Descrizione del progetto
Piattaforme per il rilevamento di anticorpi basate sul DNA volte ad agevolare la diagnosi
Il rilevamento degli anticorpi svolge un ruolo determinante nella diagnosi di numerose patologie, tra cui le malattie oncologiche, autoimmuni e infettive. Il progetto DNA-NANO-AB, finanziato dall’UE, propone lo sviluppo di nanodispositivi elettrochimici rapidi, intuitivi, sensibili ed economici basati sul DNA volti al rilevamento di anticorpi clinicamente rilevanti che potrebbero essere introdotti come applicazioni decentrate. Il progetto raggiungerà il suo obiettivo tramite la progettazione razionale e la produzione di piattaforme monouso di sensori basate sul DNA, in cui il rilevamento di anticorpi specifici sarà potenziato attraverso un approccio di lettura elettrochimico. Le piattaforme sviluppate saranno caratterizzate, ottimizzate e testate utilizzando livelli di immunoglobulina in campioni rappresentativi reali.
Obiettivo
WHY: Antibody detection plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of many human disorders including infectious, autoimmune, and oncological diseases. Unfortunately, current methods routinely used for the detection of these biomarkers still require sophisticated equipment, washing intensive, reagent-intensive multi-step processes. In attempt to overcome the cited limitations, it’s mandatory find new approaches for the sensitive detection of antibodies.
WHAT: DNA-NANO-AB proposes the development of DNA-based novel, rapid, user friendly, robust, sensitive and low cost electrochemical NANOdevices for orthogonal multiplex detection of antibodies that may be advantageous over existing methods for the detection of clinically-relevant antibodies and could be well-positioned for point-of-care applications.
I will achieve this goal by rationally designing and fabricating disposable DNA-based sensing platforms in which the detection of specific antibodies will be signaled, and amplified, through an electrochemical read-out approach. The developed platforms will be characterized, optimized and then tested for the dosage of immunoglobulins levels directly in real representative samples.
HOW: During the fellowship I will undertake a training program to develop skills and acquire expertise in molecular biology, electrochemical biosensor and DNA Nanotechnology. To achieve these objectives, I will combine the different scientific backgrounds and expertise of two leading scientists: Prof. Plaxco (University of California Santa Barbara), a world-wide expert in electrochemical biosensors, and Prof. Ricci (University of Rome, Tor Vergata), a young researcher active at the forefront of DNA nanotechnology for diagnostic and drug-delivery applications. Thanks to this MSC Fellowship, I will diversify my scientific knowledge and acquire cutting-edge competences as well as complementary skills, which will become the foundation of my scientific independence.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistry
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNA
- engineering and technologynanotechnology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
00133 Roma
Italia