Nanomaterials-based portable sensors for infectious diseases and cancer detection

Abstract

For a long time, cancer and bacterial infectious have been among the major causes of deaths worldwide. Despite enormous developments in the fields of diagnosis and treatments, there is still an urgent need for generic, accurate and point-of-care platforms capable of enabling the rapid and precocious diagnostics of such diseases in order toallow faster and more adequate treatment. In this scenario, we propose the use of nanomaterials in the construction of compact platforms for bacteria and cancer biomarkers sensing. This project addresses the applicant Research Internship Abroad (BEPE) at the Center for System Biology - Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, under the supervision of Profs. Hakho Lee and Cesar Castro, which have extensive experience in developing and translating platforms for cancer and infectious diseases diagnostics. The project is divided into two main goals: 1) the use of upconversion nanoparticles in compact luminescent sensors for bacteria detection and 2) the optimization of luminescent detection of extracellular vesicles using upconversion nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and/or gold nanorods. The nanomaterials will be designed and obtained according to the requirements for final applications and the sensing platforms will be optimized throughout the process. We intend to explore and expand the applicant's growing experience in nanomaterials synthesis and functionalization towards the next generation of optimized sensors produced at the Center for System Biology. Additionally, this proposal complements the applicant's ongoing PhD project (PROCESSO FAPESP 2019/12588-9) which is focused on the use of upconversion nanoparticles and gold nanorods for the development of a "turn-on" luminescent sensor for whole cell bacteria detection and differentiation.