BACKGROUND:  Known electronic bio-sensing devices include resistors and field effect transistor configurations. Typically, these devices detect electronic characteristic changes of the configurations. However, the detections cannot distinguish between specific and nonspecific binding events (e.g., binding to a probe or device surface). Further, the detections are conducted at constant temperature/pH in the absence of external electric fields, preventing the discrimination between different oligomers. Accordingly, these methods require labeling, which may negatively affect target events.

INNOVATION:  The improved biosensing device senses binding of biomolecules by monitoring variations in temperature, pH, solvent, and electric fields. It can distinguish between complementary DNA strands/segments, oligomers that differ by a single base pair (SNPs), proteins, and other biological analytes. This label free detection is highly sensitive and offers enormous advantages in sensing applications.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 

• Biosensing
• Identification of biomolecules and interactions
• Arrays of biosensors

ADVANTAGES

• Detects the presence of and binding between biomolecules without the need for labeling
• Detects with extremely high sensitivity and specificity, on the order of 10 molecules
• Enables small and fast sensors, sized for individual proteins or viruses

DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:  The device has been successfully fabricated and tested.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2005-241

PCT Publication Number: PCT/US05/040295