In health research, it is necessary to determine various biomarkers of the biomolecules to be analysed using multiplexing technologies for effective development processes in the fields of diagnostics and pharmaceutics. To this end, interaction processes between the molecule groups are to be analysed using parallel measurements.

With the help of functionalised carbon nanomembranes on graphene field effect transistors (GraFET) and an electronic circuit for measurement and evaluation, it is possible to determine these biological interactions. If these GraFETs are multiplied with different functionalisation layers, the kinetic binding energies of different biomarkers can be determined in parallel by multiplexing. The measurement is thus scalable and can later enable a low-cost device design.

Research tasks of the project partners

IPHT Jena will develop miniaturised sensor arrays for the multiplex system and FSU Jena will develop highly sensitive graphene with carbon nanomembranes. IMMS will develop the electronic, highly parallelised readout methods and electronics and the FZMB will research the possibilities for detecting the label-free binding of active ingredients and substances in complex biological matrices.

IMMS measurement electronics

The binding of biomarkers on the surface of the GraFET causes charge carriers to accumulate there. This variation correlates with the change in the charge neutrality point (CNP) of the GraFET. To this end, IMMS will develop, construct and characterise measurement electronics that determine the CNP of several GraFETs in parallel.

An automated test setup will then be used to visualise the readout of an up to 100-fold GraFET array in real time on a PC.