Aptamer-based Nanofunctionalized OFET Biosensor

ABSTRACT: Physiological and environmental monitoring and telemedicine are becoming important tools. Biomarkers play an important role in diagnosing health conditions and enabling advanced care and monitoring systems implemented through telemedicine. Telemedicine tools are needed to seamlessly interface and communicate the physiological condition of the human body with modern electronics including computers and cell networks. CRG proposes to provide an affordable, continuous, non-invasive sensor with electronic output to enable new biomarkers to impact telemedicine. To gain the specificity and selectivity that is needed for biomarker detection in bodily fluids CRG and Stanford propose an organic field effect (OFET) aptamer-based sensor. Stanfords OFETs are water stable and capable of detecting biomolecules via aptamers conjugated to nanoparticles on the semiconductor surface. Nanoparticle based functionalization limits aptamer binding sites and higher loadings of aptamer can potentially increase OFET performance. Nanowires, nanotubes, or nanofibers can provide greater surface area for aptamer conjugation and leading to greater sensitivity. CRG and Stanfords OFET biosensor concept contains aptamers conjugated to nanomaterials on a water stable OFET platform to create the Aptamer-based Nanofunctionalized OFET biosensor. This biosensor is wrapped in a micro-fluidic platform for direct detection of biomarkers in liquid media including sweat, saliva, or serum. ; BENEFIT: Operational Benefits: (1) Improved OFET performance, (2) Water stable, (3) Capable of detection at low limits, (4) Reduced variability between devices, and (5) Long term stability and operational re-use Commercial Applications: (1) Environmental monitoring, (2) Multiplex healthcare diagnostics, and (3) Point of care diagnostics