Description:
Unlike blood, exhaled human breath represents an attractive analyte for rapid, non-invasive, Point-Of-Care diagnostics for several diseases. Exhaled breaths of disease-persons contain disease-specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or biomarkers (VOBs). For example, M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis cultures produce four prominent VOBs, namely: (i) methyl nicotinate, (ii) methyl p-anisate, (iii) methyl phenylacetate and (iv) o- phenylanisole.
Project Aim
By realizing and testing different surfaces with nanoGoald and/ore nanoPlatinum, the goal of this project is to identify the best metal nanostructure’s most sensitive, selective and resistant for a suitable detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or biomarkers (VOBs). In case of successful results of enough performing sensors, final validation might be done directly on real samples from cell cultures.
Project Tasks
- Test differently shaped and sized Pt and Pt-Au nanocoatings for non-enzymatic glucose sensing in synthetic buffer and cell media.
- Selection of the best nanostructured electrode and voltammetric technique to sense glucose with the device in a fluidic system
- Real-time monitoring of the cell status on the basis of VOCs/VOBs readings
Eligibility Requirements:
- Basic knowledge on electrochemical sensors
- Basic knowledge of nanomaterials and chemistry
- Interest, Motivation, and Commitment to the project
References
Kenneth I. Ozoemena, and Sandro Carrara, Review Article: Biomedical electrochemical sensors for resource-limited countries, Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2017, 3:51–56