Graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles biosensors to detection of infectious diseases

• Grant number: 16/05269-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Maria Aparecida Zaghete Bertochi
• Grantee: Glenda Biasotto
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/05354-6 - Graphene and gold/silver nanoparticles for advanced biosensors, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Recent advances in interdisciplinary research in molecular diagnostics have led the rapid development of different classes of biosensors with sensor features keep getting better. Moreover, the development in engineering and nanotechnology has been crucial for miniaturization and technological multifunctionality of biosensors. Health industry costs in the world have increased considerably in recent years due to aging of the population associated with increased awareness of health which creates a greater need for regular medical care. Furthermore, in Brazil the treatment of diseases occur in most cases reactive form when the disease is diagnosed in an advanced stage already. Molecular diagnoses facilitate primary disease detection with greater sensitivity and specificity, but take time and are expensive. Biosensors have emerged as a cheap alternative, easy to use, portable and with high sensitivity and specificity. In this context, the present proposal aims to study oxide nanoparticles of graphene / Au grown via chemical synthesis and deposited in different types of substrates targeting of great technological interest applications such as biosensors. The synthesized materials will have their structural and morphological properties characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffraction X-ray (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The material used is reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with gold nanoparticles (Au), due to the functional properties of the oxide such as high conductivity and electron mobility. The RGO / Au are deposited on rigid substrates and flexible by electrophoresis. The performance of the films biosensors for the detection of diseases such as, hepatitis C will be assessed for sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and repeatability by electrical measurements such as cyclic voltammetry and impedance.