Electrochemical Investigation of Nanostructured Surfaces for Biosensing Applications in Oral Diagnostics
Facts
- Contact person:
- Magnus Falk
- Financer:
-
- Biobarriers (The KK Foundation)
- Responsible at MaU:
- Magnus Falk
- Project members at MaU:
- Collaborators :
-
- Obducat AB
- Time frame:
- 01 October 2025 - 31 August 2029
- Faculty/department:
- Research environment :
- Research subject:
-
- Biomedical Laboratory Science/Technology
- Physical Chemistry
- Surface Science
About the project
The project will focus on fabricating and electrochemically evaluating nanostructured electrode surfaces for use in hybrid (bio)sensor platforms targeting oral health diagnostics. In close collaboration with Obducat Technologies AB, the student will conduct fundamental and applied electrochemical studies on NIL-produced micro- and nanostructured surfaces, with particular attention to how these features influence signal performance, fouling resistance, and surface reactivity in complex biological matrices such as saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).
Biointeractions and Surface Properties
A major objective will be to assess how surface topography and material composition (e.g., gold, platinum, titanium) impact bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, and cell viability—providing comparative data versus conventional flat electrode surfaces. These investigations will inform the design of bactericidal and bio-repellent electrode architectures that enhance sensor longevity and analytical precision.
Integration into Sensor Platforms
Beyond basic surface analysis, the PhD candidate will play a key role in integrating these nanostructured electrodes into two main sensor formats: 1. Specific biosensors, such as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and reversible self-assembled monolayers (rSAMs), designed to detect bacterial virulence factors and host biomarkers. 2. Electronic tongue (ET) arrays, which rely on low-selectivity sensor arrays and machine learning to interpret complex biomarker fingerprints.