Objectives

The main purpose of this project consists in facilitating the monitoring of VM and GM treatments, by electrochemical detection of their concentrations from different biological samples, in order to help the proper use of these antibiotics, diminishing their dangerous side effects and impairing the spread of antibiotics resistance.

The objectives of this project are to (1) develop a global strategy for obtaining electrochemical (bio)sensors, that are portable, inexpensive, non-toxic, able to (2) selectively detect low concentrations (ng/L) of VM and GM. Another objective is to adapt these (bio)sensors for (3) simultaneous detection of the two antibiotics and (4) for the routinely monitoring of VM and GM concentrations from biological samples (human serum, urine).

The objectives will be achieved by three different, interconnected strategies: the direct electrochemical detection of VM and GM, taking into account that both of them present electroactive functional groups, the modification of the electrodes with nanomaterials and polymeric films, leading to better electrochemical properties, with an increase of the sensitivity of the analysis and the development of selective biosensors using antibodies or peptides as biorecognition elements, capable to interact specifically with the target molecules. Different electrode modification strategies will be tested, thus increasing the chances of successful development of highly selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor for the detection of the chosen antibiotics.

Each objective of this project has a corresponding period of time allocated, taking into account the complexity and the challenges of each objective. We are confident that the time schedule envisaged will allow the achievement of the objectives in the 24 months of the project.