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Directly Interfaced And Micro Or Nanostructured Detection Systems

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.

Keywords

Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Applied Enzyme Technology Limited
EU contribution
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Address
Woodhouse Lane
LS2 3AR Leeds
United Kingdom

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Total cost
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Participants (6)