Development of membrane-based biosensors

Proposition for an exam work in analytical chemistry

The Project

The main object with this project is the creation and study of artificial molecular aggregates that resemble living cell membranes. The analytical part concerns development of membrane based biosensors. The construction of model membranes involves selfassembly of ultrathin polyelectrolyte films on gold electrode surfaces by consecutive adsorption of polyanions and polycations and the subsequent deposition of lipid bilayers.

We have recently succeeded in catching an active fraction of the terminal respiratory chain on an electrode surface. An artificial electron scavenger in the polyelectrolyte accepts electrons from the reduced enzyme and delivers them to the electrode. Consequently, the enzyme activity can be recognised as an electrical signal.

The project is run in co-operation with the biosensor group at FOA4 in Umeå.

Contacts

If you are interested in working on the development of the electrochemical parts of these delicate systems as a 20 p D-project, please contact:

Britta Lindholm-Sethsonint+46-90-7865482Britta.Sethson@chem.umu.se

HTML document created February 21, 1997 by kim@chem.umu.se alias
Knut Irgum, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.


Since 97-01-21