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Controlled block copolymers applied to molecular imprinting: a new generation of biosensors

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Resumo:Biomarkers are biomolecules present in tissues or body fluids that play a fundamental role in the identification of various diseases, including oncological ones. They are indispensable diagnostic tools in clinical laboratories and hospitals, especially in oncology, and enable early detection, accurate prognosis and continuous monitoring of disease progression. To effectively support diagnostic programmes at the point-of-care (PoC), biomarker detection methods must not only be economical and fast, but also compatible with small, portable devices.Biosensors are essential due to their ability to diagnose quickly and cost-effectively. Despite the numerous biosensors for cancer biomarkers that can be found in the literature, there is still a need to develop a low-cost biosensor that is easy to manufacture and requires minimal resources. Such a biosensor would be essential for widespread cancer screening and monitoring programmes. To fulfil the PoC requirements, biosensors need a biological recognition element with sufficient selectivity, low cost and high stability. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can be used for this purpose, but their limited selectivity is currently an obstacle.Therefore, this project aims to develop a new generation of MIP materials using block copolymers synthesised by reversible deactivation radical polymerisation (RDRP). These are grafted onto a conductive surface and cross-linked in the presence of a protein. The RDRP techniques allow precise control of the structure, composition, molecular weight and functionalities of the block copolymers. The new block copolymers are designed to interact perfectly with different protein domains (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) and allow precise molecular imprinting. Signal transduction can be achieved by an electrochemical and optical technique. The technique of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combines the characteristic structural specificity and high flexibility of Raman spectroscopy with the extremely high sensitivity, with potential detection limits down to the single molecule, achieved by the amplification of the optical signal by metal nanostructures.This innovative modular strategy could open up new horizons in the early detection and monitoring of diseases, with applications that go beyond cancer.
Autores principais:Oliveira, Daniela dos Santos
Assunto:Cancer biomarkers Electrochemical biosensors Protein imprinted polymers Radical Polymerizations Biomarcadores de Cancro Biossensores eletroquímicos Impressão Molecular de Proteínas Polimerização Radicalar - -
Ano:2025
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:tese de doutoramento
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade de Coimbra
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra

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