Electrochemical Biosensor

About

Technology: Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed methods to manufacture a sensor or sensor array system based on electrochemical detection. The system contains an array of microelectrodes created on a CMOS chip (complementary metal oxide semiconductor). On the surface, each microelectrode contains a capture biomolecule, which is linked to a polymeric layer through a multivalent metal complex or a covalent bond. The capture biomolecule is one half of a recognition binding pair; the other half is the target analyte to be detected, which is generally also a biomolecule. Advantages of this technology include the ability to manufacture the sensor in small sizes, the ability to mass-produce the sensor platform, the ability to combine sensors or sensor arrays and readout electronics on the same chip, and the adaptability to produce the sensors in an array format on a single chip for high-throughput applications.   Background: Biosensors are systems capable of identifying a target biomolecule such as a polynucleotide, polypeptide, or other biomolecule of interest. Detection is typically based on specific interactions between molecules such as binding events between complementary binding pairs.   Features: • Low manufacturing cost, low operating cost portable sensor array system • Compatible with multiple standard electrochemical techniques • Can be used with CMOS detection chips having multiple chemical detection and/or actuation channels or sites. • Design includes a current source to support the electrochemical processes, temperature control, and software program for storing and evaluating the electrochemical signal produced by the biosensor-chip array.   Potential Commercial Applications: There is great interest in developing biosensors to be used for varied purposes including disease diagnostics, monitoring gene expression in organisms, identification and speciation of possible pathogens and/or bio contaminants, and the identification of drug candidates. Such devices would be a great benefit for medical diagnostics, military and civilian security, environmental safety, genetic mapping, drug discovery, and field applications (non-laboratory environment).