Electrochemical Sensor Technology for Point-of-Care Diagnostics

开发能够提供关键健康指标、溶解氧（O2）、二氧化碳（CO2）、pH值和乳酸盐的准确实时测量的快速微创设备，对于快速做出有关患者医疗保健的明智选择至关重要。这反过来又显著改善了个体的预后。虽然存在测量这些标记物的技术，但通常使用大型且昂贵的仪器进行测量，这些仪器在医院中很少使用，并且只能进行快照测量。可用于医院和家庭的低成本即时诊断设备需要新的传感器开发方法。电化学传感器由于其小型化和易于使用而长期受到关注。然而，为了应用于更广泛的POC诊断领域，电极/电解质和操作系统必须针对感兴趣的目标分析物进行优化，并且能够以小型化，易于使用的格式进行连续测量（如适用）。该项目旨在通过汇集电化学传感器开发、临床分析和新型水凝胶贴片技术方面的专业知识，为鉴定的分析物开发POC诊断。虽然电化学方法学发展是研究的核心，但学生可以期望在广泛的跨学科领域发展技能，包括聚合物科学，数据分析和临床研究方法。新型电解质材料的配方，生物传感器的开发，分析分析技术，并在现实世界的样品测量将补充发展的电化学技能。此外，还将有机会发展向广泛的受众进行研究报告的技能，从科学到临床，从研究到公众，从专家到普通受众。也将有机会在同行评议的科学文献中发表研究成果，并可能开发知识产权。

The development of fast, minimally-invasive devices which can provide accurate real-time measurements of the key health markers, dissolved oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), pH and lactate is vital for making informed choices quickly regarding patient healthcare. This in turn results in markedly improved outcomes for the individual. Whilst technology exists to measure these markers, it is typically made using large and expensive instrumentation, which can be accessed infrequently in the hospital and enables only snapshot measurements. Lower cost point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices, which could be used in the hospital and home, requires new approaches to sensor development. Electrochemical sensors have long been of interest due to their miniaturization possibilities and ease-of-use. However, in order to apply to the wider POC diagnostics arena, the electrode/electrolyte and operational system must be optimised for the target analytes of interest and be capable of continuous measurement (where applicable) in a miniaturised, easy to use format. This project aims to develop POC diagnostics, for the analytes identified, by bringing together expertise in electrochemical sensor development, clinical analysis, and novel hydrogel patch technology. Whilst electrochemistry methodology development forms the core of the research, the student can expect to develop skills across a wide range of interdisciplinary areas, including polymer science, data analysis and clinical research methods. Formulation of novel electrolyte materials, biosensor development, analytical analysis techniques, and measurement in real-world samples will complement the electrochemical skills developed. Furthermore, there will be opportunity to develop skills in research presentation to a wide range of audiences, from scientific to clinical, research to public, and experts to general audiences. There will also be opportunities for publication of research in peer-reviewed scientific literature, and possibly IP development.