Development of an electrochemical sensor platform for diagnosis and monitoring of oesophageal cancer at the point of care

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Most of diagnostic testing for cancer is currently carried out in centralized laboratories, using invasive sampling and expensive equipment that requires highly trained personnel to operate. The use of "lab-on-a-chip" and biosensor technologies is shifting this paradigm of laboratory-based testing towards point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Effective POC testing methods however pose stringent requirements and challenges for biosensor development. Despite the vast developments in electronics and microfabrication, little of the progress in the field of biosensing has translated to improved diagnosis of cancer. It remains a challenge to develop portable, low-cost biosensing platforms that can detect multiple analytes simultaneously from complex biological fluids. For this project, an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) based biosensor will be investigated with the ability to detect multiple species of biomarkers, directly from non-invasive clinical samples for stratification of patients at risk of developing oesophageal cancer. The development of non-invasive, cost effective solutions for multi analyte detection would enable periodic, longitudinal testing of patients. This could be used to better understand the progression of cancer by tracking the events leading up to cancer and monitoring effects due to therapy or stress. Aims:The aim of this project is to demonstrate a suitable sensor platform for multianalyte detection of clinical biomarkers directly from non-endoscopic samples, at the point of care. The project will therefore aim to bridge the gap between clinical need and cutting-edge technology development to produce an effective solution for improved patient care and management. Research Methodology:The initial objective will be the stratification of significant biomarkers, and to obtain their level of abundance in clinical samples. With an understanding of the required dynamic range of detection for the sensor, several OECT-based approaches will be investigated to achieve the required levels of sensitivity/specificity. Nanoparticle functionalisation of OECTs will also be investigated to improve the sensitivity of OECTs to detect binding events (of nucleic acid and protein), and to explore multiplexed detection of analytes. Upon optimisation of the developed sensor platform, design approaches will be investigated for the effective application of the sensor at the point of care.Collaborations:Fabrication of the OECT array and subsequent incorporation of functionalized nanomaterials will be carried out under the expert supervision of Dr. Roisin Owens (Bioelectronic Systems Technology Group). Stratification of biomarkers for optimal treatment, sample acquisition and handling, and sensor validation will be carried out under the guidance of Prof. Rebecca Fitzgerald (MRC Cancer Unit), to ensure the clinical utility of the device being developed. Finally, to enable successful biofunctionalization of nanomaterials for multiplexed analysis of different target species, a collaboration with Dr. Ljiljana Fruk (BioNano Engineering Group) has been setup.Research Area:The proposed work lies within the purview of the EPSRC's 'Healthcare Technologies' theme and it is in alignment with the following areas of research, as stated in the EPSRC guidelines - Clinical Technologies, Analytical Science, and Sensors & Instrumentation.