New materials for electrochemical sensors in microfluidic platforms: Application to molecular recognition - MATSENS

Project summary

MATSENS proposal is focused on the development of new electrode surfaces and recognition elements in order to get the next generation of sensitive and low-cost electrochemical biosensors integrated in a portable and user-friendly microfluidic platform. In this sense, materials science and nanotechnologies are useful to improve the electrode surface that will act as electrochemical transducer. Thus, (micro)electrodes will be manufactured in different designs and materials by using thin- & thick-film technologies. Moreover, the electrode surface will be modified with different nanostructures (by using nanoimprint lithography - NIL), nanomaterials (such as metal nanoparticles), polymer layers, etc… in order to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensors. The methodologies for the fabrication of the electrodes and carry out the modifications have to be the simplest possible, low cost, environmental-friendly and easily scalable to industrial level. Hence, the production of the new materials for the electrodes has to fulfill these requirements, too. The development of an electrochemical biosensor will also involve the immobilization of biological materials (such as enzymes, antibodies, antigens…) as recognition element in the surface of the electrodes. Different immobilization methodologies will be evaluated in order to the construction of the sensing element. Thus, the use of new materials and micro-/nano-technologies is going to improve the immobilization of the biological elements enhancing the stability, life-time, sensitivity and selectivity of sensor. Moreover, the biosensor will be integrated in a microfluidic platform in order to improve and make easy the use of the new device as Point-of-Care system. In this sense, microfluidic technologies will also enable the use of very small sample volume as well as the possibility of integrating multisensing elements at the same platform. As proof-of-concept the new smart materials and methodologies will be evaluated in the construction of a microfluidic multi-biosensor focused on the simultaneous determination of different cardiovascular blood metabolites such as total and free cholesterol, glucose and lactate; which can open new market opportunities for the companies involved.