Advanced Sensors

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Background: Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a novel biosensing platform. This platform provides an electronic and modern update to the universally used microplate. The platform comprises a high density array of sensors on a disposable chip. This chip interfaces with the electronics via temporary compliant interconnects. Separating the chip from the measurement electronics in this manner facilitates low-cost and high-throughput testing. Due to its CMOS compatible fabrication, the platform is both highly scalable and sensor agnostic in that it can work with a multitude of optical and label-free electronic sensors. Most conventional assays, such as ELISA, can be readily transferred to the presently disclosed platform with reduced processing steps. In addition, a number of new assays exist that will also be enabled by the high-density, label-free detection methodology. That is, the chip may enable simultaneous screening of thousands of markers. Moreover, relative to present technology, the chip requires substantially smaller samples yet provides quicker analysis. This may enable revolutionary new capabilities in early diagnosis when combined with emerging developments in genetics and disease marker identification. Thus, the presently disclosed biosensing platform may provide the clinical screening capabilities to leverage the advances in genetics and, in particular, cancer marker identification for decades going forward.