Modern Advancements in Electrochemical Sensing with Low-cost, Adaptable & Portable Microfluidic Platforms
Presented Thursday, June 11th, 2026
This webinar focuses on the Dr. Charles Henry's multi-decade effort to take medical testing out of traditional laboratories and bring it directly to the point of care. To create cheap, portable, and highly accurate diagnostic tools, the lab combines capillary flow—which moves fluids naturally without expensive mechanical pumps or valves—with electrochemistry to provide precise electrical readouts. This approach is being applied to a wide range of global health issues, from infectious diseases to acute trauma and cancer monitoring.
In the area of infectious diseases, the lab developed a two-dollar disposable test designed for early HIV detection. While standard at-home tests look for antibodies that take months to form, this device uses magnetic beads and a unique fluidic design to detect a specific viral protein within days of infection. This rapid timeline opens up a critical window for early, effective medical treatment.
To improve the sensitivity and consistency of these tests, the lab transitioned from standard screen-printed electronics to advanced laser-induced nanocarbon electrodes. By using a standard laser cutter to burn porous, high-surface-area carbon directly onto plastic, they created ultra-sensitive sensors. They successfully paired these laser-printed sensors with a special chemical coating to measure dangerous levels of free hemoglobin in blood, creating a rapid tool for emergency rooms and intensive care units.
Finally, the speaker shared ongoing work in breast cancer monitoring, aiming to track patient response to therapies via the HER2 biomarker. While translating this test to the laser-printed electrodes hit a temporary snag—where material defects in the carbon accidentally caused a high background signal—the lab is actively engineering solutions. Ultimately, the integration of simple fluidics with advanced carbon electronics promises to deliver a new generation of accessible, user-friendly bedside diagnostics.
