Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed of a microchip that can detect, at nanoscale, multiple diseases from a single air sample, bringing the promise of portable, at-home diagnostics closer to reality. The new advance in field-effect transistors (FETs), described in the journal Nanoscale, could eventually be integrated into devices such as a smartwatches to detect miniscule concentrations of viruses or bacteria in the air.
“This study opens new horizons in the field of biosensing,” said Elisa Riedo, PhD, a professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering at NYU Tandon. “Microchips, the backbone of smartphones, computers, and other smart devices, have transformed the way people communicate, entertain, and work. Similarly, today, our technology will allow microchips to revolutionize healthcare, from medical diagnostics to environmental health.”
These researchers, including Davood Shahrjerdi, PhD, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at NYU Tandon, Giuseppe de Peppo, PhD, an industry associate professor at NYU, and Riedo embarked on leveraging the power of FETs to move beyond their usual electronic functions in smart devices to instead identify pathogens via unique digital signals.
“The innovative technology demonstrated in this article uses FETs—miniature electronic sensors that directly detect biological markers and convert them into digital signals,” said Shahrjerdi, who is also director of the NYU Nanofabrication Cleanroom, which produced the microchips. “This advanced approach enables faster results, testing for multiple diseases simultaneously, and immediate data transmission to healthcare providers.”
The development of these FETs was propelled by recent advances in materials such as graphene, indium oxide, and nanowires that make it possible to detect biological signals at extremely low concentrations—down to femtomolar levels (one quadrillionth of a mole). Until now, however, detecting multiple pathogens at once on a single chip remained a significant challenge.
To address this, the investigators used a novel technique called thermal scanning probe lithography (tSPL) to fabricate the chips. tSPL is a breakthrough technology that allows the precise patterning of FET surfaces at resolutions as fine as 20 nanometers. This allows the to be designed with transistors that have unique bioreceptors. These unique bioreceptors all on a single chip allows for the detection of multiple pathogens at once.
When the team tested their new chips, they found their FET-based biosensors were able to detect as few as three attomolar concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and just 10 live virus particles per milliliter, while effectively distinguishing between different virus strains, including influenza A. This high level of specificity is an important breakthrough for creating a new generation of diagnostics that could be used both in the clinical setting and at home.
The research was supported by molecular diagnostics firm Mirimus, and Australian construction and investment company LendLease, which is exploring ways to integrate innovative health monitoring technologies into urban infrastructure. Both companies are collaborating with NYU researchers to bring these new diagnostics to market.
As semiconductor technology continues to advance, the feasibility of scaling these microchips for widespread use is growing. The potential for FET-based biosensors to transform disease detection is enormous—enabling real-time diagnostics that could help reduce the burden on healthcare systems and allow people to monitor their own health.
