Microelectromechanical sensors are essential components in all walks of life. However, bringing biospecific elements into miniaturized sensors has been a challenge, obstructing the development of bioanalytical applications. BIOASSEMBLER project aims to change this by developing key enabling technologies for producing silicon-based multiplexed biosensors rapidly and cost-effectively. This could transform semiconductor-based biosensor industries in Europe.
Microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS) are used in endless applications in different fields such as transportation, telecommunication and consumer electronics. Biosensing is another highly potential application area for MEMS sensors, but so far it has been difficult and costly to assemble biomolecules into semiconductor-based sensor chips.
BIOASSEMBLER project strives to change this. It aims to produce a new generation of biosensors manufactured through bio-intelligent processes, marrying silicon with biomolecules and bringing MEMS sensors and biotechnology together in a novel bio-inspired self-assembly process.
Biomolecular self-assembly enables rapid, scalable biofunctionalization of MEMS sensor chips. This will allow for the first time the simultaneous deposition of tens of different biomolecules into thousands of exact, predetermined positions on a silicon wafer. The innovative wafer-level biofunctionalization, combined with a novel encapsulation process, will significantly lower the production costs of bioMEMS sensors. These industrial, repeatable, and low-cost processes are also suitable for mass manufacturing.
As a result, bioMEMS can become more widely used for different sensing applications. For example, these small sensors could simultaneously measure multiple biomarkers - biomolecules associated with health and disease - in small droplets of biological fluids such as blood or urine. Multiplexing (i.e. measuring several biomarkers in parallel) would open up vast possibilities in different bioanalytical applications, such as professional healthcare (infectious disease biomarkers), food and agriculture (antibiotics, mold toxins), law enforcement (drug testing) or environmental monitoring (water quality).
MEMS sensors are produced by microelectromechanical systems technology on the surface of silicon wafers. The technology requires large investments in highly sophisticated clean room facilities. This has led to the concentration of the sensor manufacturing business to few big players, many operating in Asia. BIOASSEMBLER project aims to change this scenario by creating new bio-inspired assembly technology for scalable manufacturing of biosensors in semiconductor fabrication platforms. This will aid in gaining technological leadership for the semiconductor industry in Europe.
BIOASSEMBLER also mobilises expertise from the Social Sciences and Humanities in the social and economic assessment of the technological innovations to foster the project's potential to establish sustainable innovation principles, while enabling the transformation of industry in the EU and the sustainable promotion of value creation. The project will also develop innovative strategies for a science-society linkage to engage different social actors - e.g. environmentalists, farmers, students, policy makers - contributing to the advancement of science policies and a more informed society.
