Session: 06-05-02: Biomedical Devices, Sensors, and Actuators

Paper Number: 145975

145975 - Multiplex Immuno-Biosensor on Microfluidic Platform for Highly Accurate Detection of Targeted Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers Across a Dynamic Range of Concentrations. 

Detection of cancer biomarkers using electrochemical immunoassay technology enables the development of biomedical devices for diagnosing cancer using a finger prick blood sample. However, multiplex biomarker detection in a single assay can minimize false positives and false negatives in cancer diagnosis. Elevated levels of Cancer Antigen: CA-125  (typically more than 35 U/ml concentration), and Human Epididymis Protein 4:HE-4 (typically more than 150 to 500 pmol/mL concentration), are observed in 80% of Ovarian Cancer patients. A multi-layered immuno-biosensor has been developed to detect the dynamic range of concentrations of ovarian cancer biomarkers (CA-125 & HE-4) in biofluids with high accuracy. The biosensor is integrated with a highly sensitive nano-interdigitated electrical circuit on a microfluidic platform. CA-125 & HE-4 antibodies are immobilized on the electrical circuit to capture the electrical signal response during the antigen-antibody conjugation when the immobilized antibodies interact with the corresponding antigens in the biofluid sample. The change in capacitance measurement of the nano electrical circuit during the Ag-Ab interaction provides evidence of biomarkers in the biofluid sample. The Ag-Ab complex creates an enhanced dipole-dipole interaction within the dielectric interface between the antigen and antibody, resulting in polarization in the distribution of charges within the antibody and antigen. Thus, the dielectric properties of each antigen-antibody complex have a unique variation over a range of frequencies and are analyzed for changes. The change in dielectric properties directly influences the change in capacitance over a range of frequencies. For instance, there is a change in capacitance of 89.91 pF when CA-125 antibodies interact with CA-125 antigens at 10kHz frequency. Similarly, at the same frequency of 10kHz, the change in capacitance is detected as 18.96 pF. These changes in electrical signal responses detected using the Immuno-Biosensor provide evidence of the detection of ovarian cancer biomarkers in the biofluid.

Presenting Author: Bharath Babu Nunna Weber State University

Presenting Author Biography: Bharath Babu Nunna is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Weber State University. Before joining in Weber State University, he was working as a postdoctoral research fellow in Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Division of Engineering in Medicine, at Harvard University. He has received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in May 2018 from NJIT. His research studies are primarily focused on microfluidic biosensing methodologies to detect the targeted biomolecules. His expertise primarily includes micro/nanofabrication, surface characterization, and electrical characterization of biosensing applications. Also, he is serving as a guest editor for Micromachines and Bioengineering journals of MDPI, and as a reviewer for more than 30 international peer reviewed journals. Till date he has reviewed more than 260 manuscripts. He has received TechConnect National Innovation Award for his biochip innovation in 2017. He is the recipient of the prestigious 'Best Design of Healthcare Innovations Award' at NIH Bethesda, MD. in 2017 during the IEEE-NIH 2017 Special Topics Conference on Healthcare Innovations and Point-of-Care Technologies. He has more than seven years of nano fabrication experience in a cleanroom environment at various laboratories including the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (BNL), Advanced Science Research Center (CUNY), Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (Princeton University). Prior to joining NJIT, He has seven years of industrial experience at Caterpillar Inc., He has served as principal engineer for CAT power modules and Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) from 2008 to 2014.

Authors:

Bharath Babu Nunna Weber State University
Yudong Wang New Jersey Institute of Technology
Niladri Talukder New Jersey Institute of Technology
Eon Soo Lee New Jersey Institute of Technology