Electrical Detection of Viruses Using Liquid Crystals

In this Phase 2 application, we will continue development of a method for rapid detection of virus. In our Phase 1 work, we demonstrated that liquid crystals could generate a quantifiable optical signal upon recognition of a target molecule bound to a surface. To facilitate the application of this technology for biosensing we will transduce the liquid crystal orientational response to the target into an electrical signal. The use of liquid crystals to detect, amplify and report the presence of targets, such as viruses, eliminates the need for all labels, probes, or enzymes. The detection of virus by measurement of a change n capacitance across a film of liquid crystal will permit the future integration of liquid crystal based virus detection technology into handheld portable devices or into remote sensing systems.