Microcavity Surface Bioconjugation Using Unilamellar Lipid Membranes For Label Free, Ultrasensitive Detection Of Alzheimer's Biomarkers

Case ID:
UA19-073
Invention:

This invention outlines a new way of preparing a microtoroid optical resonator for the purpose of detecting amyloid-β plaque. Traditional ways of surface functionalization leave roughness on the optical resonator, making it difficult to achieve a higher Q-factor. This invention provides a new way of smoothing the surface of a resonator so that ultrasensitive detection can be achieved, providing high Q-factors as well as reduced scattering loss, which is important when detecting key biomarkers such as amyloid-β.

 

This has potential application in biomarker detection for patients with COVID-19, as well as vaccine research.

Background:

Optical resonators are a key component of biosensors that are used in many different applications. However, the resonator has to have a smooth surface to allow the capture of light at different wavelengths. The ability of a resonator to capture light effectively is referred to as its Q-factor (quality factor). Traditional ways of smoothing the surface of a resonator still leave too much residual roughness that leads to a lower q-factor, and thus less accurate detection of biomarkers.

 

Applications:

  • Biomarker detection for healthcare diagnostics and drug development
  • Defense/security applications to detect explosives, chemical weapons, drugs
  • Environmental biosensors for air/water quality
  • Detection of disease in agricultural/food products


Advantages:

  • Achieves better surface smoothness for an optical resonator
  • Better Q-factor, longer wavelengths
  • Better for the detection of biomarkers
  • Validated in Alzheimer's use case 
Patent Information:
Contact For More Information:
Richard Weite
Senior Licensing Manager, College of Optical Sciences
The University of Arizona
RichardW@tla.arizona.edu
Lead Inventor(s):
Phuong Diem Nguyen
Tsu-Te Su
Adley Gin
Erol Ozgur
Keywords: