����ֱ��

The ����ֱ�� and its partners at the (UNH) are celebrating a newly patented surface-based sensing technology that introduces a novel approach to real-time molecular detection with potential applications in biomanufacturing, environmental monitoring, and pathogen detection and chemical monitoring.

Developed by ����ֱ��’s Eva Rose Balog, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, and UNH’s Jeffrey Halpern, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering, this invention could help determine if biomanufactured cells and tissues, which could be used in advanced therapeutics and other applications, are developing and differentiating correctly.

There is currently no efficient and automated way to measure the levels of signature proteins that serve as proxies for this information. In their patent, the researchers describe a two-dimensional (2D) surface modified with elastin-like polymers (ELPs). These specialized polymers can be engineered to transition between states in response to environmental stimuli — including ligand binding, temperature, pH, ionic strength, and external forces such as light and magnetic fields — offering a dynamic and highly sensitive alternative to traditional detection methods. 

"This patent represents a pivotal advancement in our biosensing research, offering a versatile and responsive platform for real-time molecular detection. We are excited about the potential applications of this technology in various fields, from biomanufacturing to environmental monitoring, and look forward to its impact on improving precision and efficiency in molecular sensing," said Halpern.

“Proteins are nature’s most versatile materials, and we’re leveraging their unique properties to enhance electrochemical sensing,” said Balog. “By integrating genetically encoded polymers into electrochemical sensors, we’re opening new doors for biosensing applications with tunable and responsive materials."

This breakthrough allows for continuous, surface-based molecular detection in real time, potentially reducing the need for time-consuming and costly off-line sample analysis. This process analytical technology has applications in on-site quality control measurements in a wide range of applications including biomanufacturing. The sensor aims to measure proteins in real time, aiding in the monitoring of advanced therapeutics in production or living organs during transportation for transplant. 

A Novel Approach to Surface-Based Molecular Detection with Industry Potential

This patented technology () enables real-time, surface-based molecular detection, providing a pathway to faster and more direct analysis compared to some traditional methods. The electrochemical transduction allows for the direct output of the surface ELP response, which enhances the overall output of a passive electrochemical measurement. The key advantages of this approach include:

• Sensitivity to multiple environmental factors, including pH shifts, temperature variations, and changes in ionic conditions
• Tunable  to chemicals of interest such as proteins or other biomolecules
• Integration with electrochemical sensing techniques, supporting automated and high-throughput monitoring applications
• Industrial sensing: provides a surface-functionalized approach for monitoring chemical changes with increased precision and efficiency

Looking Ahead: The Potential of Smart Surface Technology

By providing a tunable, surface-based, genetically encoded polymer, this patented innovation establishes a new foundation to enhance electrochemical sensing. With its responsiveness to environmental conditions, the technology offers a promising approach for improving precision in chemical and biological monitoring. By manufacturing the genetically encoded polymer in E. coli, it also has the potential to decrease sensor fabrication costs. 

Continuation of this research was supported by a  for advanced manufacturing and biotechnology, with subsequent follow-on funding received from EPSCoR, highlighting the ongoing importance of investment in innovative sensing technologies. ����ֱ�� was one of just five institutions selected to share the near $6 million grant to spearhead the project, known as BIO-SENS.

As this technology moves toward commercialization, the research team welcomes engagement from industry leaders and research collaborators to explore potential applications.  For information about licensing opportunities, please contact .

A New Era of Research Innovation for Maine

The advancement is one of several ways ����ֱ�� and its researchers are emerging as leaders in driving innovation for the state of Maine. 

The University has in recent years expanded its research capacity in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing fields, reflecting ����ֱ��’s evolution from exploration of the basic sciences to industry-focused research with implications to improve human health.

And, with more than 9,800 life sciences jobs currently filled across the state, the patent comes at an opportune time. , demand for jobs in this sector has grown 31% in the last five years, outpacing growth in all of Maine’s total industries (3%).

����ֱ�� represents a significant portion of this growing field. The University has been awarded $18.6 million in NIH awards in the past five years and has consistently ranked as the No. 1 college or university in Maine for NIH funding.

And, in January 2024, ����ֱ�� further cemented its status as a leader in Maine’s biomedical research sphere with the January announcement of a $10.8 million grant to support establishment of the Center for Cell Signaling Research (CCSR), a National of Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). With this second COBRE, ����ֱ�� became the only institution of higher learning in Maine to boast two of the NIH-funded research centers, with Balog as one of five inaugural faculty researchers.

Read more about ����ֱ��’s emergence as a research powerhouse for Maine and the Northeast in the 2024 ����ֱ�� Magazine.