Design and Simulation of a Microcantilever based Sensor for Thalassemia screening in the UAE

DOI: 10.5176/2251-2489_ BioTech14.38

Authors: Reenu Anne Joy, Adarsh Venkataraman Ganesan, Kiran Menon, Seba Sara Varghese, S.Swaminathan, K.K. Singh, Trupti Gokhale, Neeru Sood

Abstract: Detection and diagnosis of genetic disorders is a laborious, expensive and time consuming process in the healthcare sector. Due to these reasons, genetic counseling hasn’t gained popularity in most countries in spite of its possible life-saving implications. The advancements in molecular diagnostics have helped in better diagnosis and therapy of numerous diseases. MEMS based systems, which require low reagent volumes and provides results rapidly with high specificity and sensitivity have proven to be an attractive alternative. In this study, microcantilever based biosensor was designed and simulated for detection and screening of β-thalassemia, a prominent genetic disorder in the United Arab Emirates. The genetic mutations associated with this disease vary between regions and ethnic backgrounds [1] [2]. This biosensor has been designed specifically to detect the mutations associated with β-Thalassemia among the local UAE population. The simulations were performed in COMSOL, based on the study of different mutations of the β-globin gene and the effect of immobilization of probes on a microcantilever.

Keywords: Thalassemia, COMSOL, Biosensor, Microcantilevers