Large-area realization of graphene micro-patterns using semiconductor processes
Detectable trace amounts of protein present in a single drop of blood

Recently, a domestic research team developed a technology to fabricate high-sensitivity biosensors capable of diagnosing various diseases by realizing graphene, known as the "dream material," into a large-area panel (4-inch wafer).

A team led by Dr. Kyo-Seon Hwang of the Bio-Microsystems Research Group at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Lee Byung-kwon) fabricated a graphene biosensor with a precisely implemented pattern of tens of micrometers (100,000 to 1/1,000,000 of a meter) by applying semiconductor process technology.

This sensor can determine the presence or absence of disease by identifying the amount of specific proteins contained in a single drop of blood through a blood test. In particular, the graphene sensor has excellent sensitivity, allowing for the rapid and accurate detection of minute amounts (picograms (pg/mL) * one trillionth of a gram) of biomarkers (disease marker proteins) in the blood, thereby enabling fluid diagnosis of various diseases.

For the commercialization of developed sensor technology, not only must sensor performance, such as sensitivity and reproducibility, be excellent, but a fabrication method that lowers production costs by implementing sensors over large areas is also crucial. In this regard, the graphene biosensor fabrication technology presented here can be considered a candidate for commercialization that has secured the feasibility of large-area implementation.

Graphene biosensors are expected to enable the easy and rapid diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia, a representative aging disease, by detecting minute amounts of beta-amyloid protein present in the blood. The possibility of diagnosing dementia via blood was confirmed using the blood of transgenic (TG) mice and wild-type (WT) mice, and the research team has currently secured clinical trial data capable of distinguishing between healthy individuals and patients.

This research was conducted as a representative example of convergence research, involving joint studies on genetically modified mice with Dr. Young-soo Kim's research team at KIST and basic performance evaluation of graphene sensor fabrication with Professor Seok-tae Jang's team at Chung-Ang University. Dr. Kyo-seon Hwang's team, which has experience transferring technology for a dementia blood diagnostic system developed earlier this year to a company, is accelerating follow-up research to achieve commercialization by evaluating the potential for early diagnosis of various diseases, including not only dementia but also cancer, diabetes, and depression.

Dr. Hwang Kyo-seon of KIST stated, “This research result is significant in that it brings us one step closer to the commercialization of high-sensitivity sensors capable of diagnosing various diseases through the simple method of blood testing, and lays the technical foundation for implementation on large surfaces.” He added, “We plan to conduct clinical research in cooperation with domestic and international clinical institutions to verify the applicability to various diseases.”

It is expected that once this technology is commercialized, anyone will be able to conveniently diagnose diseases, including various incurable diseases, through blood tests.

This research was conducted with support from KIST’s proprietary Future Source Technology Development Project and Open Research Program (ORP), as well as the Disease Overcoming Technology Development Project implemented by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the results were published in the online edition of the world-renowned scientific journal 'Scientific Reports' on August 10.