3D-NANOBIODEVICE

Three-dimensional nanobiostructure-based self-contained devices for biomedical application

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The main scientific objective of the project is to enhance the understanding of the fundamental principles for controlling electron transfer reactions between nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), their assemblies confined into three-dimensional (3D) microscale networks, conductive nano/-microporous silicone (NMPSi) chips and different bioelements, such as glucose oxidising and oxygen reducing enzymes. The technological objective of the project is to construct potentially implantable microscale self-contained wireless biodevices working in different biomatrices, e.g. blood, plasma, saliva. Novel biodevices will be constructed by combination of glucose and oxygen sensitive biosensors powered by biofuel cells, all made from 3D nanobiostructured materials and operated by wireless microtransmitter/transducer system. To produce 3D microscale devices with superior characteristics mathematical modelling of their performance will be compared against experimentally determined parameters. Nanowiring of appropriate redox enzymes with NPs, CNTs, proper surface modifications, and use of Os and Ru redox complexes, are chosen as a major direction to solve main obstacles in the area of bioelectronics, i.e. poor electronic communication between the biocomponents and the electronic elements along with insufficient operational stability. The 3D structure of nanobiodevices will provide very high efficiency and stability along with their miniaturisation for successful application in biomedicine and health care. The developed, wireless self-contained and potentially implantable, 3D nanobiostructure-based devices will be used to improve quality of life and increase safety in case of widely occurring chronic diseases. Moreover, in the long-term, 3D nanobiostructure-based elements will be essential for constructing devices to be used for neuron/nerve stimulations and compensation of human disabilities.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

The integration of nanostructures and enzymes into three-dimensional (3D) catalytically active and electrically conducting nanobiostructures could find biomedical and diagnostic applications.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Bioelectronic devices have huge scientific and practical importance for basic science as well as for possible applications in medicine, the high-tech industry, the military, etc. The integration of biomaterials with electronic elements, such as electrodes, chips and transistors, yields hybrid systems that may function as biofuel cells, biosensors, and biocomputing devices.

However, one of the main obstacles of bioelectronics lies in the poor electronic communication between the biocomponents and the electronic elements.

The ultimate technological goal of the EU-funded 'Three-dimensional nanobiostructure-based self-contained devices for biomedical application' (3D-NANOBIODEVICE) project was to generate a hybrid bioelectronic system that could work in various biomatrices, such as blood, serum and plasma. From a scientific perspective, partners sought to understand the fundamental principles for controlling electron transfer reactions between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), carbon nanotubes, as well as their 3D assemblies, and different bioelements.

For this purpose, researchers chose to nanowire redox enzymes with AuNPs or carbon nanotubes, perform proper surface modifications, and use redox complexes. To produce such bioelectrodes with superior characteristics, the mathematical modelling of their performance was initially carried out and the results obtained from calculations were compared against experimentally determined parameters.

The consortium successfully fabricated glucose and oxygen-sensitive three-dimensional bioelectrodes, which were used as biosensors, as well as bioanodes and biocathodes of biofuel cells. Biosensors were connected to electronic units consisting of a low-power radio transmitter, a voltage amplifier, and a micropotentiostat, all powered by biofuel cells. The signals from these hybrid biodevices, which corresponded to varying concentrations of bioanalytes, were transferred to a computer for processing.

A novelty of the project was proof-of-principle demonstration of functional self-powered wireless biodevices for continuous glucose and oxygen monitoring in different biomatrices. This is expected to improve on quality of life and increase patient safety for chronic disease, such as diabetes.