· Originality and innovative aspects of the research programme
The aptasensors will be tested in different target concentration, performing calibration curves; also selectivity will be evaluated. Then, contaminated real samples will be analysed. Quite often, available bioreceptor elements are sensitive to harsh conditions, e.g. cell based systems that need a physiological pH. This often leads to the realisation of “academic” demonstration and very few applications in real samples. We consider this point being one of the major drawbacks of the biosensor area. We want to overcome this drawback with the help of a panel of different nucleic acid and peptide aptamers that all bind specifically to a given analyte (multivariate analysis). We will validate our procedures in natural waters, waste waters, soil, food and biological samples by comparing analytical performances of aptasensors with traditional methods.
2.2 Clarity and quality of transfer of knowledge/training for the development of the researcher in light of the research objectives
The training program for acquiring additional scientific and complementary skills is described in this agenda:
-Daily. The researcher work will be supported and super vised for step by step working day by scientists in charge and experienced researchers team of the outgoing and/or return institution. The researcher will tutor different PhD and MsC students supporting research laboratory and/or bioinformatics procedures and helping in daily work. The website project will be upgrade daily for remote assistance, sharing and comments.
-Weekly. A meeting group once a week will be scheduled for discussing and supporting the researcher project. The accomplishment of the research objectives, new objectives established during the course of work and new lines of research mentioning also unsuccessful approaches and unforeseen developments along with scientific and technical aspects problems will be resumed and discussed with the host team.
-Monthly. The researcher will participate to specific classes or/and seminars taking by international visitors usually invited monthly by host institution. Eventually the researcher will actively participate to international congresses exposing the project results progress in oral and poster presentations. Once a month the researcher will follow specific classes, also using remote assistance, for reinforcing writing proposals, research management, communication, leadership and teaching skills.
Moreover Training to the researcher will be done using specific classes taking by experts of host team or international invited speakers, specialized in different fields
-Yearly. Every year the outgoing team organizes important international congresses on theoretical and applied chemistry where key scientific personalities and commercial companies take part. This is an important chance for the researcher at any level from the organization of international events to the meeting and data interchanging of international celebrities in chemistry meeting congresses.
Every year to proof the training effectiveness of the project, the researcher is expected to produce at least 4 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, 1-2 project proposals and 1-2 teaching courses.
2.3 Quality of the supervision and the hosting arrangements
The Spanish and North American supervisors UCM and UCSD), have been pioneers and leaders in biosensors field from genetically engineering living cells to nanomotors resoling problems of molecular sensing, diagnostics, drug delivery, etc. They are also in the editorial board of several scientific international journals with high impact factor (Electroanalysis, Talanta, Analytica Chimica Acta, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, ACS journals etc.) The have provided real-life solutions to important scientific problems.
Prof Wang (UCSD) will act as outgoing host institution supervisor and will take responsibility for data planning and the successful and widespread broadcasting of the results of the project. Prof Wang will be responsible for the assessment and management of the scientific knowledge and technology created by the project. The expertise and excellence of Prof Wang is recognised around the world resulting among the 100 most influential people in Analytical Sciences (2013) and making the Top 10 Most Cited Chemists in the World. This important group will be the responsible of the 2/3 of the project guiding the dissemination and exploitation of results and will contribute within and between all work packages. The activity of nanoenginering group (UCSD) focuses on the fields of nanobioelectronic which is a rapidly developing field aimed at integrating nano- and biomaterials with electronic transducers. This highly multidisciplinary research combines fundamental studies with forward-looking engineering efforts.
Prof. Pingarron (UCM) will act as return host institution supervisor and take responsibility for identifying and solving technical problems across the work packages. He will provide the management of the technical progress between WPs and towards the objectives, as well as the exchange of results and knowledge between the universities and EU. Prof. Pingarron has a large experience in biosensors field In particular the return phase group has wide experience on bio-structured devices and biosensors, especially using engineered biological structures, thus ensuring innovation and a high degree of success in achieving the objectives of the proposed work.
The project partners lab are full equipped with all necessaries offering working conditions to realise the potential of individuals and to provide new career perspectives. These modern laboratories are well equipped with an advanced analytical instrumentation and microfabrication tools, along with computing clusters for intensive calculations required in virtual process totally accessible also via web. These include modern electrochemical (voltammetric, galvanostats, impedance) analyzers, potentiometric analyzers, lab-on-chip systems, high-precision screen printer (MPM), spin coater, plasma cleaner, advanced optical microscopes (for nanomotor tracking and microfabrication efforts) and a graphic station for advanced microfabrication, Chromatography facilities (HPLC, GC, etc.); surface characterization with SEM and other microscopic techniques; spectroscopic equipment with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectroscopy (MS).
2.4 Capacity of the researcher to reach and re-enforce a position of professional maturity in research
The researcher knowledge will increase in efficiency for designing biomimetics and screening new applications to improve biosensors area. This proposed research will bring to the applicant the expertise of the scientists with large experience in bioinformatics and biosensors area. Both outgoing and host institution teams will train the applicant for the development and the use of theoretical and applied chemistry tools, in order to acquire new knowledge in sensing strategies at international level.
This research will be the junction for the flow of the academic knowledge to the real applications; it will be both a research experience and a school for the development and use of new bioinformatics methods proofed by sensors technology by producing analytical tools for analytical detection helpful in resolving many health and safety real problems.
This project will be both a research experience and a school for the development and use of new modeling techniques and computational approaches in biosensors field, bringing International collaboration closer different nationalities, skills, culture and trainings. Moreover the interdisciplinary partnerships will be the way for new and interesting ideas to face a real scientific problem.
This project will contribute to the applicant’s career development with transfer of expertise into analytical and theoretical chemistry having important added values to:
1. Produce rational candidates via molecular modeling, bioinformatics tools for large database screening 2. Comprehensive generation of receptors for a particular target, practical solution of real laboratory problems. 3. Improving laboratory skills in manufacturing biosensors. 4. Understanding existing and creation of new sensing methods. 5. Fundamental knowledge required to produce practical, competitive analytical devices. 6. Enhanced communication between scientists, engineers, end-users and public.
3.1 Enhancing research- and innovation-related human resources, skills, and working conditions to realise the potential of individuals and to provide new career perspectives
The Researcher, as well as institutions involved in the project, can take advantages from sustainability together with the economic impact of the deliverables identified in the following areas:
- Environmentally friendly analysis systems. In comparison to conventional analysis, these systems need only minor amounts (or no amounts) of organic solvents and will therefore contribute to a sustainable analytical industry.
-Rationalization of protocols to select molecules avoiding trial and error and/or combinatorial approach, the virtual approach is critical to provide new skills and career perspectives of seconded researchers with specialization in computing methods linked to chemistry, multivariate manipulation of databases for molecular systems and post processing data.
- Development of methods, programs and databases applied to biology, molecular modelling field, protein structure, their interfaces in complexes oriented to obtain predictive criteria for protein compounds and/or aggregates.
- Miniaturisation will lead to lighter systems, which will be easier to ship and to carry to different places, thus increasing the mobility of analytical systems (e.g., on-site analysis at places, where there is no lab nearby).
- The usage of synthetic DNA and peptide recognition elements leads to higher selectivity and reproducibility, such reducing the amount of sample preparation and the sample size. This enables to ship samples much easier and less storage space is needed.
- Generally, these systems are fast and enable the user to measure/screen more samples per time.
The development of miniaturised, single analyte and multianalyte sensor systems is of worldwide interest, where Europe should play a leading role to enforce its own policies and through this will set global standards.
On the other hand, there is no question that the application of aptasensors in the field of analytical chemistry will unleash such a vital influence that will have an enormous impact on our daily lives by altering our ability to monitor and predict susceptibility to and effects of control, hence leading to an improved quality of life for all.
3.2 Effectiveness of the proposed measures for communication and results dissemination
The dissemination of the scientific results of the project will be achieved through publications of the results in scientific journals.
To ensure the protection of intellectual properties all publications will be evaluated by both supervisors under the guidance of the EU manager before publication.
We would like to bring new technology not only to specialists but also to introduce into these new fields of research the students of secondary, therefore the new technologies will be presented at open door days that are planned in “Implementation” section. This project will enable researcher to bring more closely the business world to academic by demonstrating the use of aptamers in a new field of analytical properties, increase knowledge about unwanted bioactivity and data on the relation between structure and binding as well as structure and function relation.
The Dissemination and Exploitation Plan includes:
-coordinating an agreement which satisfactory for the participants
-contract and formalising exploitation restrictions, licensing arrangements, protection of results and methods of disseminating results.
-conduct reviews of the project’s impact on economic, ethical, gender and societal issues.
The Dissemination and Exploitation channels and formats between the partners will be established though a project web-portal provided by APTASENS to ensure rapid and robust transfer of information, results, data, dialogue, reports.
A monthly report regarding dissemination and exploitation of the project results will be collated every six months and sent to the EU Project Technical administrator. The reports will cover progress on each of the active task and the actions needed for the progress of the project.
4.1 Overall coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, including appropriateness of the allocation of tasks and resources
During the project researcher will be involved in modern molecular modelling development, aptamers chemistry, electrochemical methods optimization, multiple-data automation and elaboration as well as practical testing of small density array of aptamer receptors. Below the work packages described one by one reporting objectives, tasks and deliverables.