Single detector interrogates and analyses complex signals from whole-cell biosensors

Highlights

• Single detector scans and analyses fluorescence signals from array of whole, functioning, genetically-engineered reporter cells
• Simple means for detecting very complex series of reactions taking place in intact cells to assay global biological effects such as toxicity, genotoxicity or bioavailability
• Applications in medical research, drug screening, clinical diagnosis, bioprocess monitoring, water/air pollution control, biological and chemical agents/explosive/radioactive detection.

Our Innovation

Ultra-sensitive fluorescent electro-optic biosensors (EOBS) that sample the biochemical response from an array of microbial sensor cells, each of which is genetically engineered to sense the presence of a specific substance or group of substances. The fluorescent signal emitted by each element in the microarray can be modulated at a specific frequency and its intensity governed independently so that the entire array can be sampled in parallel by a single detector.

Key Features

• Dynamic range and sensitivity can be tailored individually for each element in the array
• Rapid measurements of large sample arrays, high sensitivity and specificity, good reliability and repeatability and low operational expenses

The Opportunity

• The estimated world analytical market is about $24 billion per year of which 30% is in healthcare. Less than 0.1% of this market is currently using biosensors
• Future applications involving nucleic acid or protein arrays based on same principles in novel type of array biosensors with enhanced signal analysis capabilities