Development of a sensor for nanoplastics detection in environmental and agri-food applications. -

Project title: Development of a sensor for nanoplastics detection in environmental and agri-food applications.

Project description: This project aims at advancing the field of sensors (and especially field-effect transistors (FET) based sensors) in the context of environmental monitoring, by demonstrating that they can be employed for the detection of nanoplastics (NPs). For sensor development and its successful implementation for NPs detection in environmental samples, a number of aspects need to be considered, such as transduction element design and fabrication, signal generation, surface immobilization chemistry (i.e., bio-functionalization), and finally data analysis. Nanomaterials are often used to enhance the sensor performance by amplifying their conductivity and electrochemical signals thanks to their valuable properties.

To fulfill the above mentioned desired sensor properties, and to successfully detect NPs, the main focus of this work is:

Development and characterization of sensor devices based on electrolyte-gated FET (EG-FET), using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as semiconducting material. Indeed, these transduction devices are characterized by superior electronic properties and intrinsic signal amplification.
Exploiting CNTs properties to detect the NPs of choice, and characterization on the occurring interaction.
Production and characterization of more complex NPs solutions, resembling more realistic environmental condition. Assessment of the behaviour of the developed sensors utilizing the different NPs solutions available.
Implementation of biotechnological techniques to study a functionalization method for a biorecognition element.
Further enhancement of EG-FET based biosensors by utilizing peptide as biorecognition element. This allows overcoming one of the main drawbacks of CNTs used for sensing, such as the lack of selectivity.