Secure Bio-Engineered Sensors for Healthcare and Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

The objective of this project is to create living sensors which are built from engineered biological systems (microbes or cell-free DNA-based systems) and augmented with secured electronics by combining the benefits of biology (e.g., the unique ability of engineered living systems to sense and report) with the reliability and communication infrastructure of CMOS electronics. These two elements will interface via specifically designed micro-environments (e.g., microfluidics). These hybrid bioelectronic systems are rapidly becoming a crucial technology to help address societal challenges in healthcare for better disease management and environmental monitoring. For instance, these bio-engineered sensors could enable scalable and low-cost wastewater surveillance, allowing for early intervention in community health crises.