Rapid genetic screening with high quality factor metasurfaces.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Current genetic analysis methods like PCR and NGS are costly and time-consuming due to sample amplification requirements.
• Existing technologies often rely on fluorescence or absorbance, limiting speed and increasing complexity.
• There is a need for faster, more efficient, and cost-effective genetic screening platforms.

Approach:

• Developed a label-free genetic screening platform utilizing high-quality (high-Q) factor silicon nanoantennas.
• Functionalized nanoantennas with nucleic acid fragments to create dense arrays (160,000 pixels/cm$^2$).
• Leveraged localized electromagnetic field enhancements for sensitive and specific DNA hybridization detection.

Key Points:

• Achieved femtomolar concentration detection of SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments (E and ORF1b) using nanoantennas with an average Q factor of 2,200.
• Demonstrated high specificity sensing in clinical nasopharyngeal samples within 5 minutes.
• Platform is amplification-free, enabling rapid, compact, and high-throughput multiplexed genetic screening.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanoantenna platform offers a foundation for advanced medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
• This label-free approach significantly reduces processing time and cost compared to traditional methods.
• Enables rapid, sensitive, and specific genetic analysis for diverse applications.