BIO-ELECTROCHEMISTRY

(Photo)electrochemical detection of miRNAs​

Circulating amounts of non-coding microRNA (miRNA) have been shown to have a biological impact and to be clinically associated with cancer and are now seen as a new class of biomarkers that will allow earlier and more accurate diagnosis. The objective of INFORM is to develop an innovative electrochemical multiplex biosensor for detection and quantification of a panel of clinically relevant circulating miRNAs in intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients that will be submitted to potentially curative surgery.

The biosensor will rely on the selectivity of the sandwich assays and on the sensitivity of the photoelectrochemical detection to quantify, at the sub-fM level, circulating miRNAs that are associated with PCa. The quantification of these overexpressed miRNAs will lead to a better overall management of the disease and allow for a more informed decision by the medical doctor, providing personalised medicine.

Singlet oxygen-based photoelectrochemical DNA sensors ​

Photoelectrochemical DNA (bio)sensors combine advantages of electrochemical and optical sensors such as high sensitivity, rapid response, simplicity, ease to operate and low cost.  Our original strategy relies on photosensitizers generating singlet oxygen (1O2) that results in the photocurrent response due to either direct reduction at an electrode or oxidation of a redox reporter followed by electrochemical regeneration of the reporter at an electrode. Such PSs can be used as molecular labels coupled to specific DNA sequences similar to fluorescent labels. This makes possible creation of highly sensitive and cost-efficient photoelectrochemical DNA sensors.

Screening these labeled systems such as nucleic acid sequences modified with PS can replace enzyme-labeled (for example, HRP-labelled) reagents and functions by only switching the light on/off whenever required for detecting specific DNA/RNA sequences. With an intrinsic background elimination feature by switching the light ON/OFF, this photo-electrochemical strategy provides enhanced sensitivity

Conductive features of cable bacteria​

(in collaboration with the Meysman Group)

The cable bacteria demonstrate a novel evolution-optimized type of cell-to-cell interactions based on the charge transport over centimeter distances implemented via highly conductive fibre network.

We apply a combination of various electrochemical techniques (impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical gating, voltammetry) to investigate conductive conduits in intact cable bacteria and in periplasmic sheaths extracted by SDS/EDTA treatment as well as influence of different ions on interfacial charge distribution and resistance of the filaments.

Open access: http://www.nature.com/ncomms

The multidisciplinary team consists of:

Department Biology, UAntwerp, Belgium (team leader: prof. Filip Meysman)                    Departments Fysics and Biology, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium (team leader: prof. Jean Manca)                                                                                                                                    Department of Bioengineering, UAntwerp, Belgium (team leader: prof. Karolien De Wael) Departments Biotechnology, Bionanoscience and Quantum Nanoscience, TU Delft, Nederland (team leader: prof. Herre van der Zant)

Vlaamse Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO), Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) and European Research Council (ERC).