF and Lung Cancer Patients Dr. Isaac Cann from the University of Illinois has identified biomarkers and therapeutic strategy for treatment of... Read More Dr. Isaac Cann from the University of Illinois has identified biomarkers and therapeutic strategy for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer. This strategy has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of millions patients throughout the world. It is the first know effective treatment route for IPF. The therapeutic strategy is based on the discovery of link between microbial community remodeling and IPF. Furthermore, the lung microbial community can induce excessive apoptosis of alveolar lining epithelial cells leading to lung carcinogenesis. Benefit • Treatment strategies including broad spectrum antibiotics may be effective for treating IPF and preventing lung cancer
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.
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.
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.