Synthesis of Electronically and Electrochemically Active Self-Assembled Structures over Electrodes for Sensing and Drug Discovery Applications: Application of Quantum Rate Electrodynamics Approaches

• Grant number: 25/07830-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Bueno
• Grantee: Marcel Zicolau Modolo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02000-2 - Principles and methods of low energy quantum electrodynamics, AP.TEM

Abstract

Peptide sequence within a sulfur group to be self-assembled over electrodes shall be modified with redox-active groups that are stable in an aqueous environment, such as ruthenium complexes or electronically accessible D--A aromatic group. After modification of these peptide sequences, the accessible redox or electronic centers (some possessing UV-vis light absorbance characteristics) of the structure will be characterized by using quantum-rate electrochemical methods. The aim is to have a DOS accessible signal from the structure stable in an aqueous environment for sensing and drug discovery applications. The synthesis will be performed by molecular exclusion chromatography, using a dextran desalting column from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, USA) with a 5000 Da cut-off. Separation was driven by gravity at a flow rate of approximately 60 mL h¿¹. The column was first conditioned with sodium hydrogen carbonate (0.2 M, pH 9.5), 30 × 1 mL, and then with 5 × 1 mL of ultra-pure water. Approximately 500 µL of modified peptide sequence is expected to be injected into the column followed by 20 × 0.5 mL of ultra-pure water. 500 µL aliquots must be promptly collected and analyzed by UV-Vis (with a NanoDrop 3300 Fluorospectrometer, also from Thermo Fisher Scientific) at a wavelength of 260 nm.