Advancing dynamic MEMS for in-situ biosensing

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Water-borne contamination (e.g. E. Coli) and food-borne contamination (e.g. Listeria) have given rise to an increasing demand for fast, reliable and cost-effective biosensors that can detect in-situ bacteria for the purpose of screening for disease, food safety inspection, and water quality monitoring. Conventional biomolecular detection technology has limitations and can't provide real-time testing in the field and at the point of care. As a result, there is an urgent need for a new technique that will be capable of real-time in-situ screening or monitoring for the presence of bacteria. MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) dynamic sensors are great candidates for minuscule mass detections and have found relevant applications in air or vacuum. However, MEMS dynamic sensors for applications in aqueous solutions are not yet well investigated. In this study MEMS dynamic sensors for live bacteria detection in aqueous solution will be studied and fundamentals of MEMS dynamic sensors, working aqueous environment will be explored. In addition, a deeper understanding of amplifying sensing signals by actively manipulating the bioanalytes will be investigated. The outcome of this research will not only result in improved health screening and better food safety, but will also place Canadian researchers and diagnostics technology companies at a strategic advantage for the development of these technologies. Furthermore, the proposed work will enable a novel approach focused on applying micro sensors in a broader range of applications, particularly for a real-time in-situ sensing of bioanalytes at ultra-low concentration. The proposed work includes the design, simulation, micromachining, packaging and testing of novel microscopic biosensors. Due to the unique interdisciplinary nature of the project, it includes mechanical, electrical, chemical engineering and physics, etc. Exposed to state-of-the-art design and simulation tools, fabrication and testing facilities, the trainees involved in this project will accumulate extensive analytical and experimental skills that will meet the increasing industrial and academic demands for micro/nano technology.