Carbon Nanotube Transistor -Based Microarray Binding Sensors
Background:
The National Cancer Institute's
Oncogenomics Section is seeking statements of capability or
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to
further develop, evaluate, or commercialize electronic detection of
nucleic acid and protein levels.
Description of
Technology:
This technology consists of:
a) an apparatus containing microarray binding sensors having
biological probe materials and carbon nanotube (CNT) transistors;
and
b) various methods of using the highly sensitive CNT transistors
for the electronic detection of nucleic acid hybridization for
performing microarray gene expression experiments.
Additionally, these methods can be used to detect DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA,
Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) -DNA, PNA-RNA, DNA-protein or
PNA-protein binding. By analogy to the microarray concept, each
transistor is associated with a distinct probe oligonucleotide and
is operated as a field effect transistor (FET). The
transconductance between the source and drain electrodes is
measured both before and after a hybridization event.
In addition to increased sensitivity and ease of use, this
technology eliminates the need for chemical labeling and enzymatic
manipulation. This design is distinct from other CNT-based
biomolecular sensing schemes in that the CNT transistors function
only as charge sensors and are completely isolated from chemical
reactions concomitant with probe immobilization and target capture.
In contrast, current methods rely on enzymatic amplification of
nucleic acids, fluorescent labeled targets, hybridization,
amplification of signal and detection by optical scanners, which
are time consuming and have limited sensitivity.
The apparatus and methods can be used for numerous applications,
including high-throughput monitoring of genome-wide DNA and mRNA
copy number changes; sequencing of DNA; and identification of miRNA
levels in cancer and of targets of transcription factors.
Furthermore, given the intensity of effort in linking gene
expression with diseases, it is only a matter of time before
diagnosis and prognosis of certain ailments can be performed on the
basis of gene expression. Presently, most such analyses require
costly apparatus and labor-intensive laboratory procedures.
Value Proposition
Solution:
- Microarray binding sensors using CNT transistors which detect
nucleic acid and protein levels with increased sensitivity and ease
of use
- Elimination of chemical labeling and enzymatic
manipulation
- Ability to perform numerous laboratory procedures, including
sequencing of DNA and identification of miRNA levels in cancer,
less expensively and more efficiently
R&D
Status: Prototype development
Further R&D Needed:
- Microfluidics
- Developing hand held device for working the field
- Signal processing
- Pattern recognition algorithm
- Detection of protein levels using antibodies or Aptamers
- Mutational detection
IP Status:
- U.S. Patent Application No. 60/743,524 filed 17 Mar 2006
- U.S. Patent Application No. 11/723,369 filed 19 Mar 2007
Contact
Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D., NCI
Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Reference: #662 PM
Posted 05/08/2008
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