Diamond nanocarbon bio-FET technology joins COVID-19 fight
The move is designed to address the urgent, unprecedented, and unmet demand for rapid, sensitive, specific, and low-cost diagnosis of viral antigens such as the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. By leveraging its core capabilities in manufacturing and design of nanocarbon materials for optics and semiconductor electronics systems, says the company, it will alleviate the existing bottleneck in Bio-FET device systems and address the sensitivity, speed, cost, and manufacturing scalability associated with presently available materials.
Bio-FET devices based on direct virus immobilization on nanomaterials and two-dimensional sensor materials have already been demonstrated as an attractive next-generation platform for highly selective and ultra-sensitive detection of specific proteins and DNA sequences. Since the company’s proprietary graphene and nanocrystalline diamond materials have been optimized for optical and electronic device application, says the company, their targeted use in biosensor applications is particularly attractive, owing to the material’s superior electronic properties, biocompatibility, and chemical resistance in ultrathin profiles.
“The sample time of the current systems utilized for COVID-19 testing are on the order of five to 15 minutes,” says Adam Khan, CEO and Founder of AKHAN, “where Bio-FET devices for the detection of SARS, Ebola, and Rota Virus have already been utilized with sample times on the order of a few seconds. The major limitations of these Bio-FET systems have been the sensitivity of device structures and the large-scale manufacturability of the semiconductor materials utilized. As the global leader in diamond semiconductor, AKHAN is uniquely positioned to alleviate these constraints.”
Carl Shurboff, President and COO of AKHAN Semiconductor adds, “With real-time results monitored through low-cost meters, our Bio-FET concept can be calibrated for this and other virus targets in both gas and liquid suspensions, focusing on end applications in point of care and environmental/enclosed room monitoring. With our cleanroom facility operational, we are capable of rapidly prototyping and developing this technology platform.”
In an effort to rapidly develop and proliferate its technology globally, the company says it is exploring partnerships with researchers and businesses working on biosensor applications for diagnostic systems targeting SARS-CoV-2.
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