Research Projects

Microfluidics technology has revolutionized the development of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices, enabling rapid analysis and real-time monitoring in various sectors such as healthcare, environmental, industry, and food and agriculture. Conventional miniaturized diagnostic devices are cost-effective but not accessible or affordable for everyone. To meet WHO's 'ASSURED' criteria for POC and PON devices, biomaterials have been explored to develop affordable, portable, and user-friendly bioanalytical devices. Biomaterials like paper-substrate have been used due to their inherent physical and chemical advantages, but their sensitivity and selectivity are low due to non-specific binding and surface non-homogeneity. To enhance the robustness of paper-substrate biosensors, different chemical linkers with different carbon chain length and functional groups will be substituted on the paper-substrate functional end. This will reduce non-specific binding on the cellulose-substrate and improve performance. To increase sensitivity and selectivity, natural enzymes can be employed, but this method incurs more expenses. Recently, nanozymes of carbon nanomaterials have been studied, and they are incorporated into paper-based biosensors technology to reinforce their properties. Carbon nanomaterials have catalytic properties and the potential to replace natural enzymes. In this project, carbon dots with oxidase and peroxidase activity will be synthesized, and their properties and functionality will be engineered and modulated to obtain better and higher oxidase and peroxidase mimicking properties through surface functionalization or doping methods. A high-performance paper-based POC device with novel carbon nanomaterials is proposed for non-enzymatic multi-analysis of lactate and uric acid.