Our objective is to achieve improved performance in terms of robustness, sensitivity and selectivity, compared to state-of-the-art technology.

We combine innovative RNA oligonucleotide-based capture molecules (aptamers), generated by molecular engineering, with two novel ultra-sensitive sensing concepts: a biologically active graphene field effect transistor (BioGrFET) and a sensor-based on microelectromechanical system (BioMEMS) technology.

Novel carbon nanomembranes will be used as a functionalisation interposer to simplify the binding procedure of the capture molecules onto the biosensor surface. Bringing graphene and nanomembranes into application will have strong synergetic effects with current nanotechnology development.

Advances will also be realised in terms of usability and speed of data-analysis arising from the integration of sensors, read-out electronics and microfluidics into one user friendly point-of-care (PoC) platform.

Costs of the new disposable sensors will be ultra-low at high volumes, thanks to designing into microelectronics production flows. All components developed in the project will be designed as multi-purpose modules; this will create a new PoC platform technology adaptable to a diversity of diagnostic needs.