| BIO-MEDNANO STREP-project focuses on research at the frontiers of knowledge of enzymes, mediators, surfaces and immobilisation strategies aimed at improving enzymatic electron transfer reactions for application towards integrated bio-powered bio-sensing systems for diagnosis and healthcare. Such improvements will be provided by: screening for novel enzymes; modification of enzymes; design of novel nano-structured scaffolds for enzyme immobilization, to provide devices with improved stability and electron transfer efficiency (sensitivity and/or power output).The main scientific objective of the BIO-MEDNANO STREP -project is to increase understanding and overcome the present limitations of bio-fuel cell and biosensor devices based on biological electron transfer systems. The technological aim of the project, integrated bio-powered bio-sensing systems will be achieved by using multidisciplinary approaches exploiting knowledge in modern biotechnology, electrochemistry, and surface and material science. Optimisation of electron transfer between the enzyme molecule and the electrode will be the challenging focus of this research, due to its generic applicability and importance.The long-term innovation of the project is to generate profound, molecular level knowledge on the electron transfer process taking place between biological molecules and electrochemically active materials and further apply this knowledge to integrated bio-powered bio-sensing systems. The initial targets for integrated bio-sensing systems will be based on development of prototype biosensors for the intermittent determination of glucose and catecholamine neurotransmitter levels in clinical samples, powered by a bio-fuel cell functioning on in-vivo available bio-fuels. The ambitious long-term aim of the development of such prototypes is to provide integrated bio-powered autonomous implantable bio-sensing systems for healthcare monitoring. |