Project description
Two Honours projects will extend the capability of our nanotechnological platforms and biosensing capabilities towards wearable devices that enable continuous sampling of sweat and interstitial fluid for the monitoring of physiological events and the diagnosis of diseases. We have fabricated subcutaneously implantable optical biosensors using porous silicon microcavities for detection of disease biomarkers. We have also developed several electrochemical biosensors based on silicon nanomaterials. Using silicon nanoarchitectures, we have also fabricated and tested micropillar and microneedle biosensor platforms that can detect metabolite levels (glucose, lactate) at physiologically relevant levels directly in sweat and interstitial fluid. These biosensing platforms provide an exciting new approach for addressing the current challenges in wearable and implantable biosensing. But these platforms still need to be integrated into devices that can process signals (optical or electrochemical) and transfer them to a computer or smart phone. The two Honours projects proposed here aim to pursue this integration. In both projects, biosensor selection and interface circuitry design will require consideration of limiting parameters, including size and weight, sensitivity, power requirements, dynamic range, and temperature effects. One project will focus on integration of optical biosensors, where the student will consider factors such as limitations of optical irradiation exposure of human skin, and optical transmittance of human skin at various wavelengths The student will determine biosensor performance and potential interferences in a fluid cell, using excised skin and porous silicon microcavity films tuned to wavelengths in the red or near-infrared wavelength region. The student will illuminate the mock implanted biosensors using laser diodes in the optimised red or near-infrared. We will use an optical detector (photodiode or CCD sensitive to light at specific wavelength(s)) and microprocessor and antenna circuitry to collect, condition, and process the data prior to display on a hand-held monitor via commercially available RF telemetry technology. A second project will investigate electrochemical biosensor integration. The student will fabricate flexible thin band-aid-type printed circuit boards that will include RF telemetry components, transducer components comprising commercially available miniaturised potentiostats, and voltage supply regulators that can be attached to the micropillar or microneedle sensor patches (Fig. 1). Processing signals to separate the analyte-related data from interferences and motion artefact will be a significant task.
Co-supervisors
Professor Nico Voelcker, Monash University Jodie Hobbs, Flinders University
Supervisors research focus
Biomedical Engineering; Medical Devices: Health Technologies
Note: You need to register interest in projects from different supervisors (not a number of projects with the one supervisor).
You must also contact each supervisor directly to discuss both the project details and your suitability to undertake the project.