Making Mini-Thunderstorm in Lab: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Technology for Advanced Biosensor Fabrication

Visualize the arc as an artificially produced mini-thunderstorm in this picture. This arc is a fourth state of matter known as plasma, a phenomenon we can observe in nature's thunderstorms and the northern lights (aurora). In our lab, we have harnessed this natural wonder to create Atmospheric Pressure (APP), a versatile dry technology that is a powerful technique for creating functional structures. Immobilizing biomolecules on these structures is a key step in introducing bioactivity, enabling them to perform valuable functions. These functions have wide-ranging applications, from medical devices like implants to our particular interest in biosensors. In our particular interest in biosensing devices, the biomolecules need to be bound strongly enough to remain in place for the duration of the intended function to sense a target. Commonly, covalent immobilization forms one of the strongest bonds between a biosensor surface and the biomolecules. Typically, this type of immobilization involves the use of harsh wet chemical reactions. APP is a dry surface treatment technique that can provide the same strong covalent immobilization of biomolecules on a sensor device.