Biofilm Activity Analyser for Healthcare Applications

适用于医疗保健应用的生物膜活性分析仪

• 批准号: BB/P004156/1
• 负责人: Julie MacPherson
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: University of Warwick
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2016 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FP004156%2F1
• 关键词: Biofilm; Activity; Analyser; Healthcare; Applications

In this feasibility study, work will be carried out by Warwick in order to develop a biocompatible diamond based biofilm activity analyser, which is capable of placement within the small, non-disposable plastic tubing associated with the waterlines of dental unit water systems (DUWS's) and internal tubing of dialysis machines. Biofilm build-up is a huge problem as if left unchecked can led to potential life-threatening bacterial infections in the patient, particularly problematic with those already suffering from illness. The sensor will be designed to monitor biofilm growth continuously, based on electrochemical principles. The initial part of the research undertaken at Warwick will be to design an appropriate sensor geometry which is both small enough to fit into the associated tubing but also has the sensitivity to detect and monitor biofilm build-up on the sensor surface. Additional capabilities, such as the ability of the sensor to clean itself, will also be built in. Using personnel at Warwick, skilled in the art of processing diamond materials, inverse electrode structures will be laser machined into sheets of insulating diamond. The diamond will then be sent for conducting diamond overgrowth, and then be returned to Warwick for highly specialised polishing to produce co-planar insulating-conducting diamond structures (the sensor). The sensor will then be electrically contacted and test rigs at Warwick built which replicate the water /dialysate environments of DUWS's and dialysis units. The sensor(s) performance (in terms of an output current) will be monitored continuously and the sensor periodically assessed to ascertain the extent of biofilm build-up on the surface. Simultaneous measurements of microbial content in the water will also be taken. This is in order to relate extent of biofilm build up to numbers of colony forming units, such that it is possible to programme the sensor to notify the user when biofilm activity has risen above a "safe" level.

在这项可行性研究中，华威将开展工作，以开发一种生物兼容的钻石基生物膜活性分析仪，该分析仪能够放置在与牙科单元水系统(DUWS)的水管和透析机的内部管相关联的小型非一次性塑料管中。生物被膜的积累是一个巨大的问题，因为如果不加以控制，可能会导致患者发生潜在的危及生命的细菌感染，特别是那些已经患病的人。该传感器将基于电化学原理设计成连续监测生物膜的生长。华威大学开展的这项研究的初始部分将是设计一种合适的传感器几何形状，该几何形状既要足够小，可以装入相关的管子中，又要具有检测和监控传感器表面生物膜积聚的灵敏度。其他功能，如传感器的自我清洁能力，也将被内置。利用华威精通钻石材料加工技术的人员，反向电极结构将被激光加工成绝缘钻石薄片。然后，钻石将被送往进行钻石过度生长，然后被送回华威进行高度专业化的抛光，以生产共面绝缘导电钻石结构(传感器)。然后，传感器将被电接触，并在华威建造测试平台，复制DUWS和透析单元的水/透析液环境。传感器(S)的性能(根据输出电流)将被持续监测，并定期对传感器进行评估，以确定生物膜在表面堆积的程度。同时还将对水中的微生物含量进行测量。这是为了将生物膜形成的范围与菌落形成单位的数量联系起来，以便有可能对传感器进行编程，以便在生物膜活动已上升到“安全”水平以上时通知用户。