Biofilm Activity Analyser for Healthcare Applications

在本可行性研究中，将由沃里克开展工作，以开发生物相容性金刚石生物膜活性分析仪，该分析仪能够放置在与牙科综合治疗台水系统（DUWS）水管线和透析机内部管路相关的小型非一次性塑料管路中。生物膜的积累是一个巨大的问题，因为如果不加以控制，可能会导致患者潜在的危及生命的细菌感染，特别是那些已经患有疾病的人。该传感器将被设计为基于电化学原理连续监测生物膜生长。在沃里克进行的研究的初始部分将是设计一个适当的传感器几何形状，该几何形状既足够小以适合相关的管道，又具有检测和监测传感器表面上生物膜积聚的灵敏度。此外，还将内置其他功能，例如传感器自身清洁的能力。使用沃里克的金刚石材料加工领域的技术人员，将反向电极结构激光加工成绝缘金刚石片。然后，钻石将被送去进行传导钻石过度生长，然后返回到沃里克进行高度专业化的抛光，以产生共面的绝缘-传导钻石结构（传感器）。然后将对传感器进行电接触，并在沃里克建造试验装置，以复制DUWS和透析装置的水/透析液环境。将连续监测传感器性能（就输出电流而言），并且定期评估传感器以确定表面上生物膜积聚的程度。还将同时测量水中的微生物含量。这是为了将生物膜积聚的程度与菌落形成单位的数量相关联，使得可以对传感器进行编程以在生物膜活性上升到“安全”水平以上时通知用户。

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.