CMOS-based low-cost quantum dot camera for fast and efficient molecular detection

There is currently an emerging trend in biosensor design that utilize bio-conjugated nanoparticles, with magnetic and optical properties, to provide efficient performance for immunoassay, molecular and cell separation and... [ view full abstract ]

There is currently an emerging trend in biosensor design that utilize bio-conjugated nanoparticles, with magnetic and optical properties, to provide efficient performance for immunoassay, molecular and cell separation and detection. These nanoparticles have found many potential use in molecular or cell-based diagnostics for infectious diseases and cancer. In these applications, it is essential to be able to monitor and detect these nanoparticles efficiently and preferably in real time, using fluorescence and chemiluminescence signaling principles. In this work, we report the design and construction of a muti-fluorescence channel camera for detecting kinetically the activities of quantum dot-labeled nanoparticles in a microfluidic chip carrier. Based-on the latest ultra-low-light CMOS image sensor chip and LED, we demonstrate a miniaturized camera that can detect quantum dot-labeled nanoparticles with good sensitivity, selectivity and superior speed. In our design, high efficiency multiplexing and high speed detection is achieved by taking advantage of the fact that fluorescence emitting quantum-dot materials have distinct emission spectrum while sharing the same excitation wavelength. This combination of technologies pave the way for potentially low-cost and portable diagnostic platforms for circulating tumor cells and infectious DNA biomarkers in a point-of-care setting.