Objective
Analysis systems allowing highly sensitive, selective and rapid determination of key analytes such as neurotransmitters are of vital interest for medical research, especially for the elucidation of brain function. The elucidation of the chemical background of cell-to-cell communication would contribute to understand the fundaments of some neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer, Parkinson), the memory and learning process, or to evaluate the neurotoxic effects of different drugs. Adequate information in real time about the altered concentration of key neurotransmitters (e.g. glutamate) would possibly lead to new efficient therapies. To address these aspects is motivated not only from a scientific, but also from an economic and social point of view, since the increase of aged population resulted in an increased percentage of patients suffering from the above mentioned diseases, causing exorbitant costs to the healthcare systems and painful emotional stresses to patients, relatives and personnel involved in medical care.
An ideal analysis system should allow sampling from a defined brain area and should yield a continuous, selective and highly sensitive signal within milliseconds. Neither the existing classical analytical methods nor the reported biosensors fulfil entirely these requirements. Glutamate is known to play a vital role in these processes but its functional mechanism is not fully elucidated since the existing analytical methods do not permit its real-time and localised monitoring. Therefore the present project targets the development of a novel microanalysis system for timely, selective and highly sensitive monitoring of glutamate and its validation in two different neurobiological research areas. The envisaged microanalysis system is composed by a specially designed micro-chambered dual electrode cell integrated with highly sensitive and selective micro-biosensors based an redox polymer-entrapped glutamate oxidase.
The project will focus on the development and characterisation of each structural element of the analysis system expressed in five main tasks namely:
- construction of the novel micro-chambered, dual electrode cell which will allow a redundant and localised monitoring both from model solutions and brain slices;
- bioengineering and characterisation of a novel glutamate oxidase with improved selectivity and stability;
- engineering of an efficient electron-transfer pathway between enzyme and electrode surface via novel highly permeable redox polymers based on osmium and/or ruthenium complexes to be synthesised and evaluated;
- sensor development using the novel enzyme and redox polymers
- miniaturisation of enzyme electrodes and their integration into a scanning electrochemical microscope for visualization.
Additionally the developed novel micro-analysis system will be tested and evaluated in two model neurobiological experiments, focusing on the elucidation of
(i) the memory and learning process (imprinting) and;
(ii) neurotoxic effects of amphetamin-like drugs.
The outcome of the project is important both for fundamental (e.g. isolation and production of novel enzyme, engineering of electron-transfer pathways, synthesis of novel redox polymers) and applied research (development of a redundant analysis system with integrated biosensors for medical application).
The expected results will go far beyond the hereby presented exemplary applications in neurobiological experiments, since
(i) will bring novel enzymes and mediator on the market;
(ii) will spin-off the development of other analytical fields not only in clinical analysis, but also environmental control and;
(iii) will promote micro-scaled research via the development of novel microtools (e.g. immobilization methods, visualization).
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Data not available
Coordinator
44780 Bochum
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.