After MMRES:
Summary
Improving the sensitivity and limit of detection is one the current goals in the development of point-of-care (PoC) biosensors. Herein we describe the design and development of a biosensing label based on strongly photoluminescent and stable nitrogen- and sulphurdoped graphene quantum dots encapsulated into liposomes (GQD@LPs). Since liposomes can be conjugated to antibodies, the detection of a wide variety of analytes becomes possible. The signal amplification expected from this label is explained by the amount of N,S-GQDs associated to an analyte recognised by antibodies, which would not be possible without the storage capabilities of liposomes. N,S-GQDs have proven to be more photoluminescent and stable than non-doped GQDs. Encapsulation of N,S-GQDs into liposomes has been accomplised by the thin-film hydration method, while an EDC/NHS strategy via activation of free carboxylic groups in liposomes has been followed for the conjugation to antibodies. Although the conjugation is still under development, the achieved know-how on GQDs and liposomes pave the way for the materialisation of this biosensing label. Future steps include testing the label in a paper-based platform like lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) and the implementation of smartphone readout of results.
Major project supervisor
Minor project supervisor
Carrer del Comte d’Urgell 187
Building 12A (BIST)
Barcelona 08036
T. +34 938 293 603
The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology is a multidisciplinary research institute formed by the alliance of seven top research centers in Barcelona commited to creating a collaborative environment of multidisciplinary scientific excellence.