Biocompatible Direct Functionalized Nanoparticle Deposition using Shrinking Surface Plasmonic Bubble

Tech ID: 20-038

Inventors: Dr. Seunghyun Moon, Dr. Tengfei Luo, Dr. Eungkyu Lee

Date Added: June 17, 2020

Overview

A novel method for multiplex biosensors that concentrates targets in the analytes and directly deposits them onto a surface with pre-fabricated biomarker detectors.

Technology Summary

As demand for point-of-care (POC) assays has increased, diagnostic techniques capable of analyzing smaller sample sizes are being developed. Miniaturized microfluidic chips with advanced sensors are one of these techniques aimed at analyzing and quantifying small amounts and low concentration of analytes. This method currently requires functionalized nanoparticles (FNPs), small particles bound to molecules that can recognize and bind to a target molecule in a sample, for low concentration detections. However, current methods of FNP deposition cannot detect multiple targets in one test, have poor limits of detection (LODs), involve expensive equipment, and are time-consuming. Conventional photothermal bubble-assisted deposition can concentrate FNPs to surface to improve LOD, but the high temperature process is not fully compatible with deposition involving bio-molecules. Improving device sensitivity (LODs) is critical for applications such as early disease detections, where only low concentrations of particles of interest are present. This drives demand for diagnostics with higher sensitivity at lower sample sizes. Ultimately, a new methodology that improves LODs, does not require constant damaging heat, and employs less expensive equipment would improve the current state of biological sensor technology. 

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have recently developed a shrinking surface bubble deposition (SSBD) method to place FNPs onto a glass surface at a high concentration, with a better LOD, and at lower required temperature than current methods. Currently, concentrating FNPs in a colloidal suspension onto a surface is a limiting step in improving LODs, but the SSBD method achieves higher concentrations of FNPs by leveraging the contact line shrinking process. The novel Biocompatible Direct Deposition of Functionalized Nanoparticles using Shrinking Surface Plasmonic Bubble method allows for the manufacturing of multiplex biosensors with applications ranging from disease detection to food safety screening. 

Market Advantages

•    Enhanced sensitivity – will increase LOD by 3 orders of magnitude.
•    Time saving and increased throughput due to multiplexing and simpler methodology and preparation. 
•    Cost savings from reduced quantities of reagents required. 

Market Opportunities

•    Specific biosensor applications could be: 
        -  Cancer Screening - $2.8B Market
        -  Cancer Diagnosis - $149M Market
        -  Cancer Monitoring - $200M Market

Technology Readiness Level

TRL 4 - Lab Validation

Intellectual Property Status

Patent Pending

Contact

Richard Cox

rcox4@nd.edu

574.631.5158