Electrochemical biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics

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Current technologies for in vitro and clinical assessment are costly, complicated, labour intensive, and time-consuming. Additionally, since molecular diagnostic tests and instrumentation are complex, they require highly knowledgeable and expert scientists to establish benchmarks. And so, they cannot provide real time decision support. The important unmet need (the primary driver behind my research program) is to develop easy-to-use, quick, and affordable electrochemical analytical solutions that can be easily implemented in either a clinical environment or the remote areas.  Recent literature has indicated that overexpression of metalloproteins - proteins which contain metal atoms or clusters have been associated with human health and diseases. Based on the overall hypothesis that some diseases overexpress specific metalloproteins, and that their metals can interact directly with an electrode surface and specifically display reversible electrochemistry, I aim to electrochemically detect those biomarkers with innovative sensing devices to assist clinicians in taking decisions. As an expert in the synthesis of functional nanomaterials, and electroconductive substrate, here, over the next 5 years, my research objectives will be to focus on 1) designing and building a multifunctional platform of advanced conductive materials and functional interface for the electrochemical detection and monitoring of metalloproteins and pathogens for health and environmental analysis and management, 2) modifying traditional electrochemical cells into tools adapted to in vivo environment, and 3) evaluating these innovative implantable electrochemical devices to aid in disease detection and management, and monitoring healing.  My research program provides excellent training environment for HQP due to it interdisciplinary nature involving materials science, biomedical engineering, electrochemistry. The training is further enriched by the benefit of testing our electrochemical devices in vivo and in clinical environment with real end-product users.  This research program will develop medicaltech platforms technology will not only be important for both academia and industry. Further, they aim to reduce the economic burden to health care services by providing more accurate and more immediate analyses of disease and normal physiology.