Development of simple electrochemical methods for the detection of biomarkers for the diagnosis of diseases

Abstract

The development of simple, fast, and low-cost methods for protein biomarkers detection for disease diagnosis has been the focuses of our research group in the last years. For the next period, the aim is continuing the research in this area with focus on the development of new devices and methods to improve the scientific knowledge in the field and advances in technological innovation. In this new step, we intend to work in the microRNA detection for cancer diagnosis, that is a great challenge since we do not have previous experience with this type of analyte. This project will be carried out in partnership with Hospital do Câncer de Barretos, which we have a scientific and technical cooperation agreement and a project approved in ethical committees of both institutions. In the field of biomarkers detection, we have different works focusing on the protein detection for diagnosis of diseases as cancer and Alzheimer's. In this project, we will work in the development of low-cost and disposable electrochemical methods for applications with and without microfluidics. In this way, biosensors will be constructed by nanostructure film formed over the disposable electrodes following by covalent immobilization of antibodies for the protein biomarkers or DNA or RNA probes complementary to the targets microRNA. Magnetic particles havely decorated with antibodies or DNA or RNA probes will be used for capture, separation, preconcentration and detection of the analytes. The application of the analytical devices will be evaluated in patient and crop samples that will be provided by the partner research groups. The project has also the aim to form human resources in the different levels and the publication of the papers in national and international journals as well as the deposition of patents. (AU)