Biosensor Surface Innovators

Michael Thompson: The biggest challenge was modernising our acoustic wave biosensor known as the EMPAS (electromagnetic piezoelectric acoustic sensor). This sensor system is high frequency and very sensitive but was built on old technology and software. Modernising it at a low cost took multiple teams to design new circuits to drive the EMPAS coil, develop new software to interface with the system, and put everything together into a new sensor system that works with modern computers. 

This was successfully achieved, and resulted in a better, more responsive sensing system that is allowing us to research surface interactions, and sense analytes of our choice in real world samples with high sensitivity.

In terms of methodological development, the biggest challenge was to elaborate a more accurate and manageable method for determining the resonant frequency and the quality factor of the oscillating quartz.

Tibor Hianik: The development of highly sensitive biosensors with antifouling properties for detection of bacterial pathogens with high sensitivity and specificity.

Aries Delica: Our research has the potential to prove how biosensors can change the way how diseases can be detected in a revolutionary way. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for much more quick, effective, and convenient detection of biomolecules to be possible.

Michael Thompson: Biofouling can occur in a variety of environments and as such, it has extensive importance from pathogen hosting biofilms on medical biomaterial surfaces to natural water biofouling leading to macroorganism colonisation. In all these cases the fouling reflects the detrimental effects of biofilm formation on man-made devices. However, organic films of biological origin can still have positive impact when health-promoting microbioms or biofilm reactors in different technologies are considered. The crucial point of biofilm formation is the development of first adsorbed biomolecule layer. Once this layer is formed, further biofilm development is difficult to prevent. To monitor and study the susceptibility of a given surface to the adsorption of the very first layer of biomolecules, highly sensitive measurement techniques, capable to detect sub-monolayer coverage, are needed. EMPAS is such a technique, it enables important and exciting discoveries in the early stages of interface development between inanimate materials and living organisms.

Michael Thompson: This technology could help save many lives, whether through earlier diagnosis of illnesses or the prevention of infections. We see the biggest impact being in diagnostic labs in hospitals around the world, bringing new assays and sensors for specific biomarkers to practical use. With our surface coatings sensors can be designed to work practically in real samples such as serum and urine without processing, allowing for rapid analysis of patient samples. The development of rapid flow through assays for bacteria and food-borne toxins could also greatly impact food production, allowing harmful agents to be discovered in food rapidly during production preventing their sale and making foods safer to consume.

Katharina Davoudian: The ability to quantitatively detect analytes directly in small volumes of complex biological samples, which can be particularly useful in medical or quality control applications.

Michael Thompson: In diagnostic labs our technology could enable new biosensors to be developed for use in clinical diagnostics. Developing the EMPAS based system into a stand-alone device could allow for specific assays to be developed and run on small sample numbers for disease verification. The linker and anti-fouling layers could be used to improve existing assays and high through-put analysis such as fluorescence and chemiluminescence diagnostic tests, allowing these existing systems to sense a wider array of disease biomarkers.

In surface engineering of biomaterials, especially related to catheter, cannula and implantable sensor surfaces.

Tibor Hianik: The biosensors for bacterial detection based on DNA aptamers that were developed as part of this collaboration have been already verified in joint research with Hungarian Dairy Research Institute for the detection bacterial pathogens in real food samples. The biosensors can be used in a near future for routine analysis of food.

Michael Thompson: Instrumental development can further enhance the sensitivity of EMPAS technique to near-surface mass and viscosity changes. Multiple frequency detection can be used to obtain information on vertical properties of multilayers. Combination of EMPAS with independent spectroscopic techniques could open the way to a more comprehensive surface analysis by simultaneous physical and chemical information monitoring.

Michael Thompson: Our team is motivated by the desire to save lives, whether it be due to earlier detection of cancers through our sensor systems, or by making milk safer to drink due to faster detection of bacteria. We want to bring forth biosensing technologies that will save lives, and are working hard to bring our sensors and surface coatings to the attention of medical manufacturers, hospitals, and processing plants.

Navina Lotay: Collaboration in the chemical sciences, as in any science, is essential. No one person or group can know everything about everything. Collaborations bring in different types of experience, expertise, and perspectives that help to solve problems that couldn't be solved alone.

Michael Thompson: The different professional resources of the team members - from studies and work experiences to personal interests - combine to create a shared knowledge that facilitates problem solving and takes it to a higher level. Answering a given problem sometimes requires the inclusion of new perspectives and approaches, requiring different skills and experience, in chemistry just like in any disciplines.

Katharina Davoudian: Collaborating is critical for bringing like-minded people together with various specialisations, allowing complex problems to be tackled from different perspectives. Working across laboratories promotes conversation and the generation of ideas that I believe make progress more efficient and likely to lead to success.

Navina Lotay: To me, good research culture means being supported. It means I can go to my supervisor or colleagues and get their opinions and ideas without judgement. It means flexibility and balance so that I can take care of myself outside of lab to excel inside of lab. Good research culture is pursuit of knowledge and not necessarily publications or awards. It means communication of expectations, a collaborative environment, and celebration of milestones.

Michael Thompson: The greatest thing for research culture is being open with your knowledge. Actively sharing what you know, and what you’re working on with your colleagues and collaborators, and frequently discussing your research plans and results, is of vital importance to good research. This not only allows us to share our expertise with others and teach them, but also to learn from them and better plan our research and experiments by incorporating our colleagues’ knowledge into it. The worst thing we can do in research is to gate-keep our knowledge and results, to try and keep it to ourselves, because it limits our ability to apply that knowledge and to bring the experience of others into our work. So truly good research culture is one of communication and sharing, which is something collaborations help us achieve on a global scale.

Tibor Hianik: Honest performance of experiments, avoiding any incorrections and plagiarisms. Correct data analysis and reference to other papers.

Navina Lotay: Chemistry is important because it's everywhere, involved in everything from the air you breathe to the composition of the stars in the sky, from the medication you take to the makeup you use, etc. Advances in chemistry have helped us advance the world to what it is today in every single field.

Aries Delica: Chemistry is important as it is the basis of how our universe works, and our understanding and application of it underpins our daily lives. Chemistry has overall improved vast areas quality of life over the decades such as through the development of life-enhancing materials, medicines, and technologies.

Katharina Davoudian: Without chemistry, you would not be able to read this sentence! Chemistry is our foundation, studying it means to gain a perspective about anything that is made up of atoms. Chemistry's importance is found everywhere we look, from the medicine we take to cooking a delicious meal.

Navina Lotay: Pursue what inspires you. Any of the sciences require a lot of hard work and you'll encounter a lot of failure, especially in research. Inspiration and passion will keep you going and make it worth it. If you choose chemistry, remember that the possibilities are endless.

Michael Thompson: If you are interested in chemistry take every opportunity you can to work in a research lab during your education. Many schools offer summer research positions for undergraduates, as well as research opportunity courses that will let you do a research project for a chemistry lab. This work will help you not only learn practical chemistry skills and teach you to be a researcher, but also help you determine if chemistry is for you.

Katharina Davoudian: Follow what excites you and always be curious! Chemistry is all around us - there are many subfields to choose from and discover. Think about the kind of problems that interest you which you would like to solve. Finally, talk to people in the field and ask countless questions.