Low-cost On-chip Amplification

About

Background Clinical and field-portable diagnostic devices require the detection of low levels of biological molecules rapidly, easily and at low cost with stringent requirements in terms of robustness and reliability. This technology provides a method for using polymeric materials, and not enzymatic amplification, to generate an amplified response to molecular recognition events to permit detection of low levels of biological molecules. This technology represents a paradigm shift in amplification technology for biological systems; its conceptual basis is novel with respect to biological systems since it is based on organic polymerization. Technology A research team led by Dr. Christopher Bowman of the University of Colorado has developed an improved method of detecting molecular recognition events for applications that prioritize low cost and minimization of reliance on instrumentation and skilled labour for assay performance and data interpretation. This method does not require the use of enzymes, and is particularly useful for cases where there are a relatively small number of molecular recognition events in complex analyte solutions. The methods of this invention are based on amplification of the signal due to each molecular recognition event, rather than amplification of the number of molecular recognition events taking place. The amplification is achieved through photopolymerization, with the polymer formed being associated with the molecular recognition event. This technology can limit or eliminate the need for techniques which increase the number of recognition events taking place, including PCR and techniques involving the culturing of bacteria, as well as RT-PCR techniques for microarray applications to achieve acceptable signals.