PhD Student, Integrated Systems Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland

Nanostructured biochip development for the detection of multiple metabolites in stem cell monitoring

The aim of the project is to develop an integrated biochip for online and real-time detection of multiple metabolites in stem cell culture medium. The biochip is based on amperometric biosensor microfabricated onto silicon substrate, which working electrodes are nanostrucutrated by using multi-walled carbon nanotubes and functionalized with oxidases. Measurements are performed under flow conditions, so it needs also the integration of microfluidic channels and chamber. The final device will be able to transmit metabolite concentrations to a remore computer by RF communication. 

On-going work involves the microfabrication of multiple-working electrodes onto silicon substrate (electrode area of 0.25 mm2) and their nanostructuration and functionalization by spotting technology.   Silicon substrate is used because it is possible to integrate microfluidics in PDMS on the chip to achieve real-time monitoring.

The motivation for this work is focused on two aspects: application of nanostructures on biosensing, such as carbon nanotubes, to demonstrate the capability of nanomaterials to improve performances of biosensors; application of such biosensors to stem cell, in order to deeply understand mechanisms during switch from proliferation to differentiation state.

 

Figure 1. (a) Experimental setup for real-time measurements: the manufactured chip is fixed in the flow cell and the medium is pumped into the chamber for online  and real-time measurements; (b) Schematic of the multiple working electrode, the reference and the counter electrode; (c) SEM image of CNT in Nafion solution when spotted onto one of the working electrodes; (d) Sensing mechanism of the oxidase onto carbon nanotubes.
 

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About the Speaker:

Cristina Boero studied at Politecnico di Torino (Italy), where she received her bachelor's degree and her master's degree in Biomedical Engineering. She carried out her master's project at EPFL (Switzerland) in the Nanolab with Prof. Ionescu. Later she joined the group of Prof. De Micheli, where she is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Sandro Carrara.

She has been a Doctoral candidate at Laboratory of Integrated systems at EPFL since January 2009. Her main research focus is on electrochemical biosensors for the detection of metabolities in stem cell cultures; specifacally the detection of glucose and lactate. She is also interested in the functionalization of electrodes with nanostructures, like carbon nanotubes, and the interaction between proteins and nanostructures.