Objective
- To develop a system for monitoring the extent of pollution of water resources based on low-cost, highly sensitive amperometric biosensor instrumentation that utilises biological recognition components (chelators and antibodies) in intimate contact with electrode surfaces for signal transduction and pollutant determination. The pollutants which will be considered are heavy metal ions, pesticides and bacteria;
- To develop a user-friendly, compact and reliable instrument for field use.
- The major objective of identification and synthesis of compounds that displayed suitable electrochemistry to be used as specific chelators for heavy metal ions resulted in the development of electrodes for Cu, Cd, Al and Pb. These are presently being incorporated into the disposable electrodes by both screen printing and ink-jet printing techniques and are available for in-field testing.
- A second major objective has seen the development of a one-step, separation-free, electrochemical immunosensor system for the bacteria Escherichia coli c600, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis. These have been demonstrated and have been adapted for use in conjunction with disposable screen-printed electrodes. This approach has been published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
- In a third major objective, a new immunosensor system for one-step immunoassay of pesticides such as atrazine has been developed. The immunosensor employs a competitive immunoassay with glucose oxidase-pesticide conjugates and direct electron transfer to horseradish peroxidase immobilised at an electrode surface.
- Electrochemical biosensor instrumentation has been constructed and is undergoing evaluation in Malta.
- Design, synthesis and testing of metal-specific complexing agents suitable for immobilisation on printed disposable electrodes for voltammetric analysis of heavy metal pollution;
- Development of electrochemical immunosensors for measurement of pesticide and bacterial contamination. The biological recognition elements (antibodies) were to be immobilised at or near the surface of disposable electrodes and two approaches to electrochemical detection of enzyme label activity assessed and optimised. Horseradish peroxidase to be used as the enzyme label for bacterial immunosensors and glucose oxidase for pesticide immunosensors;
- Manufacture of generic disposable printed electrodes which could be employed in all aspects of the project simply by changing the surface recognition components;
- Development of low-cost instrumentation.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
NE2 4HH Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom