Advantages:
- Enhances cancer biomarker sensitivity
- Scalable production methods
- Enables low-concentration detection
- Ideal for portable diagnostics
Summary:
In cancer diagnostics, a major challenge is the detection of biomarkers at extremely low concentrations, particularly at the nanogram per milliliter (ng/ml) level, which is crucial for early-stage cancer detection. Traditional immunofluorescence assays often fail to meet this sensitivity requirement, leading to delayed or inaccurate diagnoses. This issue is compounded by the minimal presence of biomarkers such as PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) and CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) in the early stages of cancer. Existing methods that attempt to enhance fluorescence signals, such as metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) techniques using nanostructures, face significant hurdles due to their complexity, high cost, and lack of scalability. These factors make them impractical for widespread use in clinical settings, limiting their effectiveness in improving diagnostic outcomes.
Our technology offers a novel solution by employing rapid thermal annealing (RTA) to fabricate stable and uniform silver nanostructures, which are then coated with a thin silica layer. The RTA process induces a controlled dewetting of silver films, creating nanostructures that exhibit strong localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR), significantly amplifying the fluorescence signals in immunoassays. The silica coating stabilizes these nanostructures, optimizes the distance between the fluorophore and the metal surface, and enhances the plasmonic effect, resulting in a dramatic increase in fluorescence intensity. This method is simpler, more scalable, and cost-effective compared to existing technologies, making it suitable for large-scale production of highly sensitive biosensors. The solution benefits healthcare providers by enabling earlier and more accurate disease detection, diagnostics companies by offering a scalable and cost-effective production method, and patients by improving early diagnosis and treatment outcomes. This innovation addresses the limitations of prior art by simplifying the fabrication process, reducing costs, and improving the reliability and sensitivity of biosensors, particularly in point-of-care diagnostic devices.
Schematic illustration of fabrication process for metallic nanostructures with silica coating layer on a glass substrate.
Desired Partnerships:
- License
- Sponsored Research
- Co-Development