Newswise — MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University and Tecport Optics of Orlando, Florida, have entered into a licensing agreement to commercialize the university’s biosensor technology as a medical diagnostic tool for research labs and point-of-care health professionals. “The biosensor technology, which can be applied in the development of a variety of new and innovative sensing equipment, has the capability of revolutionizing medical diagnostics,” said MTSU professor Bill Robertson, the inventor and a member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty. An interdisciplinary team from MTSU including Drs. Robertson, Steve Wright (biology), and Andrienne Friedli (chemistry) developed the new technology with support from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security. “The growth o­­f personalized medicine creates a pressing need for faster and better ways of diagnosing diseases and individual responses to pharmaceutical treatment,” he added. “In addition, drug discovery can be shortened when a rapid (and) more accurate way of screening for biological changes can be used in the process.” The technology is based on specially designed multilayers, alternating thin films of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide of precise thicknesses coated on a glass microscope slide. These multilayers support electromagnetic waves that travel along the surface and detect extremely small changes, such as the addition of one layer of protein or antibody molecules on slide surfaces. On appropriately prepared slides, such changes could indicate the identifiable markers of specific diseases. “With the increase of disease-resistant bacteria and new strains of viruses killing over 700,000 people worldwide each year, speeding up the drug discovery process is an urgent priority,” Robertson said. Dr. Nabil El-Hag, Tecport’s vice chairman and architect of the strategic relationship, said, “The long-term goal is to use biosensor technology as a mainstay in point-of-care medical diagnostics, not only in doctors’ offices and clinics, but in the local drugstore. This represents an opportunity to participate in the fast-growing $40 billion-plus medical diagnostic market. “In Third World countries, where access to health care is often inaccessible, our biosensor technology could speed up and reduce the cost of diagnosis and treatment,” he said. Tecport’s “cold plasma” thin film technology allows affordable fabrication of the multilayers, so that they can be used as a disposable supply for a biosensor. About Tecport Founded in 1977, Tecport designs, manufacturers, sells and services state-of-the-art thin film vacuum deposition systems to customers across the globe. Tecport builds reliable, efficient and flexible coating systems customized to meet the technical specifications of a variety of industries. Both suppliers and customers recognize Tecport for its product quality, customer service and technical innovations. For more information, visit www.tecportoptics.com.

About MTSU

Founded in 1911 as one of three state normal schools for teacher training, Middle Tennessee State University is the oldest and largest undergraduate university in the Tennessee Board of Regents System. With a fall enrollment averaging more than 22,000 students for the past five years, MTSU remains committed to providing individualized service in an exciting and nurturing atmosphere where student success is the top priority. MTSU features eight undergraduate colleges and the College of Graduate Studies, and more than 150 programs and departments including accounting, aerospace, Concrete Industry Management, music and recording industry. Offering a wide variety of nationally recognized programs at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels, MTSU takes pride in educating the best and the brightest students from Tennessee and around the world. For more information, call 615-898-2300, visit http://mtsu.edu/ or www.mtsunews.com. Follow MTSU on Twitter @MTSUNews and like us on Facebook.