Detects Even Tiny Virus Residues... Biosensor Developed with 100 Million Times Sensitivity

Professor Yoon Yong-jin of KAIST and Professor Kim Nuri of Newcastle University
Detects concentrations as low as 0.19 femtomolar (fM), 100 million times more sensitive than existing methods

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A Korean research team has developed a biosensor that can detect very small amounts of virus samples using the rotational force of microfluidics.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 18th that Professor Yoon Yong-jin's mechanical engineering team, in collaboration with Professor Kim Nuri of Newcastle University, developed a biosensor chip capable of point-of-care diagnosis using extremely small molecular samples by utilizing the rotational force of microfluidics.

The research team combined microfluidics technology and optical micro-electromechanical systems (Optical MEMS BioSensor) technology to develop a technology that can detect concentrations as low as 0.19 femtomolar (fM) in specific solutions. They succeeded in developing a 'Rotationally Focused Flow (RFF) Biosensor' that shows detection sensitivity more than 100 million (10^8) times higher than conventional single-flow methods.

Professor Yoon explained, "Through this research, by applying the phenomenon of generating rotational motion of fluid within a T-shaped microfluidic channel, we realized a biosensor based on the concept of point-of-care testing (PoC) that can detect extremely small amounts of target analytes at the lowest sample concentrations known in molecular diagnostics. This will enable rapid diagnosis through early detection of viruses such as COVID-19 and allow real-time on-site PoC diagnosis by miniaturizing molecular diagnostic devices. Furthermore, it could become a new breakthrough in bioanalytics using next-generation lab-on-a-chip technology."

The research results were published on April 29 in 'Scientific Reports,' a sister journal of the international journal 'Nature.'

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