1. Miniaturized Silicon Nanowire System for the In Vivo Diagnosis of Disease
R. Myers, L. Rivera, Y. He, Z. Li and J. Villalba

2. Technical Need
46% of all cancer patients are diagnosed when cancer has reached an advanced stage
Current cancer diagnostic techniques are invasive and expensive
Similar Available Technology: Miriam by Miroculus
In vitro detection of disease through blood samples
Drawbacks: long diagnostic time, high price ($500 per device) and size

3. Technical Approach Task 1: Biomarker Screening
If Benchmark Biomarker fails
Task 2: Nanowire Distribution
If Miniaturization fails
Risk Mitigation
Task 3: Miniaturization
Task 4: In Vitro Testing

4. Task 1: Biomarker Screening
Select benchmark biomarker based on:
Sensitivity
Specificity
Size of biomarker- aptamer-cross- linker complex
FDA approved biomarkers from Polanski M., Anderson Leigh N., “A List of Candidate Cancer Biomarkers for Targeted Proteomics”, Biomarker Insights, Volume 1, Pages 1-48 (2007)

5. Task 2: Nanowire Distribution
Manufacture systems by varying manufacturing conditions for CVD and thermal evaporation
Test for sensitivity and specificity
Goal: Determine optimal surface area to nanowire distribution ratio
Aptamer-Biomarker binding by lock-and-key mechanism from De Vico L. et al, “Quantifying signal changes in nano-wire based biosensors”, Nanoscale, Volume 3, Pages (2011)

6. Task 3: Miniaturization
Determine safe implant size range
Scale down current systems based on optimal surface area to nanowire distribution ratio
Re-evaluate project based on results
Silicon Nanowire between source and drain from Hsu S., Tsai C., Hsu W., Lu F., He J., Cheng K., Hsieh S., Wang H., Sun Y. and Tu L., “Fabrication of Silicon Nanowires Field Effect Transistors for Biosensor Applications”, Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC) th Annual Northeast, Pages 5-6 (2012)

7. Task 4: In Vitro Testing
Test sensitivity to ensure proper functionality of miniaturized system
Ensure that miniaturized system will:
Be resistant to clogging
Allow filtration by biomarker size
Ensure laminar flow
Maintain mechanical and conductive integrity
Microfluidic channel for silicon nanowire biosensor from Leydent M.T., Schuman C., Sharf T., Kevek J., Remcho V.T. and Minot E.D., “Fabrication and Characterization of Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors”, Organic Semiconductors in Sensors and Bioelectronics III, Conference Volume 7779 (2010)

8. Project Timeline

9. Project Cost and Deliverables
Research plan and outcomes will be presented and updated at the end of each task
Will provide a working prototype of a miniaturized silicon nanowire biosensor to monitor biomarker levels in blood plasma
Prototype will be ready for integration into applications for In Vivo testing
Project cost distribution. Total estimated cost for 4-year research project is $1,295,682

10. Social and Economic Impact
Will allow for focus of resources on treatment instead of diagnosis
Early diagnosis system save thousands of lives and up to $16 billion in healthcare costs within the first five years
Opportunities for project growth by partnerships with medical research teams and insurance providers

11. There is no time to waste!
Early diagnostic procedures save lives and save money!