Development of biosensors for phenol compounds utilizing Langmuir-Blodgett films containing graphene oxide and laccase

• Grant number: 24/16693-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Caseli
• Grantee: Felipe Merloto Marinho
• Supervisor: Maria Luz Rodriguez Mendez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Valladolid (UVa), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/04976-4 - Immobilization of graphene oxide and laccase on lipid Langmuir-Blodgett films: possible application for biosensors for phenolic compounds, BP.IC

Abstract

In this project, we aim to develop a biosensor for the detection and quantification of phenolic compounds using Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films composed of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (sodium salt), the conductive polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), graphene oxide, and the enzyme laccase. This approach will allow us to explore the physicochemical properties of the resulting systems and their potential applications in phenol detection. In addition to employing classical characterization techniques for nanostructured films-such as tensiometry, surface potential measurements, rheological analysis, and Brewster angle microscopy (conducted in Brazil)-we plan to utilize cyclic voltammetry to evaluate the catalytic response of laccase toward phenolic compounds. To assess the biosensor's functionality, selectivity, and sensitivity, we will apply Principal Component Analysis (PCA), an unsupervised multivariate method, to analyze the voltammetric data. Through this work, we aim to deepen our understanding of the molecular interactions involving laccase, with a focus on biosensor platforms for diverse applications.