Fabrication of multiplex electrochemical (bio)sensors by CO2 laser engraving aiming the development of wearable devices.

• Grant number: 23/12589-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Regis Longo Cesar da Paixão
• Grantee: Lucas Felipe de Lima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Wearable devices are a promising alternative with regard to continuous monitoring and clinical diagnosis of diseases in affected individuals, providing analyzes directly on the human body in real time, without the need for sample preparation or laboratory infrastructure. Most of these devices focus mainly on applications aimed at the health area, to monitor various pathogens and diseases of clinical and hospital interest, which have the potential to assist medical work in the detection and monitoring of contagious diseases, for example. The development of easy-to-handle electrochemical (bio)sensors with rapid clinical diagnosis can be an important tool for monitoring biomarkers or chemical species of interest, qualitatively and/or quantitatively, from direct contact with the surface or with the biofluid of interest. Thus, this research project aims to develop an array of wearable electrochemical (bio)sensors on a paper platform, functionalize them (in-situ and ex-situ) with different nanomaterials and enzymes for qualitative detection (screening) and quantitative analysis of molecules present in human sweat that are attractive to the Anopheles gambiae mosquito that causes Malaria. The array of electrochemical (bio)sensors will be fabricated by surface carbonization induced by CO2 laser radiation on paper substrates chemically treated with flame retardant. This process aims to produce materials with excellent electrochemical performance, in an affordable way, without or with minimal consumption of chemical reagents, reducing the toxicity of the material for wearable applications, as well as increasing its disposability and scalable manufacturing.