DC13: Microfluidic electrometric devices to investigate adhesin-receptors and variants

In the Pamme Research Group we are designing microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices for clinical diagnostics as well as biomedical research, environmental analysis and the synthesis of smart materials.

In this project we will develop electroanaytical sensor devices and study how host cells bind and respond. We will design microfluidic flow cells and integrate them with printed electronics to created bioelectroanalytical sensors. With these sensors we will study adhesion-cell and protein-protein interactions. We will immobilise target integrins and receptors on the electrode surfaces and monitor adhesion interactions under the highly controlled conditions achievable within microfluidic environments, i.e. controlling concentrations in space and time and controlling shear stress in space and time. We will work across the doctoral training network to implement molecular binding elements such as whole cells, proteins and newly developed aptamers. This will allow us to investigate the variance in adhesion between different pathogens.

We will develop methods and apply in electroanalytical measurement techniques to study binding events between immobilised recognition elements on the electrode surface and the surrounding medium. This will involve various electrode materials and immobilisation strategies. The electrodes will be integrated into microfluidic flow cells, which we will design and fabricate, first for single readout, then for parallelisation and simultaneous readout.