Objective This project is designed to address the fundamental marriage between biological molecules and electronic transducers to produce measured signals related to the biological event occurring, (eg. catalysis) . The overall objectives of this full project may be summarised as follows: 1) To bring together materials engineers and biological engineers and form a realistic communication forum to enable efficient intellectual transfer leading to technology development, (multi-disciplinary tasking). 2) To investigate the molecular interfacing of enzymes to electronic surfaces with reference to electronic communication, stability, manufacturability and utility in "real" analytical environments. 3) To explain mechanistically at the molecular level the interfacial conditions and how the surface structure, chemistry and interactions occurring determine macroscopic results obtained. 4) To manufacture laboratory prototype biological sensors and characterise performance parameters. 5) To be able to reproduce the results at a manufacturing level in a commercial environment, with validation and transfer techniques to other systems within the project as they occur and field testing of the sensors produced. In accordance with the recommendations of the commission a limited number of enzymes will be studied to investigate interfacial coupling of biochemical molecules to electronic surfaces. The project will focus on haem-containing peroxidases, a PQQ cofactor quinoprotein - fructose dehydrogenase and a flavoprotein - alcohol oxidase, building on the preliminary results from the exploratory award. To fulfil the objectives stated the project has been sub-divided into 5 tasks: Task 1: Overall content.Biology. * Enzyme structure evaluation (using molecular modelling and structure software * The determination of structure - activity (function) relationships in controlled microenvironments. * The manipulation of enzyme microenvironments to promote stability including immobilization protocols, surface orientation and organic phase partitioning. Task 2: Overall Content.Materials. * Manufacturing of planar sensors and electronic and electrochemical characterization. * Characterization of the physics and chemistry of the transducer surfaces,with respect to structural morphology, nanostructural dimensions and reactivity with the biological molecules used. * Synthesis of new immobilization materials. * Modifications of transducer materials to optimise interfacial communication. Task 3: Overall Content.Interfaces. * The interaction of enzymes with the electrode surfaces and electronic communication (by direct electron transfer or mediated transfer). * Modification methods to manipulate the orientation / communication(including surface modification, novel electronic materials, surface patterning, electro deposition, immobilization procedures, enzyme-polymer complex formation before deposition and electronic surface entrapment). * Studies on the molecular orientation of the 3D structure of the enzymes on the electrode surfaces. Task 4. Overall Content.Industrial Context: * The validation of scale up from laboratory prototype to commercial production. * Field trials of laboratory prototype sensor instrumentation by customers of partners 1 and 2. Task 5. Preparation of Final Report and Standard Procedures. All Partners. The major innovation that goes beyond the state of the art in biosensor technology is the ability to design and manufacture a range of stable biosensors in which the biological molecule remains fully active during manufacture, storage and use and has the correct electrochemical interface with the electronics, to give accurate. reproducible results. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwarenatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistrynatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes Keywords Nanotechnology Programme(s) FP4-BIOTECH 2 - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of biotechnology, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0602 - Interface of structural biology with electronics Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Applied Enzyme Technology Limited EU contribution No data Address Woodhouse Lane LS2 3AR Leeds United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution No data Address Campus UAM Cantoblanco 28049 MADRID See on map Total cost No data Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH Germany EU contribution No data Address Mascheroder Weg 1 38124 Braunschweig See on map Total cost No data Instituto Superior Técnico Portugal EU contribution No data Address Avenida Rovisco Pais 1096 Lisboa See on map Total cost No data LUND UNIVERSITY Sweden EU contribution No data Address Professorgatan 1 221 00 LUND See on map Total cost No data Trace Analysensysteme GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address 1B,Mascheroder weg 1B 38100 Braunschweig See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF ALCALA Spain EU contribution No data Address S/N,Carretera N-II, Km 33 S/N, Campus Universitario 28871 ALCALA DE HENARES See on map Total cost No data