Objective The goal of this project is to develop low-cost, label-free biomolecular detectors/sentinels by integrating concepts and methods from bionanotechnology and microelectronics. More specifically, the project aims to design, fabricate, test and validate a biomorphic hybrid technology by which biological self-assembling structures are interfaced with advanced electronic circuits for signal detection, amplification and conditioning. So doing, we exploit the strength of biotechnology to achieve a very high sensitivity and selectivity, as well as the great potential of micro- and nano-electronics to address system miniaturization, low-power consumption, and low cost. The approach is based on arrays of independent and electrically addressable micro-spots where functional lipid bilayers are self-assembled either in structured micron- scale apertures, or in artificial nanometric pores. Membrane functionalization is determined by embedding bioengineered ion channels or receptors in the lipid bilayers, to achieve highly specific interactions with target molecules. The array is organized so as to couple each spot with a smart and miniaturized electronic interface for the detection, amplification and conditioning of the signals produced by the transmembrane ion fluxes induced by the target molecules. An additional goal of this approach is to boost the overall system performance by means of advanced data processing and storage architectures. An important objective of the proposal will be the evaluation and the assessment of the technology as a valuable platform in health applications with respect to state of the art counterparts. For this purpose, validation exercises will be undertaken within the program, using different kinds of receptors for several applications. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsmicroelectronicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloidsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processing Keywords Nanotechnology Risk Assessment Programme(s) FP6-NMP - Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NMP-2004-IST-NMP-2 - Bio-sensors for Diagnosis and Healthcare Call for proposal FP6-2004-IST-NMP-2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA Address Via zamboni 33 Bologna Italy See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all SILICON BIOSYSTEMS SPA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Viale ercolani 3 Bologna See on map Links Website Opens in new window COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE (CEA) France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 31-33 rue de la fédération Paris See on map Links Website Opens in new window CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS) France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 3, rue michel-ange Paris See on map Links Website Opens in new window UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address University road, highfield Southampton See on map Links Website Opens in new window NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS Greece EU contribution € 0,00 Address Christou lada 6 Athens See on map Links Website Opens in new window SOCIÉTÉ DE PHARMACOLOGIE ET D'IMMUNOLOGIE-BIO France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Avenue ampere, 10 bis Montigny-le bretonneux See on map Links Website Opens in new window