Spinel Armor-Clearly More Cost Effective

The proposed biosensor will combine the selectivity of immobilized oligonucleotideprobes and the rapid and efficient collection capability of porous silicon membraneswith the mass sensitivity (picogram) of ultrasonic microelectronic devices. TPL hasdemonstrated methods to form funtionalized porous membranes for selective bindingof target oligonucleotides. The proposed device array will open unique opportunitiesfor real-time detection of nucleic acids and associated protein regulation. It isa direct measurement approach that does not require labeled or amplified DNA, andhybridization reaction rates are accelerated by improved mass transport afforded bysolution flow through the sensor. TPL, in collaboration with the Molecular DiagnosticsCore Laboratory (MDCL), University of New Mexico, has already demonstrated fabricationand functionality of individual porous membranes. Phase II multi-site membrane will befuntionalized and interrogated using a sequential, laser-coupled untrasonic system. Theresult will be a multi-site DNA sensing platform with sufficient sensitivity to avoid DNAamplification. TPL's experience in acoustic sensor design, which lead to Porotec, a thinfilm porosity analyzer employing acoustic wave transmission, combined with MDCL'sexpertise in clinical diagnostics by DNA sequencing will support development of porousmicrosensors for isolation and detection of DNA/mRNA sequences.