Interferometric Detection: From Multiplexed Label-free Affinity Measurements to Counting Single Biomolecules
M. Selim Ünlü,
Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Boston University
Interferometric reflectance imaging sensor (IRIS) technology is based on interference of light from an optically transparent thin film—the same phenomenon that gives rainbow colors to a soap film when illuminated by white light. IRIS has two modalities: (i) low-magnification (ensemble biomolecular mass measurements) allowing for multiplexed affinity measurements and (ii) high-magnification (digital detection of individual nanoparticles) along with their applications, including label-free detection of multiplexed protein chips, measurement of single nucleotide polymorphism, quantification of transcription factor DNA binding, and high sensitivity digital sensing and characterization of nanoparticles and viruses.
In vitro tests are a cornerstone of clinical practice, with the sensitivity of standard immunoassays measuring protein biomarkers at picomolar concentrations. This level of sensitivity is sufficient for the diagnosis of infectious diseases when clear symptoms are present, however it falls short significantly for the detection of molecular biomarkers that are important in cancer, neurological disorders, and the early stages of infection as well as environmental sensing. Perhaps one of the most exciting recent technological developments in biomarker analysis is single-molecule counting or digital detection, an approach that provides resolution and sensitivity beyond the reach of ensemble measurements. In this presentation, we will cover the technical developments of IRIS platform as well as our efforts in technology commercialization.
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