Clean Technology
Device and Methods for Liquid Crystal-Based Bioagent Detection
WARF: P06126US
Inventors: Nicholas Abbott, David Beebe, Joon-Seo Park, Sarah Teren, Eric Johnson
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a sensitive, selective and efficient device for detecting bioagents and other biological molecules.
Overview
Currently, most schemes for detecting bioagents or other biological molecules are based on relatively complex electronic, photonic and/or electrochemical methods, or on more elegant biomolecular methods, such as ELISA. However, the engineering-based approaches demand a high level of system integration and highly sensitive circuitry, leading to issues with cost, reliability and power consumption. The more biologically-oriented approaches are simple, but typically require a costly macro-scale spectrometry system to quantify the output.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have developed a sensitive, selective and efficient liquid crystal-based device and method for detecting bioagents and other biological molecules. The device uses membranes that are comprised of a polymerized antigen or substrate of an enzyme, such as botulinum toxin (BoNT). A liquid crystal is in contact with one surface of the membrane. To detect a bioagent, the other membrane surface is contacted with an aqueous solution suspected of containing the antibody or enzyme. If the bioagent is present in the solution, the membrane containing the substrate degrades, leading to a detectable change in the orientation of the liquid crystal.
Applications
- Detecting bioagents or other biomolecules
Key Benefits
- Capable of detecting the presence of a particular bioagent or other enzyme or antibody
- Highly sensitive and selective
- Responds quickly
- Generates few false-positives
Stage of Development
Successfully demonstrated for several substrate/enzyme combinations, including BoNT.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
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Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854