Reference: PID2021-124795NB-I00
Funded by: funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF/EU”
Period: 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2024
Summary:
The value of diagnostic platforms has become widely recognised during the covid-19 pandemic. There are many diagnostic tests, such as
PCR and ELISA that allow the diagnosis of a multitude of different diseases. However, these are usually performed in testing laboratories
which are expensive to build and operate. This has inspired much research into the development of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic
platforms such as lateral flow tests and screen printed electrodes; which are now routinely used in covid-19, pregnancy and glucose
detection. However, current POC diagnostic platforms can be improved. Parameters such as price, sensitivity, selectivity, longevity,
biocompatibility, universal availability, production scalability and sustainability can all be bettered. Our research aims to develop and
analyse novel POC biosensing platforms with superior properties to what is currently available.
The funds from this grant will go towards the development of biosensors using nanotechnology. The aim is to develop various POC
sensing platforms and to analyse their performance to determine the disease states for which they are best suited. This can include
cancers, viruses, bacteria, fungi, helminths, prions and pollutants. The ideal biosensing platform must be selected and optimised for each
specific disease; but all platforms will ideally be cheap, sensitive over the required clinical range, fabricated from sustainable materials,
easily manufactured on a large scale and universally available to aid healthcare across the world. These biosensing platforms would
ideally be easily functionalised for novel diseases to improve future pandemic preparedness.
In our lab we have established expertise in nanotechnology for biosensor development. Nanomaterials and nanotechnological advances
are proving to be useful for the development of biosensors with the capability to improve their sensitivities and response times. These are
vital properties for the development of the next generation of POC biosensors. We therefore believe that nanobiosensors, biosensors that
include nanomaterials or use nanotechnology, will be at the forefront of future diagnostics