research @ NanoBioLab
Enabling technologies for biosensors
We are interested in devising novel smart biosensors for diagnostics and analytical biochemistry. These require surface bio-functionalization by various chemical approaches and control of the functionality of biomolecular active layers by direct electrochemistry. Examples include immunosensors [1], redox biocatalytic electrodes [2], sensors exploiting voltage-gated ion channels [3]. Indeed, many biological reactions and phenomena involve the action of charges, dipoles, induced dipoles, and the effect that electric fields exert on them. Examples are numerous including, for instance, redox reactions, conformational variations in enzymes, specific recognition between molecular partners, conformational variations in voltage-gated ion channels, and so on. Electromagnetism on the one hand, and Electronics on the other hand, enable us handle electrical phenomena; therefore, the charming possibility arises to manipulate biological reactions and phenomena taking place at electrode surfaces towards implementing biomolecular hybrid devices. Using direct electrochemistry it is possible to drive the redox state of proteins immobilized on a metal electrode or induce conformational modifications in other biomolecules so as to tune their functional activity [4].
Kinetics of IgG-antigen adsorption as a function of the applied potential
Key references
1.A highly selective, bio-functional surface for molecule/cell sorting
M. Caiazzo, A. Alessandrini, and P. Facci
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 1, 514 (2009)
2. The Redox Chemistry of the Covalently Immobilized Native and Low-pH Forms of Yeast Iso-1-cytochrome c
C.A. Bortolotti, G. Battistuzzi, M. Borsari, P. Facci, A. Ranieri, M. Sola
J. Am. Chem. Soc.,128, 5444 (2006).
3. Voltage-induced morphological modifications in oocyte membranes containing exogenous K+ channels studied by electrochemical scanning force microscopy
A. Alessandrini, P. Gavazzo, C. Picco, and P. Facci
Microsc. Res. Tech., 71, 274 (2008).
4. Biomolecular Electronics: Bioelectronics and the Electrical Control of Biological Systems and Reactions
P.Facci
Elsevier, in press, (2014).