Electropolymerized, Aptamer Functionalized Organic ElectroChemical Transistors (OECT) for Neuromodulators Detection

https://oembordeaux.cnrs.fr/

Approximately 180 million people suffer from brain disorders in Europe, with neurodegenerative diseases expected to increase due to an aging population. Understanding brain function is crucial for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. To tackle the complexities of the brain, innovative technologies are needed beyond traditional methods. Brain communication relies on electrical activity and interactions between neuromodulators like dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. However, monitoring neuromodulators in biological tissue is challenging, limiting real-time measurements to a few neuromodulators studied individually. To enhance our understanding of brain function and related disease (i.e. Parkinson’s disease), there is an urgent need for multiplexed biosensors that can measure multiple neuromodulators simultaneously with adequate temporal and spatial resolution.

The main objective of the Master thesis is to address this unsolved challenge by pioneering biosensing devices capable of detecting multiple neuromodulators simultaneously in vitro. To do so, we aim to develop micro-structured organic electrochemical transistors (μOECT) with functionalized surfaces to click different aptamers (oligomers that bind a specific target molecule) for multiple neuromodulators detection. The conception of these organic electrochemical transistors will be carried out by means of electro-polymerization of the organic mixed ionic electronic conductor channel material.

The microfabrication and electrochemical characterizations of microstructured OECT-chips will be carried-out at IMS (Laboratory for the Integration from Material to Systems) using the ELORGA and ELORPrintTec platform facilities.

The background of the candidate should include either materials science, physical chemistry, microelectronics engineering or bio-electronics. The candidate should have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research. Good experimental skills are also required. Intensive training in necessary fields will be offered.