Nanoscaled Architectures for highly Sensitive Biosensing of Small molecules

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Combining advanced biomolecular technology, chemistry and nanotechnology, this project aims at the elaboration of ultra-sensitive and specific immunosensors for the detection of priority pollutants in complex environments. It relies on four interdependent tasks: 1) Production and detailed characterization of high-affine monoclonal antibodies towards polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzo[a]pyrene), pharmaceuticals (diclofenac) and algae toxins (microcystins). 2) Nanostructuring of surfaces to serve as appropriate platforms for binding molecular probes. 3) Use of gold nanoparticles, and their optimized design, to enhance the sensitivity of optical detection techniques (Surface Plasmon Resonance, SPR, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering, SERS, and chemiluminescence readout). 4) Test development using Quartz Cristal Microbalance with dissipation measurements (QCM-D) as well as SPR and SERS with the objective of reaching detection limits in the low ng/L-range for the above cited pollutants. In parallel, a new automated microarray-based flow-through ELISA will be developed. All tests will be validated using real samples and LC-MS. The success of this project relies on the complementary expertise of the involved partners, biochemists, molecular chemists, surface scientists, and on constant exchanges between them. Partner 2 will provide others with new affine antibodies, and will develop the multi-analyte test. Partner 1 will focus on surface nanostructuration as well as on all the detection measurements by SPR, SERS and QCM. Partner 3 will design and synthesize new molecular architectures (functionalized polyoxometalates), yielding a very original way of surface chemical patterning. This project is ambitious and likely risky in the sense that each step includes new developments; it is also very promising thanks to already obtained preliminary results. Results are expected both at fundamental and applied levels. Publications in high impact scientific journals can be undoubtedly expected. The aimed technology would also be of considerable interest in various applied domains linked to health and environmental protection.