Technology

Technology - Performance Metrics

The AIR platform offers a unique combination of performance advantages:

Rapid testing

As a label-free technology, the duration of the test is dominated by a single antibody-antigen binding time (~5-30 minutes) and requires no additional reporting or amplification steps. Only limited sample prep is required and adds virtually no additional time.

Highly multiplexed

All antibodies in our assay are bound to the chip surface and are only exposed to the sample solution, unlike labeled techniques where secondary reporter antibodies have potential for cross-reactivity. Because our array spots see only the sample, they are not affected by neighboring spots or the total number of spots. Our multiplex capability is only limited by our ability to print as many spots as possible on our 1cm x 1cm chips (>1000 simultaneous tests is very realistic).

High dynamic range correlating to physiological relevance

We have demonstrated cytokine detection from 25 pg/mL to 2.5 ug/mL and this spans the basal to elevated concentration range for most cytokines. We expect to push this lower limit to ~2.5 pg/mL.

Portable

We require only a very simple reflectance reader. Our first professionally designed prototype is approximately the size of a laptop computer, and further integration will lead to a hand-held device. This separates our technology from many others such as SPR, flow cytometry, and fluorescent protein microarrays that are unlikely to become portable without substantially compromising sensitivity. Dipstick-type lateral-flow immunoassays and electrochemical systems like the i-STAT are portable, but have little or no multiplex capability.

Quantitative and reproducible

AIR is fully quantitative, provided sufficient calibration of the detection antibodies is conducted. The technique is reproducible in the lab, but many more assays are required to provide accurate statistics and this project will continue this validation process.

Operability over a range of environmental conditions

Our system is very low-complexity, and therefore is unlikely to suffer problems associated with reasonable conditions of temperature and humidity. As long as samples can be taken and placed on the biochip without contamination, accurate results should be obtained.

Generalizable platform for scale-up to large field applications

Simple instrument and chip design facilitate scale-up to larger applications.

Inexpensive to deploy

We expect our systems and chips to be very cost-effective due to the efficient use of antibodies and minimal reagents, manufacturability advantages of silicon based technology, and the simple reflectance reader.

Near real-time data capture

Tests can be conducted as often as biosamples are collected.

Significant throughput capability

This is an engineering issue in the final device, but there are no fundamental limitations. Detection chips are read in about 1 second, so they can be process quickly following sample incubation.