The schematic of the WPT system.
Invention Summary:
Electronic biosensors are involved in various applications including medical diagnostics and healthcare monitoring. Additionally, wireless power transfer is suited for remote use of biosensors without direct electrical connection. However, wireless readout of a label-free electronic biosensor for the detection of protein biomarkers remains challenging.
Rutgers researchers have developed a wireless power transfer (WPT) nanowell impedance sensor to detect protein biomarkers in situ. The biosensor setup consists of two inductively coupled transmitter and receiver coils. The array of nano-wells that are functionalized with antibody, embedded with electrodes to track the change in ionic resistance. When there is a binding of the target protein to the corresponding antibody inside the wells, the inductively coupled WPT system translates change in the impedance of the sensor to the equivalent impedance seen from the transmitter.
The use of wireless power-up and readout systems allows wireless biosensing, a major step for the development and miniaturization of implantable biosensor systems.
Advantages:
- Continuous sensing in situ
- Highly sensitive
- First platform demonstrating wireless sensing of protein biomarkers
Market Applications:
- Implantable biosensor for continuous monitoring of biomarkers associated with disease progression (e.g., solid tumor) and treatment response
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration.