Final Report Summary - PEPTIDE NANOSENSORS (Development of Electrochemical Peptide Nanosensors <br/>for protein and antibody detection)
The overriding goal of this project was the development of novel reagent-less peptide based sensors for the detection of multiple diagnostic proteins. The approach was predicted to be rapid, specific, convenient, and critically, selective enough to be employed directly in blood serum and whole blood.
The two main objectives of this project can be summarized as follows:
1) Research objective: the project was aimed to use peptide probes as recognition elements in a sensing platform for the reagent-less electrochemical detection of proteins.
2) Training and Collaborative objectives: During the project scientists were expected to be trained on crucial aspects of sensing field and a net of international collaboration was expected to be reinforced.
The project’s objective was thus to allow the exchange of knowledge and expertise through training visiting periods of early stage and experienced researchers. The training involved each single aspect of sensor development. This project was also intended to help the integration and collaboration among the research teams and the establishment of a long-term collaboration between Europe and key Third Countries (US, China, Morocco).
Despite the involvement of several partners from third countries (China, Morocco, USA), the consortium was able to solve most of the practical problems that occurred during the course of the project and the deliverables expected were achieved. This was possible through an important work of project management. The management of the project was a responsibility of the group leaders and in particular of partner 1 (UTV). Periodic conference calls and exchange of e-mails were established to coordinate the exchange visits in terms of research objectives and practical accommodation. Every time that the forecasted visiting periods was delayed for practical reasons alternative solutions by involving new scientists or by modifying the date of exchange were found. In this perspective the seconded researcher was prepared in order to have a smooth settlement in the shortest possible time. This was crucial to start as soon as possible the training and experimental work. This management allowed to reach the expected results in terms of training and scientific accomplishments.
Despite this, certain secondments that were forecasted in the proposal were not performed during the project.
In fact, due to both organization problems and to scientific reasons, some minor modifications have been introduced with respect to the original work plan. Of note such modifications did not:
a) Increase the total secondment of 102 researchers months
b) Change the original scope and objectives of the project
c) Change the overall balance of the secondments EU/TC and within EU.
d) Affect the achievement of the deliverables and milestones foreseen for the project period.
In the modifications that occurred during the project some of the secondments started in slightly different months than those expected in Annex I and some of the secondments were performed in different fashions that those reported in the Annex I.
At the end of the project 6.12 months of seconded visits from Europe to third countries were not performed. So, in total the 94% of the expected visits were performed. This allowed to reach the deliverables foreseen for the project period.
During the project’s period from May 2012 to April 2015 the joint work performed under the Peptide Nanosensor project produced important results in terms of training and scientific accomplishments.
During these 36 months project 32 researchers (experienced and early stage) for a total of 95.88 months performed visiting periods (secondments) to participating labs. Each researcher was fully trained in the field of the project and also received further general training through seminars, conferences, courses etc.
To summarize, the seconded researchers were trained in the following important fields and techniques:
1) Stopped-flow methods, CD and NMR (Trainer Univ. California, Santa Barbara)
2) Electrochemical methods for surface study of SAM (Square Wave Voltammetry) (trainer Univ. of Rome, Tor Vergata).
3) Electrochemical methods (trainer Univ. of Rome, Tor Vergata).
4) Surface analysis techniques (TIRF, TIRE and AFM) (trainer Univ. of Kent).
5) Techniques for electrochemical characterization of gold nanoparticles, graphene, carbon nanotubes and gold and silver nanowires (trainer ICN).
6) procedures for sensor testing and validation with clinical samples (trainer Univ. of Mohammedia).
The seconded researchers, as planned in the Annex I, were also trained in more general experiences that involved the preparation of presentations in group meetings, journal clubs, language trainings and laboratory management.
The seconded researchers also achieved important scientific results and allowed to reach most of the expected deliverables of the project.
For example, visits at the participating laboratory of prof. Kevin W. Plaxco at the University of California, Santa Barbara, resulted in characterization of model peptides and training on peptide folding purification and modification.
At the university of Rome, Tor Vergata, the seconded researchers achieved good results in the modification of gold electrodes (screen printed and conventional) with different redox labels (especially methylene blue) and in the analytical characterization of electrochemical sensors.
At the university of Kent the seconded researchers were involved in surface analysis techniques that could be used for peptide SAM sensing while at the Institut Catalan de Nanotecnologie (ICN) the use of gold nanopartciles and other nanomaterials for electrochemical sensing was evaluated and studied.
Finally, the partner in Morocco (laboratory headed by Prof. A. Amine) hosted researchers that evaluate the analytical performances of the sensors.
The high quality of the results achieved during the project is demonstrated by the publications in high-impact journals produced in journals such as Journal of American Chemical Society and Nano Letters. The results were also presented in several international conferences (such as 6th European Conference on Chemistry in Life Sciences and 18th edition of EuroAnalysis. The European Conference on Analytical Chemistry).
Different electrochemical and optical sensors were developed during this project. Because of the possible applicability in the field of clinical analysis and point-of-care diagnostics, these sensors might have important potential use and could help in terms of health improvement.
The socio-economic impacts of project are several folds: the project has strengthen and internationalized several research networks and built up an international research centre of excellence in peptide sensors which can have a great impact for the European Community excellence.
The two main objectives of this project can be summarized as follows:
1) Research objective: the project was aimed to use peptide probes as recognition elements in a sensing platform for the reagent-less electrochemical detection of proteins.
2) Training and Collaborative objectives: During the project scientists were expected to be trained on crucial aspects of sensing field and a net of international collaboration was expected to be reinforced.
The project’s objective was thus to allow the exchange of knowledge and expertise through training visiting periods of early stage and experienced researchers. The training involved each single aspect of sensor development. This project was also intended to help the integration and collaboration among the research teams and the establishment of a long-term collaboration between Europe and key Third Countries (US, China, Morocco).
Despite the involvement of several partners from third countries (China, Morocco, USA), the consortium was able to solve most of the practical problems that occurred during the course of the project and the deliverables expected were achieved. This was possible through an important work of project management. The management of the project was a responsibility of the group leaders and in particular of partner 1 (UTV). Periodic conference calls and exchange of e-mails were established to coordinate the exchange visits in terms of research objectives and practical accommodation. Every time that the forecasted visiting periods was delayed for practical reasons alternative solutions by involving new scientists or by modifying the date of exchange were found. In this perspective the seconded researcher was prepared in order to have a smooth settlement in the shortest possible time. This was crucial to start as soon as possible the training and experimental work. This management allowed to reach the expected results in terms of training and scientific accomplishments.
Despite this, certain secondments that were forecasted in the proposal were not performed during the project.
In fact, due to both organization problems and to scientific reasons, some minor modifications have been introduced with respect to the original work plan. Of note such modifications did not:
a) Increase the total secondment of 102 researchers months
b) Change the original scope and objectives of the project
c) Change the overall balance of the secondments EU/TC and within EU.
d) Affect the achievement of the deliverables and milestones foreseen for the project period.
In the modifications that occurred during the project some of the secondments started in slightly different months than those expected in Annex I and some of the secondments were performed in different fashions that those reported in the Annex I.
At the end of the project 6.12 months of seconded visits from Europe to third countries were not performed. So, in total the 94% of the expected visits were performed. This allowed to reach the deliverables foreseen for the project period.
During the project’s period from May 2012 to April 2015 the joint work performed under the Peptide Nanosensor project produced important results in terms of training and scientific accomplishments.
During these 36 months project 32 researchers (experienced and early stage) for a total of 95.88 months performed visiting periods (secondments) to participating labs. Each researcher was fully trained in the field of the project and also received further general training through seminars, conferences, courses etc.
To summarize, the seconded researchers were trained in the following important fields and techniques:
1) Stopped-flow methods, CD and NMR (Trainer Univ. California, Santa Barbara)
2) Electrochemical methods for surface study of SAM (Square Wave Voltammetry) (trainer Univ. of Rome, Tor Vergata).
3) Electrochemical methods (trainer Univ. of Rome, Tor Vergata).
4) Surface analysis techniques (TIRF, TIRE and AFM) (trainer Univ. of Kent).
5) Techniques for electrochemical characterization of gold nanoparticles, graphene, carbon nanotubes and gold and silver nanowires (trainer ICN).
6) procedures for sensor testing and validation with clinical samples (trainer Univ. of Mohammedia).
The seconded researchers, as planned in the Annex I, were also trained in more general experiences that involved the preparation of presentations in group meetings, journal clubs, language trainings and laboratory management.
The seconded researchers also achieved important scientific results and allowed to reach most of the expected deliverables of the project.
For example, visits at the participating laboratory of prof. Kevin W. Plaxco at the University of California, Santa Barbara, resulted in characterization of model peptides and training on peptide folding purification and modification.
At the university of Rome, Tor Vergata, the seconded researchers achieved good results in the modification of gold electrodes (screen printed and conventional) with different redox labels (especially methylene blue) and in the analytical characterization of electrochemical sensors.
At the university of Kent the seconded researchers were involved in surface analysis techniques that could be used for peptide SAM sensing while at the Institut Catalan de Nanotecnologie (ICN) the use of gold nanopartciles and other nanomaterials for electrochemical sensing was evaluated and studied.
Finally, the partner in Morocco (laboratory headed by Prof. A. Amine) hosted researchers that evaluate the analytical performances of the sensors.
The high quality of the results achieved during the project is demonstrated by the publications in high-impact journals produced in journals such as Journal of American Chemical Society and Nano Letters. The results were also presented in several international conferences (such as 6th European Conference on Chemistry in Life Sciences and 18th edition of EuroAnalysis. The European Conference on Analytical Chemistry).
Different electrochemical and optical sensors were developed during this project. Because of the possible applicability in the field of clinical analysis and point-of-care diagnostics, these sensors might have important potential use and could help in terms of health improvement.
The socio-economic impacts of project are several folds: the project has strengthen and internationalized several research networks and built up an international research centre of excellence in peptide sensors which can have a great impact for the European Community excellence.