September 6th, 2006 -- Quantum Logic Devices announces the publication of research results in the September 6th, 2006 issue of the Journal of American Chemical Society. The paper is authored by Dr. Louis C. Brousseau, founder and CEO of Quantum Logic Devices. The paper describes real-time detection of single-molecule DNA hybridization on the Company’s proprietary nanoelectronic platform – the single electron transistor.
This advance will enable rapid, point-of-care genetic analysis for patient screening and disease diagnosis, as well as biothreat agent detection. Currently, this testing is performed with fluorescent labels and optical detection, which can take up to 24 hours and cost hundreds of dollars per sample. The Quantum Logic Devices approach will reduce this to minutes per test and costs of only a few dollars by eliminating complex steps of the procedure and leveraging inexpensive semiconductor manufacturing.
The paper describes proof of concept experiments that demonstrate that hybrid formation of 36-base sequences of DNA can be detected electronically with a single electron transistor at room temperature. The work was performed in saline as well as serum samples, at concentrations down to femtomolar which equates to only 12,000 DNA molecules per 20 microliter drop. Importantly, mismatched target strands were not observed to bind to the device, which is a primary source of error in conventional fluorescent-based testing. Dr. Brousseau explains that this is due to the nanoscale size and design of the device, which increases the specificity of the molecular interaction to favor only perfectly-matched sequences.
"The detection of molecular targets at low concentrations in complex matrices without optical-labeling dependent assays will enhance our ability to develop diagnostic applications,” says Adam L. Hamilton, P.E., CEO of Austin-based Signature Science, LLC, a provider of scientific expertise for Homeland Security . “Evolving nanofabrication techniques will make this novel detection technology accessible to numerous medical and homeland security researchers."
Quantum Logic Devices currently has test chips that contain arrays of single electron transistors which will provide increased dynamic range and sensitivity over single devices. These chips will be the disposable component to the company’s palm-top diagnostic and bench-top analysis products. Other work by the company has demonstrated antibody-based assays using the platform, which will be published soon. The Company is focused on developing products for emerging applications of molecular analysis that will revolutionize healthcare and biotechnology.
"The development of sensitive and specific biosensors has a considerable potential for research, forensics and clinical applications" said Emmanuel Labourier, R&D Group Leader at Asuragen Inc., an Austin-based molecular diagnostic company. "As a new generation of molecular biomarkers such as microRNAs become ready, label-free detection of single diagnostic analytes will support major advances in personalized medicine and gene-based disease risk assessment".
