Speaker: Sufi Zafar, Ph.D., IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Title: Nanoelectronic Sensors for Healthcare
Abstract: Miniaturized, high sensitivity, high resolution and real-time biosensors have the potential to bring transformative advances in healthcare. This talk focuses on electronic chemical/bio sensors with applications in mobile sensing and early disease diagnostics. I will discuss the results for recently proposed novel biosensors with significantly enhanced sensitivity, resolution and response time, in comparison to those discussed in the litertaure.1,2 Unlike existing sensors, the proposed sensors have an inherently simpler one-point calibration procedure and can continuously measure analytes from both aqueous solutions and solid mediums (e.g. tissue, soil). Hence, the new sensors are not only a sensitive research tool but also a superior option for mobile sensing applications such as wearables and implants. Using these sensors, experimental results for sensing of chloride in sweat,1 DNA hybridization,3 enzymatic reactions and soil pH will be discussed. Additionally, I will discuss our recent results on nanowire field effect transistor sensors for early disease diagnosis.4 Challenges associated with nanofabrication, sensing surface functionalization, protein detection and approaches for resolving them will be discussed. The presentation will conclude with open questions and challenges related to sensor research and development.
References: [1] Sufi Zafar et al, Scientific Reports-Nature Publishing Group, 2017; [2] Sufi Zafar, et al, Applied Physics Lett., 2015; [3] Payel Das and Sufi Zafar, ACS Nano, 2015; [4] Sufi Zafar et al, ACS Nano, 2018.
Bio: Sufi Zafar is a Research Staff Member at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York. She received a Ph.D. in Physics and has extensive interdisciplinary research experience in device based chemical/bio sensors, physics augmented data modelling, nanoscale devices and materials, nanofabrication and semiconductor technology. Her research efforts have resulted in 78 peer-reviewed journal publications, 80 issued/pending patents, technology transfer, internal and external awards/recognitions such as IBM Research Division Award, IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Awards, IBM Master Inventor Award, IEEE Society senior member and American Physical Society (APS) fellow.