CMOS circuits for lab-on-chip analyte detection

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This NSERC Discovery Grant examines CMOS circuits and CMOS-compatible devices to enhance the sensitivity of optical detection of fluorescently labeled molecules as used in Lab-on-Chip diagnostic applications. Most Lab-on-Chip work, alternatively named micro-total-analysis-systems or BioMEMS, puts no instrumentation on the microfluidic chip and requires extensive optical, high voltage and electronic instrumentation on the bench, supporting the chip - this approach could instead be called chip-in-a-lab. With DALSA Semiconducteur (Bromont QC), we have built integrated microelectronic-microfluidic systems that include the instrumentation, reducing system cost and the potential system size to that of a USB memory key. In this proposal, we are looking longer term to build circuits to increase the sensitivity of these CMOS-BioMEMS and improve the limit of detection. Approaches will include new variations on noise and offset reductions, CMOS avalanche photodiodes and fluorescence lifetime (pulsed excitation light source for measuring the decaying fluorescence after excitation light is removed). Some of this work could also be applicable to low light image sensors. Arguably, the best equipped manufacturing for integrated microelectronic-microfluidic chips is presently located in Canada. We believe that in the long term we can help secure a significant portion of the future world market of BioMEMS for Canadian manufacturers.