Objective
Inflammation and bacterial infection are frequently accompanied by increased levels of host and bacterial proteases. Transducer technology for a generic sensing platform capable of monitoring a range of serine proteases and matrix metalloproteinases will b e developed. The sensing platform, a combination of smart materials and an innovative transducer system, will provide a diagnostic tool for studying the mechanisms involved in inflammatory diseases and monitoring of inflammation at the point of care. Detection of proteases will be based on the enzymatic degradation of thin films. To achieve specificity for different proteases, arrays of hydrogels cross-linked with short peptide sequences will be synthesised on the transducer surface.
The rate of degradation is directly related to the enzyme activity. Hydrogel degradation will be monitored using novel transducer technology to be derived from an impedance imaging technique, Scanning Photo-induced Impedance Microscopy (SPIM). SPIM is based on photocurrent measurements at silicon/insulator/electrolyte structures. In this project the sensitivity of this technique will be pushed to its limit by optimising the silicon/insulator substrate. Hydrogel arrays will be produced on the optimised substrate.
The feasibility of the sensor concept will be tested by measuring the response of the hydrogels to mixtures of proteases implicated in periodontal inflammation using SPIM. This technology has the advantage that it enables us to interrogate a number of different polymers, all of which respond differently to various proteases, in parallel and in real time. Data analysis will be carried out using pattern recognition. SPIM is not only useful for sensor applications but also as a research tool for characterisation of new materials and biological samples. An increase in the sensitivity of the technique opens up a range of new areas of applications such as high-throughput screening of the dielectric properties of new materials.
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.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence pattern recognition
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-7
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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.
IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships
Coordinator
LONDON
United Kingdom
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.