Innovative Fullerenol - Hydrogels based nanomaterials for health diagnostic and care applications - FULSENS-GEL
The M-ERA.NET FULSENS-GEL project aimed to develop an innovative nanocomposite material, based on the combination of elastic, resistant and flexible hydrogels with functionalized Fullerenol (FL)-based nanomaterials, thus obtaining new conductive hydrogels, with tunable network structures, active surface and improved electrochemical, mechanical and optical properties.
By incorporating biomolecules/bioreceptors into such conductive nanostructures, unique characteristics and diverse functionalities were obtained, which can be exploited for different very promising application areas, such as: wearable and flexible sensors; point-of-care sensors for clinical diagnosis, food quality control and environmental monitoring; flexible energy storage devices; human-machine interfaces and smart sensors, based on nanomaterials with self-regeneration or self-adhesive properties.
The innovation of the FULSENS-GEL project consisted in the design and development of a multiplex, flexible, wearable and portable patch, based on the new electroconductive material of the Fullerenol-Hydrogel type functionalized with specific bioreceptors, enzymes/aptamers for the simultaneous, sensitive and selective detection of clinically important analytes (glucose, lactate, cortisol, hydrogen peroxide, chloride ions and pH) from non-invasive biological fluids (sweat).
The integration of these nanostructured (bio)materials into a wearable multisensory system coupled with miniaturized and portable opto-electrochemical detectors for real-time monitoring of parameters of clinical interest represents an important contribution in the field of functional materials, both at national and European level. The determination of analytes of interest from different sweat samples (artificial and real) was achieved with high accuracy, due to the degree of miniaturization and portability of the developed system, especially the new biomaterials obtained and the combined opto-electrochemical detection method.
These multisensory, flexible and portable bioanalytical platforms can be used for a series of other important compounds from food, the environment or of clinical importance, such as drug residues, hormones, pesticides, etc., allowing the control and monitoring of the quality of life.
The results obtained within the FULSENS-GEL project resulted in:
- 2 Methods for obtaining functional nanomaterials of the type: FL-Hydrogel and FL-PB-Hydrogel
- 1 Process for functionalizing multisensitive opto-electrochemical platforms with nanostructures based on FL-Hydrogel
- 4 Methods for obtaining selective biomaterials based on: FL-PB-Hydrogel-GOx; FL-PB-Hydrogel-LOx; FL-Hydrogel-Aptamer; FL-Glutamic-Aptamer
- 5 Methods for characterizing and optimizing multisensitive electrochemical platforms functionalized with FL-Hydrogel-Bioreceptors: (Amperometry; EIS; ECL; LSV; Cyclic Voltammetry)
- 5 Optimized methods for detection of clinical analytes (glucose, lactate, cortisol, Cl-, H2O2) from sweat with multisensitive (bio)sensors based on FL-Hydrogel
- 1 Method for the fabrication of a flexible and wearable multisensitive patch for electrochemical detection of clinical analytes
- 2 Experimental models of a multisensitive, flexible, wearable and portable patch for monitoring bioanalytes from sweat
- 2 Reports demonstrating the functionality of the wearable and portable device under controlled and real conditions
- 4 papers published in ISI journals/2 book chapters/2 papers in preparation
- 24 participations in conferences/invention salons (17 conferences and 7 exhibitions)
- 1 workshop organized/participation in 2 workshops/1 seminar held
- 2 OSIM patent applications
- 1 master's dissertation/6 undergraduate students and 5 (Olympic) students mentored
- 4 Awards/7 gold and 2 silver medals
Participation of other national and international competition with the partner
