Project abstract

This project focuses on the development of a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based microfluidic sensor that makes use of the unique physical properties of gold nanourchins (GNUs) as efficient SERS-amplifiers, induced due to their spiky geometry. The specificity of the system is ensured by the employment of antibodies as molecular recognition moieties, which have the inherent property of binding the target antigen with high affinity. 

Herein, we aim to detect and quantify Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) specific biomarkers at concentrations that are relevant for early (pre-symptomatic) diagnosis, from biological samples that can be collected non-invasively, such as saliva, urine, or plasma. The miniaturisation of such a detection device through implementation in a microfluidics platform can offer advantages like low sample volume, short reaction time, robustness, reliability, and portability, with the potential for implementation as point-of-care devices.

Acest proiect se concentreaza pe dezvoltarea unui nanosenzor SERS pe baza de nanoparticule de aur de tip nanoarici (GNU) pentru detectia unor markeri specifici bolii Alzheimer, printr-un sistem microfluidic. Sensibilitatea sistemului este conferita de catre proprietatile optice deosebite ale unor astfel de particule, cu precadere cele legate de eficienta semnalului SERS masurat. Specificitatea sistemului este asigurata de utilizarea unor anticorpi ca elemente de recunoastere moleculara, ce au proprietatea inerenta de a lega antigenul tinta cu mare afinitate. 

Aici, urmarim detectia si cuantificarea de biomarkeri specifici ai bolii Alzheimer in concentratii care au relevanta din punct de vedere al unui diagnostic precoce (pre-simptomatic), din probe preluate intr-un mod neinvaziv, cum ar fi din saliva, urina, sau plasma. Miniaturizarea unui asemenea dispozitiv de detectie prin implementarea intr-o platforma microfluidica poate oferi avantaje precum utilizarea de volume mici de proba, reactie rapida, robustete, fiabilitate, si portabilitate, avand pana la urma potential pentru implementare ca dispozitiv de tip ‘point-of-care’.