A wireless-compatible CMOS-based celluar sensor

Abstract

Biosensors have a need to accurately detect and quantify a biological target within a complex medium, such as serum. Cells are uniquely qualified to accomplish this, but cannot communicate with the outside world. We demonstrate a synergistic fusion between a genetically engineered cell line and a wireless-compatible CMOS sensor leveraging the cells innate ability to specifically bind, amplify and transduce the signal with electronics that are capable transforming this cellular signal into an electronic one. We demonstrate the detection of TNF-alpha (TNFalpha) within serum without washing. Since cells are real-time transducers of binding events, real-time monitoring of biological agents and reactions are possible.