Dielectrophoresis-assisted Raman micro-spectroscopy for pathogen identification

• Applicant: Dr. Eva-Maria Laux
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Analytical Chemistry ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 323403781

Biosensors are important diagnostic devices that measure specific analytes, e.g. biomarkers, that help to identify and monitor diseases. They are further used in environmental studies to quantify analytes for quality assurance of, e.g., food or drinking water. The goal of this research project is to combine dielectrophoresis, a fast and selective method for analyte pre-concentration or immobilization, with Raman spectroscopy, for the sensitive and specific detection of pathogens like bacteria or viral particles on a flexible antibody-functionalized platform.Antibodies will be immobilized by application of AC electric fields on nanoelectrodes; subsequently, pathogens will selectively be captured by the antibodies, and the pathogens will be identified by Raman spectroscopy. The use of nanoelectrode arrays with several thousands electrodes offers rapid analyses of large numbers of individual pathogens. Moreover, several different pathogens can be immobilized on one chip for multiplexed analyses. This approach is very promising for the fast and efficient detection of pathogens and, hence, for the field of biosensor research.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Canada
• Host: Professor Aristides Docoslis, Ph.D.