PATENTS
Method and Apparatus for Forming a Homeostatic Loop Employing an Aptamer Biosensor
Patent Number: 12/422 125
Date Filed: April 10, 2009
Country Filed In: USA
Product Application: CGCI
Description:
This patent describes a novel architecture solid-state biosensor for label-free detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The device is realized by forming a matrix array of parallel capacitors allowing the realization of low-cost, portable, fully integrated devices. The detection mechanism is based on an electrochemical binding of circulating VEGF to an immobilized VEGF aptamer; whereby binding of these two compounds modulates the threshold voltage of a novel circuit, changing the impedance (capacitance) of the circuit. This novel circuit is further characterized by an electrode coded with a p-Si substrate, enhancing the affinity between the VEGF molecules and the aptamer. This detector is able to provide an accurately measured and quantifiable rate of change of the VEGF molecules in-vivo, providing real time feedback of this important biomarker which may be used to measure response of the tumor to delivered chemotherapeutic agents and biological response modifiers (BRMs) for the purpose of determining tumor burden.
Field of Use: The VEGF biosensor is part of Josh Shachar's exploration into developing next-generation biosensors that are capable of detecting specific biomarkers within a sample at clinically relevant levels in a simple portable point-of-care-device that can provide physicians and health-care workers rapid and affordable pathogen detection without the need for a dedicated lab and specialized technicians and all the associated cost therein. As described, the VEGF biosensor would be targeted to helping physicians treating cancer tumors with chemotherapeutic to be able to measure biological response modifiers (BRMs) for the purpose of determining treatment efficacy.