Sensitive Point of Care Sensor

About

Overview Sensors, with the capacity to measure multiple parameters in parallel, are a critical component in reduction of energy costs, increased health and safety- through monitoring of the environment and rapid diagnostics of disease. The high surface-tovolume ratio of Graphene should allow single molecule detection sensitivity required for the latest fast response sensors. Sensors developed by CRANN researchers have the flexibility to measure multiple components, can be manufactured at low cost and are ultra-sensitive, enabling rapid and early detection. What Problem does it Solve & Advantages The Biofunctional Graphene Sensor, through ongoing development, is expected to be able to screen and return results for a number of diseases simultaneously within minutes. Routine disease diagnosis today is generally conducted in hospital diagnostic labs using comparatively large body fluid samples where each disease is analysed by laborious preparation methods and differing procedures as a legacy of early research into the disease. These procedures generally cause patients an extended wait of hours to days in screening and return results for only one condition. The simplicity behind the development of Biofunctional Graphene Sensors means that a number of conditions could be screened for in a matter of minutes as tests should be able to be conducted on raw, untreated body fluids. The closest marketed competitor to the Biofunctional Graphene Sensor relies on antibodies which are produced in biological systems as a result of exposure to one disease of interest. Biofunctional Sensor disease detection is related directly to the molecules of the disease so does not require the use of antibodies in production, which can take a number of weeks. In fact, Biofunctional Graphene Sensor technology will not rely on biological components during manufacture which is likely to: • Reduce unit manufacturing time • Reduce problems with quality assurance • Reduce regulatory hurdles in the process of taking the device to market In addition to this these sensors are: • Cost effective • Have flexible operation • Extremely sensitive • Extremely selective • Very patient and eco friendly Possible Applications As with many nano-materials Graphene offers a platform technology with potential to be utilised in numerous applications. In particular, Graphene as a component of a point of care sensor could be used for immediate disease diagnosis by medical staff, thus minimising effort and costs associated with expensive equipment and staff training. This sensor technology is expected to not only have application in the diagnosis of diseases from blood , saliva and urine samples but can potentially be applied to monitoring portable water source purity where many diseases are borne. The technology can be used as potential sensors/monitors for: medical devices/diagnostics e.g. influenza, hepatitis, Alzheimer's, etc., for environmental monitoring e.g. assessing biological contaminants or chemical pollutants and for gas sensing e.g. carbon monoxide/dioxide, nitrogen, etc. Technology and Patent Status This project is sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland and is being run partly in collaboration with The Swiss Tropical Institute in Basle. This technology is in the early stages of development. Proof of concept has been gained for virus detection and progress has been made in the detection of other organisms at lab scale. The patent for this technology is currently being filed. The Opportunity Interest from industry, entrepreneurs and academia involved with medical devices, diagnostics and metrology are invited. Experts in business, electronics, physics and biology can add value to bring this from prototype to product. Various support mechanisms and grants available.