ASTRI Seminar on DNA Biosensing in CMOS

The seminar entitled “DNA Bionsensing in CMOS: Fact or Fiction?” was organized by Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd. (ASTRI) in Science Park. I attended and summarized key points for sharing.

The speaker was Dr. Derek Ho (Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Materials Science, CityU) and he shared his research included CMOS Microelectronics, Luminescence Imaging, Microsystem Integration and Sensing Nanomaterials. Dr. Ho studied in Vancouver, Canada for his bachelor degree in computer engineer and MSc degree in CMOS RF Integrate Circuits. His PhD studied on DNA Sensors & Image Sensors in Toronto.

His topic included three parts such as Multispectral Imaging (Device Level), Wide dynamic range imaging (Circuit Level) and DNA Fluorescence Imaging (System Level). The following diagram showed the existing techniques with senses limitation on filter array.

Dr. Ho proposed CMOS Color Photogate changed from vertical structure to lateral structure, so as to control spectral response through gate voltage (Core Off or ON).

Then Dr. Ho introduced Fluorescence Sensing Microsystem which would be employed for single-color DNA measurements (green).

Finally, Dr. Ho briefing different applications for DNA Biosensing in CMOS such as Nanostructure-on-Chip Sensor, Ultra-low-voltage Sensor, Chemical/Environmental applications, Emerging Imaging Application, etc. At the end, Dr. Ho concluded that combining different CMOS techniques could determinate DNA sample concentration.

I took a photo with Dr. Derek Ho for memory. (I also graduated in AP Dept., CityU)

Reference:
HKSTPC - http://www.hkstp.org/
ASTRI - http://www.astri.org/main/
Atoms-to-Systems Lab - http://www.atomstosystems.com/