Silicon Nanowire Arrays for Viral Infection Markers

Date:

2009-2012

Themes:

Healthcare, Bionanotechnology and Biosensors, Nanoelectronics

Funding:

EPSRC (Nanotechnology Grand Challenges Healthcare), BBSRC, ESRC

The aim of this project is to develop silicon nanowire arrays, the only technology that has been shown to enable highly specific and ultrasensitive analysis of protein biomarkers with electronic rather than costly optical detection, into a robust user platform for the simultaneous analysis of a large number of biomarkers in the same clinical sample. We will optimize a unique method to fabricate extensive arrays of silicon nanowires with a cost-effective mass-production technology that is similar to that used by the microelectronics industry. The silicon nanowires will be incorporated in an advanced microfluidic matrix that will not only allow the sample volume to be very small (a blood droplet obtained with a simple finger prick could be sufficient), but will also provide the means to divide the nanowire array, which can consist of up to a thousand parallel nanowires, into many individually addressable sets of nanowires. Through appropriate functionalization chemistry, each nanowire set can be made to recognize and quantify a different biomarker, enabling a maximum amount of information to be extracted from a minimal amount of sample.

Primary investigators

• pa
• Hywel Morgan
• Maurits De Planque
• Prof. Susan Halford
• Dr Peter Roach
• Prof. Donna Davies
• Prof. Peter Howarth

Secondary investigators

• mmah
• ml09v
• Dr Francesco Giustiniano
• Kai Sun
• Katy Lyle
• pck1g10

Partner

• Synairgen

Associated research groups

• Nano Research Group
• Southampton Nanofabrication Centre