Archer Experimenting With Biochip gFET Sensors to Test for CKD

Semiconductor company Archer Materials Limited is conducting experiments to detect and monitor chronic kidney disease on its biochip graphene field effect transistor (gFET) sensors.

Through one of its foundry partners, Archer has established a process that directly grows graphene surfaces to produce superior devices, rather than transferring the graphene to a device from a wafer, as previously done. Researchers have tested the devices by storing them in normal air conditions over a 2-month period, during which no significant degradation in performance occurred. This testing addresses a common concern that devices not stored in a nitrogen-controlled environment or vacuum normally degrade and eventually cannot be used.

Archer can now prepare graphene surfaces with molecules selective to the targets it aims to sense. Initial experiments demonstrate that the team can decorate the devices with species that selectively bind with atoms, or ions like potassium, an important chemical in monitoring patients with CKD.

Next, Archer plans to produce first-demonstrator data on detection of relevant ions in liquid, which is the initial step to begin the development of at-home sensing and monitoring of elements like potassium for renal patients.