Key research themes
1. How can direct electron transfer (DET) mechanisms in enzyme electrodes be optimized through electrode nanostructuring and enzyme engineering to improve biosensor performance?
This theme investigates strategies to facilitate and enhance direct electrical communication between redox enzymes and electrode surfaces, crucial for the development of third-generation enzyme electrodes. DET provides advantages such as reduced overpotentials, higher selectivity, and improved sensitivity, but is limited by enzyme orientation, electron transfer distance, and electrode surface properties. Research concentrates on nanostructuring electrodes to provide favorable scaffolds and on protein engineering to optimize enzyme-electrode interaction.
2. What are effective strategies to improve the selectivity and stability of enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors in complex sample matrices?
Selectivity and stability are primary challenges in deploying enzyme electrochemical biosensors in real samples containing interfering electroactive compounds. This research theme focuses on biochemical and material engineering approaches to enhance analyte specificity, prevent electrode fouling, and maintain enzyme activity, including selective membranes, multi-enzyme systems, and electrochemical techniques tailored to reduce interferences.
3. How do nanomaterials and biomimetic nanostructures enhance enzyme electrochemical biosensor sensitivity, stability, and electron transfer?
Nanomaterials with unique physicochemical, catalytic, and electrical properties provide innovative solutions for improving enzyme biosensor performance. Research in this theme focuses on incorporating metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticle composites, and enzyme mimicking materials to increase surface area, promote electron transfer rates, and maintain enzyme bioactivity, enabling sensitive and durable biosensors suitable for biomedical, environmental, and food analysis.