
University of Minnesota researchers combined graphene with nano-sized metal ribbons of gold to create an ultrasensitive biosensor that could help detect a variety of diseases in humans and animals.
Image credit: Oh Group, University of Minnesota
Researchers in the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering have developed a unique new device using the wonder material graphene that provides the first step toward ultrasensitive biosensors to detect diseases at the molecular level with near perfect efficiency.
Ultrasensitive biosensors for probing protein structures could greatly improve the depth of diagnosis for a wide variety of diseases extending to both humans and animals. These include Alzheimer’s disease, Chronic Wasting Disease, and mad cow disease—disorders related to protein misfolding. Such biosensors could also lead to improved technologies for developing new pharmaceutical compounds.
The research is published in Nature Nanotechnology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Nature Publishing Group.
“In order to detect and treat many diseases we need to detect protein molecules at very small amounts and understand their structure,” said Sang-Hyun Oh, University of Minnesota electrical and computer engineering professor and lead researcher on the study. “Currently, there are many technical challenges with that process. We hope that our device using graphene and a unique manufacturing process will provide the fundamental research that can help overcome those challenges.”
Graphene, a material made of a single layer of carbon atoms, was discovered more than a decade ago. It has enthralled researchers with its range of amazing properties that have found uses in many new applications, including creating better sensors for detecting diseases.
Significant attempts have been made to improve biosensors using graphene, but the challenge exists with its remarkable single atom thickness. This means it does not interact efficiently with light when shined through it. Light absorption and conversion to local electric fields is essential for detecting small amounts of molecules when diagnosing diseases. Previous research utilizing similar graphene nanostructures has only demonstrated a light absorption rate of less than 10 percent.
In this new study, University of Minnesota researchers combined graphene with nano-sized metal ribbons of gold. Using sticky tape and a high-tech nanofabrication technique developed at the University of Minnesota, called “template stripping,” researchers were able to create an ultra-flat base layer surface for the graphene.
They then used the energy of light to generate a sloshing motion of electrons in the graphene, called plasmons, which can be thought to be like ripples or waves spreading through a “sea” of electrons. Similarly, these waves can build in intensity to giant “tidal waves” of local electric fields based on the researchers’ clever design.
By shining light on the single-atom-thick graphene layer device, they were able to create a plasmon wave with unprecedented efficiency at a near-perfect 94 percent light absorption into “tidal waves” of electric field. When they inserted protein molecules between the graphene and metal ribbons, they were able to harness enough energy to view single layers of protein molecules.
“Our computer simulations showed that this novel approach would work, but we were still a little surprised when we achieved the 94 percent light absorption in real devices,” said Oh, who holds the Sanford P. Bordeau Chair in Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. “Realizing an ideal from a computer simulation has so many challenges. Everything has to be so high quality and atomically flat. The fact that we could obtain such good agreement between theory and experiment was quite surprising and exciting.”
Learn more: Research Brief: New graphene-based device is first step toward ultrasensitive biosensors
The Latest on: Biosensors
[google_news title=”” keyword=”biosensors” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Biosensors
- Universal Biosensors Inc Shs Chess Depository Interests US Prohibited repron May 24, 2023 at 9:10 am
Morningstar Quantitative ratings for equities (denoted on this page by) are generated using an algorithm that compares companies that are not under analyst coverage to peer companies that do ...
- Plastic Transistor Amplifies Sensing Signal for Biosensorson May 23, 2023 at 5:00 pm
A team from Northwestern University has developed a novel transistor that can be used to enhance biocompatible biosensors to monitor biochemical signals, which can be weak but provide critical ...
- Biosensors Market in South Korea is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 1.6 billion by 2032 Growing at a CAGR of 10.3%on May 22, 2023 at 10:49 pm
According to Future Market Insights newly released Biosensors Market analysis report, the global market size of the Biosensors Market in 2022 will be US$ 24.5 Billion. The projected market growth is ...
- Designing synthetic receptors for precise cell controlon May 22, 2023 at 6:04 am
Biosensors are artificial molecular complexes designed to detect the presence of target chemicals or even biomolecules. Consequently, biosensors have become important in diagnostics and synthetic cell ...
- Biosensors Market Size to Surpass US$ 53.26 Billion by 2031 - Growth Plus Reportson May 19, 2023 at 1:59 am
Newark, New Castle, USA, May 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a recent Growth Plus Reports study, the biosensors market was valued at US$ 25.9 billion in 2022. The market will register a ...
- Unlocking the future: the power of electrochemical biosensorson May 17, 2023 at 4:59 pm
In recent years, biosensors have become increasingly important to researchers and scientists due to their ability to convert biological responses into electrical signals, making them useful in a ...
- Graphene Biosensors Are Extra Quieton April 22, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Graphene has attracted enormous interest for electrically detecting chemical and biological materials. However, because the super material doesn’t act like a normal semiconductor, transistors ...
- Biosensors Boost Biomedical Advancementon March 21, 2023 at 5:57 am
Katz’s lab has also been researching implantable multi-input biosensors with built-in logic to determine how they can be used as methods of targeted drug release. The system uses two electrodes that ...
- Biosensors articles from across Nature Portfolioon December 13, 2021 at 2:56 pm
Biosensors are devices used to detect the presence or concentration of a biological analyte, such as a biomolecule, a biological structure or a microorganism. Biosensors consist of three parts ...
via Bing News