Hierarchical nanoengineered assemblies of titania (Hi-NEAT)

Facts

Contact person:: Riya Thomas
Financer:: European Commission - MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Responsible at MaU:: Denis Music
Project members at MaU:: Tautgirdas Ruzgas

and Johan Hektor
Time frame:: 01 September 2024 - 31 August 2026
Faculty/department:: Department of Materials Science and Applied Mathematics
Research environment :: Biofilms Research Centre for Biointerfaces
Research subject:: Materials Engineering

biosensors

Project description

The proposed project focuses on hierarchical nanoengineered assemblies of titania and their electrocatalytic activity on the biomarker (or tumor marker), tyrosinase, for the application in melanoma skin cancer diagnosis. According to an epidemiological analysis of worldwide cancer statistics conducted in 2022, the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed each year grew by 27% over the last ten years and is expected to rise by more than 50% from 2020 to 2040 if current rates hold steady.

Though melanoma is often considered the most dangerous type of skin cancer, it has a survival rate of > 95% if it is discovered and treated promptly. So, our research and innovation set out a novel electrochemical sensing approach that facilitates melanoma early diagnosis and therapy, as well as improved quality of life for cancer patients, in line with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan initiated by the European Commission.